〃Save the discussion。 Explanations will be useful after we make sure Steengo is all right。 But Floyd…stop me if I am wrong…did I see you take five guys out while I was just about managing two？〃
〃You didn't see it。 It was over before you turned to look。〃 He was the same old laid…back Floyd…but was that a new touch of firmness to his words？ It was a day of surprises。 And he was right…I had not seen him at work； just the results。
The brick palace jogged into view ahead。 Apparently not all of the troops had been told that we were no longer heroes； for the guards at the entrance did a snappy jump to attention and salute as we trotted past。
〃Halt！〃 our newfound friend （girl 。 。 。 ？） called out and we stopped before the guards at the door。 〃Orders to bring these two to Iron John。 Permission to enter？〃
〃Enter！〃 the officer in charge called out。 The doors opened and closed behind us as we trotted by。 There was the large room ahead and inside it was Iron John。 And just one other person。
Steengo。 Collapsed against the wall； covered in bruises and blood。 One eye swollen shut。 He started to speak but could only rasp out something inprehensible。
〃You are all here now；〃 Iron John said。 〃Soldier…guard the entrance。 No one to enter or leave。 I have a score to settle with these interlopers。 Because I have changed my mind about keeping this thing quiet。 I listened to my advisers and I am sorry that I did。 Secrecy is at an end and justice will be done to the blasphemers。 Here is what will happen。 First I will kill this aged devil who spoke such filth。 You two will watch。
〃Then I will kill you as well。〃
He started towards Steengo； a red giant of unleashed power。 Hands extended to kill。
CHAPTER 19
Let me have your spear。〃 I called out to the soldier at the door。 She shook her head in a silent no； then said； 〃I have my orders。〃 No help from this source。
Iron John had turned and was walking towards Steengo。 I ran two silent steps in his direction and launched myself into a flying kick to his back。 Heel punching out； a killing blow。
Then I was batted from the air。 As big as he was…Iron John was just as fast。 He had turned while I was in the air and had swung one 。hand。 Knocking me aside； sprawling me onto the floor。 His voice was as deep and ominous as a distant volcano。
〃Do you want to be first； little man？ You wish the others to watch your destruction？ Perhaps that is only fair since you are their leader。〃
He came slowly towards me and I found myself trembling with fear。 Fear？ Yes； because he was not human； more than human。 He was Iron John a part of the legend of life； I could not hurt him。
He wasn't。 I scrabbled to my feet； my leg ached； moved away。 He was much bigger； wider； stronger than I was。 But no； he wasn't a legend。 He was a man。
〃A big fat red slob！〃 I shouted。 〃A hairy conman！〃
His eyes were wide； red； angry。 His arched fingers reached for me。 I feinted a fist at his jaw； saw him move to block it。 Kept turning in an unstoppable kick to his knee。
It connected…but he made no attempt to avoid it。 My foot hurt。 His knee； his kneecap； looked unhurt。
〃I am Iron John！〃 he shouted。 〃Iron…iron！〃
I fell back； there was no escape。 I swung a twisting punch that he took on his biceps。 It felt like striking stone。 Then his fist to my ribs sent me skidding down the room。
When I gasped in breath it hurt。 Felt like something was broken there。 Stand up； Jim！ I got as far as my knees and he came on。
I blinked as I saw two arms encircle his legs； send him staggering。 Kicking out。 It was Steengo who had crawled behind him； tried to trip him。 Who was now sent crashing back into the wall。 To fall and not move again。
I was barely aware of this because the instant Iron John's attention had wandered I had jumped。 Getting an arm around his neck； grappling my own wrist。 Pulling my forearm tight against his throat to crush his larynx； to cut off blood and air。 The armlock that kills in seconds。 My face was buried in his rank red fur as I tightened hard； harder than I ever had before。
To no avail。 I could feel the tendons in his neck stiffen like steel bars； taking the pressure that should have been on his throat。 He lifted one hand slowly； then sank his fingers deep into my flesh … hurled me across the room to crash into the wall； fall。
I realized that the voice wailing in agony was my own。 I could not move。 The soldier at the door looked at me； looked away。 Steengo had lain； motionless； since that single； terrible blow。 Nor could I do much better myself； just able to crawl。
At least Iron John had felt my hold； he was rubbing at his neck。 The smile had gone and frothed saliva now coated his lips。 Death would be a single blow 。 。 。
〃Iron John…you have forgotten something。 You have forgotten me。〃
Floyd was speaking。 Thin； black…bearded； uninvolved。 He must have stood and watched while Steengo was stricken； I was felled。 Only now did he move。
Quietly forward。 Hands extended； fingers lightly bowed。 Iron John was in a rage。 Leaped and lashed out。
And missed because Floyd was not there。 He was to one side； kicking the red giant in the ribs so that he stumbled and almost fell。
〃e here；〃 Floyd said in a voice so low I could barely hear it。 〃e and be destroyed。〃
Iron John was cautious now； knew how fast his new opponent could react。 He opened his arms wide and came slowly forward。 A force of nature。 Implacable and inescapable。
Two quick thuds；。 two blows sounded and Iron John staggered。 Floyd was out of his reach again； circling him slowly。 A sudden kick； a blow； then away again。
Nothing Iron John did seemed to affect the oute。 He was wary； he attacked suddenly； reached out and struck。 Touched only air。 Floyd was before him； behind him…striking him。 Wearing him down。
They circled for minutes this way。 And Floyd was still just as fast； striking with impunity。 But the red monster was going slower and slower； arms lower and lower as the endless blows drove the strength from them。 He must have realized that there could be only one end to this battle； on these terms。 But he was still dangerous。 Almost by chance the struggle moved towards me。
He was after me I realized！ I had only the shortest instant to draw my leg back before Iron John spun about and dived towards me。
And caught my kick full in his face。 He dropped…but his hands closed on my ankle； pulled me towards him。 Reached up 。 。 。
Then Floyd struck。 No science now…raw power。 Pile driver blows to the giant's back and kidneys that opened his mouth wide with pain； forcing him to release me as he struggled to get away from his tormentor。
More blows to his head。 He tried to rise； his legs were kicked from beneath him。 The thudding of quick strikes like some terrible machine at work。 Then a sudden silence。
A moment for balance； no expression showing on his face； then Floyd swung a terrible kick that terminated on the side of the giant's head。 Who fell over and did not rise nor move again。
〃Dead？〃 I croaked。 Floyd knelt and felt the pulse in his neck。
〃No； he wasn't supposed to be。 He'll survive。 But I think that he will remember he has been in a fight。〃 He flashed a quick smile； then his face became calm again。 〃If you're all right I'll look at Steengo。〃
〃I'm great。 Knocked about but great；〃 I croaked as I climbed painfully to my feet。
〃Pulse good；〃 he said； kneeling beside our friend。 〃He has taken a lot of punishment but nothing seems to be broken that I can find。 He will e out of this fine。〃
I was groggy； now even weaker with relief； blurted out the words without thinking。
〃He's fine。 I'm fine。 However we would have been a lot better if you had waded into this fracas sooner。〃
I saw him wince at the words； wished I could take them back。 You never can。
〃I'm sorry； I really am。 I had to wait； see what he could do。 I know that you're good； Jim。 I knew you could at least hold him。 I'm sorry but I had to see how fast he could move before I took him on。 I had to wear him down； not get touched。 I knew I could do it…and I moved as soon as I knew。 Sorry 。 。 。〃
〃Reporting；〃 our guard…guy…girl said。 〃The Red One is unconscious。〃
She lowered the small； coin…sized municator as I stalked towards her； hands out and ready to strike。
〃Who were you talking to？ Whose side are you on？ What's happening here？ Speak…or get demolished。〃
The guard； spear lowered and pointed at me； stood her ground。 〃The answer to your questions is arriving now。 There。〃 The point of her spear moved to indicate a spot behind me。 A ruse？ Who knew； who cared。 I turned and looked at Iron John's giant throne。
Which was slowly turning on some invisible axis。 Floyd and I both faced that way； hands raised automatically on the defense。 A black opening was revealed and； as the throne stopped moving； there was motion in the darkness beyond。 Two figures appeared； walked out into the room。
Both women。
One of them was Madonette。
〃Hi； guys；〃 she said； smiling and waving。 〃I'd like to introduce a new friend； Mata。〃
The woman was about my height； regal of bearing in her dark robe touched with gold embroidery。 Her expression was posed； peaceful； small wrinkles at the corners of her eyes； a touch of gray to her hair； were t