Chapter 3 — New Caboose

There was a sort of hush over the freight yard that evening. Partly this was because there was one less person to cause the general din that generally emanated from the area; partly it was because there was one less person to talk to. Mostly, however, it was the effect of a combined sense of shock.

No one in the freight yard chose to be very close to his companions, and it was mostly out of shock of the unanticipated events of earlier that day that kept it on their minds. None of them readily admitted actually missing CB's presence. The only one of them who might have been persuaded to show his disappointment was Dustin, and he'd already heard the reason for CB's eviction from Rusty. Although he completely supported Rusty's case, he couldn't pretend that he didn't already miss CB; none of them could. CB was a little inconsistent when it came to his loyalties, it was true, but he was still the cheerful, consoling, ever-smiling brake vehicle they all knew and, though they wouldn't admit it, loved, and it was hard to look over the freight yard and not see the flash of his crimson helmet and dazzling smile.

The oldest engine in the yard, the steam engine Papa, emerged from the garage to join Dustin where he was sitting at the edge of the yard watching Rocky and Flat Top at work. "Why so glum, Dustin?"

"I don't know," the Big Hopper said sadly. "It seems quieter around here now."

Papa nodded. "I can't see them keeping Red Caboose out for long," he confided. "Rocky's always causing trouble, and he's always been allowed home."

"Rocky's never sabotaged a race, though," Dustin replied. "That was really cruel of CB to trick Rusty like that. I wish he hadn't," he added momentarily. "If he hadn't done that, Rusty would still be able to race and CB would still be here."

"Do you think Greaseball set him up?" Flat Top asked, skating over to them. "Seems like something he might do."

"Greaseball's never done anything like that before," Papa said uncertainly.

"But Rusty was never a threat to him before," Rocky said as he approached. "Let's face it, Rusty could have won that race, especially with CB at his back. And we all know what Greaseball would do to win."

"I don't know..." Dustin said hesitantly.

"I do," Flat Top said. "It was Greaseball's idea, take my word for it."

"What about the new guy?" Rocky suggested. "Flashy Mr Electra? He could have had a say in all this. The way I see it he's just as competitive as our Greaseball."

"I don't think we have the liberties to make judgments, especially about Electra," Papa intervened sharply. "The facts are that CB made a very stupid mistake, and if he wants to come back he'll have to prove himself first."

Silence followed this for the space of a few seconds. None of them could really see CB wanting to prove himself.

Eventually Rocky ventured, "Who's taking over for him?"

"Some new engine on the scene," Flat Top said scornfully. "The Marshals brought him in earlier. Looks like a pretty flashy piece of work."

The flashy new piece of work Flat Top had seen actually turned out to be female, a young, smiling girl with shining paintwork of various shades of blue. She arrived at the freight yard later that evening, looking just as out of place as the coaches did whenever they strayed this way, despite her work-suited armour. She was like a blue, female version of CB, Dustin thought as she skated across to them: good-looking, in slightly better condition than the rest of them, and, of course, smiling broadly.

"Hiya," she said brightly as she drew to a tidy halt beside Flat Top. "Is this the freight yard?"

"Sure is," Rocky said, rising to greet her. "Are you the new brake vehicle?" Both of these questions were reasonably pointless.

"That's right," she said happily. "I'm Chalcedony, but most people call me Chalcie." She tossed her hair back and grinned at them. Just like CB used to do, thought Dustin.

"I'm Rocky," the Box Car introduced himself. "That's Flat Top, Dustin and Papa."

"Pleased to meet you," Chalcie said. "I say, everybody looks a bit glum here!"

"Well, we still have work to do," Flat Top said, ignoring this last comment. "C'mon, Rocky." The pair of them headed back towards the opposite edge of the yard. Dustin stood up and quickly followed them, leaving the new engine with Papa, who smiled at her.

"I'm sure you'll fit in fine," he said with a shrug.