The Return of the Iron Man

           Oneeveningafarmer’sson,aboycalledHogarth,wasfishinginastreamthatrandowntothesea. Itwasgrowingtoodarktofish,hishookkeptgettingcaughtinweedsandbushes. Sohestoppedfishingandcameupfromthestream andstoodlisteningtotheowlsinthewoodfurtherupthevalley,andtotheseabehindhim. Hush,saidthesea.Andagain,Hush.Hush.Hush. 

           Suddenlyhefeltastrangefeeling. Hefelthewasbeingwatched.Hefeltafraid. Heturnedandlookedupthesteepfieldtothetopofthehighcliff. Behindthatskylinewasthesheerrockycliffandthesea. Andonthatskyline,justabovetheedgeofit,inthedusk,weretwogreenlights. Whatweretwogreenlightsdoingatthetopofthecliff? 

           Then,asHogarthwatched,ahugedarkfigureclimbedupoverthecliff-top. Thetwolightsroseintothesky. Theywerethegiantfigure’seyes. Agiantblackfigure,tallerthanahouse,blackandtoweringinthetwilight,withgreenheadlampeyes.TheIronMan! Therehestoodonthecliff-top,lookinginland.Hogarthbegantorun. Heranandran.Home.Home.TheIronManhadcomeback. 

           Sohegothomeatlastandgaspingforbreathhetoldhisdad. AnIronMan!AnIronMan!Agiant! 

           Hisfatherfrowned.Hismothergrewpale.Hislittlesisterbegantocry. 

           Hisfathertookdownhisdouble-barrelledgun.Hebelievedhisson. Hewentout.Helockedthedoor.Hegotinhiscar.Hedrovetothenextfarm. 

           Butthatfarmerlaughed.Hewasafat,redman,withafat,red-mouthedlaugh. Whenhestoppedlaughing,hiseyeswereredtoo.