Chapter Eleven: Elizabeth's Christmas Message

Within no time at all, Elizabeth and Madge were back on the road. Madge's driver called the stationmaster and said that their plan was underway and that he would call again to say if their plan was successful or not. They didn't call ahead to the quarry, deciding it would be a nice surprise, and they didn't want Duncan to suspect anything before they got there. There was a chance the workers would be going home and giving up, but Elizabeth and Madge moved quickly, even with the fuel tanks split up between them that rattled as the move, and the fact it was still snowing hard and there was a danger of frost. They knew how important this was, and they weren't going to let anything hold them up.

Things were quietening down at the quarry. The workers were all preparing to go home, and Rusty and Duncan's crew were going to spend the night in the office before collecting fuel and having Rusty pull Duncan home in the morning. There was no reason for them to linger around now that their work was over, and with it being Christmas the next day, many of them were ready to have a long rest before getting up and celebrating with their families.

"I hope you're happy now," Rusty snapped at Duncan as he watched workers head for their cars. "If you hadn't been so selfish and hadn't offended Elizabeth, than we could all be home by now, including Skarloey and Rheneas!" The diesel was continuing having a go at convincing Duncan to see sense by telling him off and then leaving him for a while to stew, but was wondering if things weren't going to work. Duncan hadn't said anything for a while, simply staring at the snow in front of him and ignoring the diesel. Very soon his crew would come over and put his fire out, meaning that there would be no chance that Duncan would be able to go and save them.

"Sweet dreams Duncan," Rusty said with a sigh as their crews came towards them. "I wonder if you'll dream about all the children you let down this evening, as well as your friends you've ended up excluding." For a brief moment, Rusty thought he saw hurt in Duncan's eyes, but it disappeared and he sighed, certain he had imagined it.

"Any chance you've changed your mind?" Duncan's driver asked, stepping in front of his engine with his arms crossed, a stern look on his face. Duncan simply looked to the side, not wanting to face his driver, and his fireman sighed.

"I guess I'll go and put his fire out," he said, and walked towards the cab. Rusty sighed as well, and exchanged a sad look with his driver.

"It was a good plan," he said, patting the diesel on the buffer beam, and Rusty smiled weakly. "Do you want to stay here or should we see if you've got enough fuel left to get you under some shelter?" Rusty went to respond, but was interrupted as several cars belonging to the workers honked as they drove past, the workmen sticking their heads out of their windows and shouting Merry Christmas.

"Merry Christmas!" Rusty called out along with the three men, and Duncan emitted a high pitched whistle, courtesy of his fireman, that didn't seem to please the steam engine. Rusty began to laugh with joy, having one of his first happy moments in hours, happy to see some people being happy for a change. However, his delight was short lived: two familiar horns sounded sharply just outside the quarry, and everyone looked around in shock. The cars leaving suddenly screeched and spun to a halt on the icy road, and several quickly reversed.

"'CUSE, COMING THROUGH!" A voice yelled. Rusty's mouth dropped as he watched Elizabeth speed into the yard, skidding on an icy patch but quickly recovering. Their crews ran out of the way to avoid being hit just as Madge came in as well, and for a moment, it seemed as if Elizabeth was going to crash straight into them. However, her driver pulled some interesting turns and she came to a direct stop right in front of Duncan, staring directly at him.

"Hello…," Duncan said awkwardly, looking up at the lorry and wondering if she was going to smash the buffers and tow him onto the icy road. Behind him, Rusty's driver and Duncan's crew were having things explained to them by Madge as her driver unloaded fuel.

"Listen here Duncan!" Elizabeth snapped, playing up her anger and glaring viciously at the steam engine in front of him. "No one ever talks to me like that, and if you ever say something as rude as that again, I will convince some members of the Pack to do things to you that will your funnel flattened and have your wheels used as decorative ornaments, is that clear?"

"Yes Elizabeth, and I am really sorry, I didn't mean what I said, I was just angry about the –," Duncan began, but paused as he realised Elizabeth probably didn't want to hear excuses, and her eyes indeed narrowed as he began talking.

"I know all about how your train got taken off you and that's turned you into a gigantic baby who can't help but whinge and whine about not getting his way," the lorry said, "and I think it just pathetic. You keep going on about how you worked so hard to get this train, but all your doing is what your fellow engines are doing on a daily basis! Behaving isn't the most difficult thing in the world you realise, and you have no right to get special treatment just for acting decent!"

"But I have been working hard!" Duncan protested, and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Yes, sure, you've behaved, good for you! But that doesn't give you a right to begin misbehaving and ruining everyone else's Christmas because you didn't get your way, alright? Those kids are all stuck in the snow because you won't go and help them! You don't deserve to take another special train again if you can't even manage a simple task of –,"

"ALRIGHT!" Duncan shouted, the word sounding above the wind and echoing around the quarry. "Alright, I am sorry!" He huffed. "I didn't mean to ruin anyone else's Christmas, but I was just so annoyed. I probably would have explained if the Thin Controller had actually told me I wasn't taking the train rather than embarrassing me in front of James. But I think I have been unfair on everyone, haven't I?"

"Yes, you have," Rusty and Elizabeth said simultaneously, and Duncan managed a weak smile. "I am very sorry everyone, I should have known better. Skarloey told me the other day that I was being selfish about it all, and I can't help but agree with him now."

"Well, there is still time to prove him wrong," Madge called out, a wide beam on her face as she exchanged smiles with Rusty. Duncan nodded, and he began to look determined as he glanced around at his driver, who was standing hopefully on the balls of his feet in front of Rusty.

"Is there still time to save the party?"