Edward gazed at the weeping engine with shock. It would explain why their first encounter was a bit one sided, but how? What had happened? He looked round and saw Skarloey with Rheneas.
"Maybe I'd better explain- Rheneas, you look after Luke." Skarloey decided, looking at his best friend.
'So that's his name,' Thought the blue K2 locomotive, letting out an inaudible sigh of relief before Skarloey led his friend to a quiet spot where they could talk.
"I'm sorry I upset him." Edward apologised.
"Don't worry about it- you weren't to know. His name's Luke. He ran away from the Steamworks and came here months ago." His companion explained. "He's supposed to be a secret, you see."
"I heard he disappeared, but I didn't think he'd end up here quickly -and stay for so long," Marvelled Edward. "So not even Mr Percival knows he's here?"
"No," Answered the older engine. "He told us he might get sent away from Sodor permanently if the Thin Controller found out." Skarloey also explained about Luke's initial reclusiveness, his near cliff fall and the subsequent truth, and also about Mr Davis.
"Oh dear- the poor engine!" Edward exclaimed sympathetically. "I do feel for him, Skarloey."
"Yes- he's been through a lot." Skarloey agreed, sadly gazing at his buffers a moment as he paused. "We're keeping him a secret here because, like I mentioned before, if the Thin Controller finds out about this, Luke might get sent back to Ireland. He doesn't want to leave here, so we agreed to keep it a secret. Only I, you, the workmen, Duncan, and Ivo Hugh know the truth behind this. Only, we agreed it'd be best if Paxton remained in the dark, just to make sure he doesn't accidentally trust the wrong person or engine with this secret." Skarloey explained.
"A bit harsh, but I can see where you're coming from." Answered Edward.
"Hm- only, Edward, I think there's something else. I think Luke's innocent of what he's done. But I don't have any proof of what happened." Skarloey said. "He keeps insisting he did a great wrong, but his story just doesn't show he deserves the blame. I just don't know."
"Did Luke tell you of the yellow engine in detail?" Edward inquired.
Skarloey paused, trying to remember. Then he remembered that Luke had described the yellow engine as having a lamp fixed to his funnel.
"From what he told me, he sounded as though he was a steam locomotive."
"Yes." confirmed Edward. "I remember he was narrow gauge, but a bit bigger than him. Oh Skarloey, that poor engine... he looked so terrified... I wish I'd been able to help." He admitted. He had to help clear up the accident after the storm at Brendam had cleared and he did not want to relive the memories of the yellow engine rusted away and covered in fougerite. It had been very upsetting as he never usually dealt with accidents as severe as that at the docks
"What could you have done?" Skarloey countered, though not unkindly, interrupting Edward's pained recollections.
"I don't know. But if I could, I would willingly have done something."
"Well, you may not be able to help the yellow engine now, but Luke told me you helped him. You showed him kindness- you didn't ask about the docks, you were just you. And he is grateful for that- that engine just has guardian angels over the Island."
"No. I think his angels are the ones who know their fair mountains like the back of their buffers." Edward smiled. "I'm just an old engine that can't abide another engine suffering so."
But Skarloey disagreed with his friend's sentiments- Edward was indeed a guardian angel, no matter what anyone else could say to him.
