I don't stop screaming for a long time, until Victor has enough, and he silences me with a single and firm Spanish word. "Okay, my friend, it's clear to me that something is not right here. Why is that?" He asks me kindly, as soon as I am more reasonably calm.
"I'm not…I can't be a steam engine!" I blurt out in protest, as though he was to blame for my new misfortune. "I'm a human!"
"Well….okay," He replies, though he sounds very sceptical of my words. "Could you explain?"
"I am a photography student from America," I begin "and I came here on holiday with my best friend, Wendy Jensen. She saved the life of a Welsh girl whilst we were surfing near Tidmouth, and in gratitude, they…. Oh no- I forgot! The Griffiths! Wendy!" I trail off with a groan. "How would they react seeing me like this?"
"The first thing to do would be to get some help for you, Dana." Victor recommends. "Henry was the one who brought you here, so maybe he and someone from the Wellsworth Branch can help you."
"And where would they be?"
"Why, working, of course. You wouldn't get to see them here unless they either needed repairs or were making an important delivery for me."
"Wait a minute- are you in charge of this place?" I ask, incredulously. "I've never heard of a steam locomotive being in charge of a workshop before."
"Firstly, I am in charge- but of repairs. I have a human co- manager who handles finance and admin here. Secondly, I've never heard of a human turning into a steam locomotive before."
Feeling the colour in my cheeks rise at this, I glare at him- but he just ignores my offence and reverses away.
"What cheek!" I retort.
"Don't worry about it, Dana- there's engines that do worse. Besides, Victor's not a horrid engine, he just can't stand nonsense. He's here to help!"
"Unlike those who just stand there chatting all day!" A snooty voice snaps, and behind Kevin, I see a silver streamlined Pacific engine. I recognise the model- my grandmother has a British friend who is fanatical about railways, and I instantly identify it as an A4.
"Whoops- sorry Spencer!" The little crane gasps, dashing away again. The silver engine smirks, and then looks at me.
"And who might you be?" He interrogates. "I've never seen you here before. Funny, I don't recollect the Fat Controller mentioning anything about a new engine.
Hearing this makes my...well, 'head' spin- as cocky and snooty he is, he has a point. I don't belong here.
Feeling panic rise in my smokebox, I silently cry out for help, when I hear a voice behind me say:
"Leave her alone, Spencer! She hasn't said anything to you!" It sounds foreign, but before I can figure out where the owner might come from, I hear Spencer mutter something darkly before reversing on a workman's orders.
Relieved, I head back over to thank the engine- when I notice that there is a pink tank engine, with beautiful designs on her paintwork. At last, a female engine! I scurry over to her.
"Hello," She says, in a friendly voice- it's definitely the one who stuck up for me. She flashes me a beautiful smile, and I manage a shaky one in response.
"I am very sorry about him," the engine continues. "It looks like Gordon was right- he is unbearable at times! What is your name?"
"I'm Dana." I tell her. "And you are..."
"My name's Ashima!" The other engine tells me, brightly. "I'm from India."
"Well, if you're from India, why are you here?" I ask. "Shouldn't you be heading home?"
"I was meant to," She sighs. "But there's been a delay. I was a participant in the Great Railway Show, and I was meant to sail home, but there's massive problems going on at the moment." She sighs sadly. "Still, I get to work here for a while!" She brightens. "Once I'm out of here, I'm taking some trucks up to the Blue Mountain Quarry. My good friend Thomas told me about some 'little engines' that also happen to be friends of his, and I would love to meet them. Would you like to come with me?"
Ashima's enthusiasm makes me beam. I feel better about being a steam engine, to be honest, and I feel honoured to be invited somewhere, even though I am not a Sudrian resident- or a steam locomotive.
"Don't waste your coal going! Those engines are nothing but metal runts on wheels!" Spencer shouts at us. "Believe me; they just get in the way of big engines!"
"Oh really- you choose to think that just because they are small?" Ashima asks.
"What's the point in that, Spencer? Those engines are there to do their job, and not get in anyone's way. If you're going to act like a king, fine- just don't dare bother us with rude and petty remarks that are the travesty of opinion!" I retort.
With that, we both quickly leave the Steamworks, much to Spencer's fury. We could hear Victor telling him off as we exit, causing us to dissolve into giggles.
"Well, that was unexpected!" Ashima remarks to me. "I appreciate you helping me back there."
"It's nothing, Ashima. I just know what it's like to deal with injustices like that." I sigh. Ashima looks me with sympathy, before smiling kindly at me. I smile back- and before we know it- we are both smiling like lunatics.
"So, are you still coming to the quarry with me?"
"Sure! I've got nothing going on, anyway!" As I say this, I wonder if Wendy knows where I am. Maybe I better say something before I head off. She and the Griffiths would be at the castle by now...
"Actually, I need to go to Ulfstead." I say despondently.
"No problem- I can come with you." My new friend offers. "We can easily make it, so long as you're not too long."
"It'll be quick, I promise- but it's important." I say.