it begins to slow immediately after coming around the bend , and when it stops it stops for her , the beast of steel and chain and grease inching to a halt on the tracks just feet from where she stands with maury , its air brakes coughing and metal straining against metal-and she thinks of david and goliath or other stories where the monster pauses and kneels down , its limbs creaking , to take the measure of its puny foe .