Still chuckling, Lexi started polishing Luke's livery, in order to get him for his next job. Sir Handel had already resumed grumbling about the state of his livery; but Peter Sam noticed that Luke was unusually quiet.
"Luke, is something wrong?" He asked his cousin in a near whisper. He felt very worried, for Luke had barely talked nor laughed; save for Lexi's funny story about her dad getting drunk- and he had also definitely stopped smiling today, too. In conclusion, thought Peter Sam, this was not like Luke at all. Something serious was most definitely going on with his young cousin; but Luke was not forthcoming in a reply to Peter Sam's question.
Lexi paused in her polishing to look at the little Irish tank engine. "Something's up," she agreed, resting one hand on her hip. "You ok, little Irish dude?" Lexi gently nudged his cheek with her knuckle. But poor Luke didn't respond to her or to her touch; which only reaffirmed that something was most definitely wrong- but what the problem was, they had no idea.
"Is he ill, sirs?" Peter Sam asked Richard and Geoffrey. The two men merely shrugged in reply.
"We don't think so, Peter Sam- he was his normal self, back at Skarloey Station." Richard mused. "Even after that, he's shown no signs of actually feeling ill; just a low mood, for some reason."
"Aye- ever since we left Skarloey Station, he's been unusually quiet and pensive." Geoffrey added in agreement. "All we know of what happened up there was that he met Rheneas coming by while Rich and I were having our tea break."
Luke knew this wasn't true at all; he had also heard what Mr. Heron had said about him to Mr. Wilson, and he felt very hurt that his driver could just admit something like that without any though or consideration for his engine's feelings.
"We just don't know what's going on," Sighed Richard, kicking at some ballast with his foot. "We just want Luke back."
"Hear, hear," Agreed Geoffrey, scratching his chin as he looked over his beloved engine thoughtfully.
Luke felt very, very conflicted as to what to feel about that sentiment. On the one buffer, it seemed like his crew still cared about him- but, on the other buffer, if they cared about him and his feelings, why would they discuss such a hurtful thing when they thought he couldn't hear them?
"Afternoon, all." A voice greeted politely.
"Oh, hello Rusty!" Peeped Peter Sam in delight, as his friend entered the Depot. "We didn't expect you back here so soon." Then, he noticed Rheneas behind the little diesel, and his heart sank.
"Funnily enough, nor did I." Rusty said, frowning. "I was on my maintenance runs, as usual, when my radiator blew out on me. Mr. Hugh phoned for help…. and here I am."
"Percy's collecting him to take to Vicarstown." Rheneas continued, exchanging glances with the others before letting out a wheesh of steam. "I better get back to work. We've got a lot to do."
"Oh, Rheneas!" Piped up Peter Sam suddenly. "Who's covering for Rusty?"
"Mr. Percival's short on engines," Replied Rusty, before Rheneas could answer. "I found Skarloey in a siding with a broken cylinder before I broke down myself. And of course, you two are here…" then he noticed that the two were covered in quarry dust. "Sir Handel… I thought you haven't been to the quarry today?" He asked in confusion.
Lexi went redder than Rheneas's livery. "That was my fault- I waved a filthy rag in excitement and the dust I cleaned off Peter Sam got on the both of them."
"No surprises there," Commented Rheneas wryly. Lexi chose to respond by sticking out her tongue at him before resuming polishing Luke's funnel vigorously.
"I know I'm hardly presentable, Rusty, but I can always take over the maintenance train if you want." Offered Peter Sam. "It's the least I can do, considering you're always helping me."
"That's what friends are for," Said Rusty, but he smiled at Peter Sam's generous offer. "Thank you, Peter Sam- that would be much appreciated."
"You're welcome!" the Skarloey Railway's No. 4 replied cheerfully, before hurrying away, singing a jolly little song to himself. Everyone in the Depot started to smile; even the perpetually mercurial Sir Handel.
"That's a bummer about your radiator, Rusty." Lexi tutted sympathetically, now shifting her attention to Luke's whistle; which was looking a little dull and dusty. "Hope you get better real soon."
"Thanks Lexi," Replied Rusty.
"Also," butted in Sir Handel, "where's Skarloey? You said he was broken down, but that's the first we've heard of this."
Rusty frowned in worry at that remark. "Duncan's bringing him here." He replied.
Sure enough, Duncan burst into the Depot, pushing a broken down, hissing and downcast Skarloey into the yard. Although the Scottish engine was grumbling about the hissing noise Skarloey was making, the old engine broke into a smile on seeing his friends, not realizing they were suffering from their own grievances.
"Here ya go, Skarloey," Grunted Duncan, as his fireman uncoupled him from Skarloey before he shunted the older engine into the shed.
"Thank you, boyo." Skarloey replied, before looking over at the others. He was surprised and puzzled to see Rusty, Lexi and Luke; who were usually very cheerful and smiley, looking pensive and unusually downcast.
"Hello," he greeted. "How are you all?"
A mixture of grumblings arose, leaving a bitter taste in Skarloey's smokebox. Not liking where this non-conversation was heading, he gently blew his whistle to silence everyone. "One at a time, please." He said.
As Rusty, then Lexi and Sir Handel, aired their grievances to the SR no. 1, Luke remained silent, the conflict of sentiment from before still battling and gnawing at him from inside his firebox.
What to believe?
He silently resolved to speak with Rheneas, should he see him again today.