Once the visitors and the Thin Controller had their tea and coffee, they scrambled back on board, eager to see the rest of the line. Whilst the visitors had their refreshments and warmed up in the station, the two crews had checked their engines' coal and water supplies; and fortunately for the four men, both engines were holding out very well for supplies. Not only that, but their water hadn't frozen into their pipes, as it sometimes happened.
With a sharp blast from the two engines' whistles, they were on their way again, quietly trundling up the line side by side, with their beloved coaches clattering and chattering along behind them.
"How do you think Luke's faring in the quarry, brother?" Rheneas asked quietly, minding to keep his voice as low as he could, lest he was accidentally overheard by their passengers.
"I don't know, Rheneas." Skarloey replied. "I'm sure he's fine- I'm just debating whether we should tell him about the journalists."
"Shouldn't we? We're meant to watch out for risks like this. This could end in disaster." Rheneas reminded him.
"I know, but he's only in danger if they get a hold of any facts of his potential whereabouts." The older engine re-joined. Besides, he didn't want Luke to worry yet. If this occurred, it was out of their control. Besides, as long as no one provided any information to Luke's whereabouts, their friend would remain safe- in theory.
As they couldn't agree on what to do, they decided to put their concerns aside for the time being and just relax and enjoy the trip; after all, they hardly ever got to see the Skarloey Railway nowadays.
"I forgot how nice the railway looks in winter." Rheneas commented. "It's beautiful."
"Indeed." Skarloey agreed. "Absolutely stunning."
He added, quietly, "I do wish Luke could see this right now. His eyes would light up like lights on a Christmas tree."
"Quite right," Chuckled Rheneas.
...
But as they reached Lakeside Station on the loop line, they ran into trouble: Skarloey, who had until now been going at a steady pace, suddenly began to slow down, and he struggled to keep up with Rheneas.
"Come on, Skarloey! Surely old age hasn't gotten you yet, has it?" Rheneas teased, but when he saw his friend's now red face, and heard him panting and wheezing whenever his driver attempted to increase his speed.
"Skarloey, what's wrong?" Rheneas asked, suddenly concerned for his companion's welfare. "You're worrying me, brother- you really don't look very well all of a sudden."
But his brother didn't answer, and instead began hissing and wheeshing violently and uncontrollably. It was so bad, that poor Skarloey had to be stopped immediately by his crew, and they tried to see what was wrong.
"It's his firebox!" His crew exclaimed. "His fire bars have collapsed on him. He can't go any further."
"But the passengers..." Skarloey protested weakly, despite his setback. "We can't leave them stranded here! It's way too cold!"
...
The Thin Controller had to survey the damage.
"There, I told you that taking old engines was a bad idea! They're unpredictable, obsolete and therefore, absolutely useless." One MP declared snootily to his colleagues, as though his opinion had suddenly proven to be true and absolute."
Skarloey was dejected at hearing this, but Rheneas felt very prickled and wasn't going down without a fight.
"At least we know it's during times such as these when we know to keep going rather than sit round doing nothing!" He snapped at the politician. "Sir, may I please push Skarloey to the next station?" He asked Mr. Percival politely, who was talking to Skarloey's crew about what should be done now.
This surprised the Thin Controller. He had known better than anyone else that Skarloey and Rheneas were the most dedicated engines; not only to the railway and other engines, but also each other. However, the weather made travel risky, and something like this could leave the two engines more vulnerable to accidents by slipping, especially on hills. He hesitated.
"Don't forget Rheneas, you're both meant to be due to head back to Crovan's Gate." He warned them. It's not very good weather you know, and the tracks will become very icy."
"Then may I use every grain of sand, every piece of coal and every last drop of water to get everyone back there, sir." Rheneas said bravely. "It's not going to deter me, sir- not in the slightest. You'd have to throw in the Devil himself to make me reconsider."
Seeing the bravery in his No 2's face persuaded the Thin Controller to trust him. After all, Rheneas had saved the railway by himself before despite the odds, and he was the bravest engine in the fleet. "Very well, Rheneas." He conceded, at last. I can tell that your words are earnest, and I trust you to get all the passengers and Skarloey back to Crovan's Gate safely and to aim for reasonable punctuality. Is that clear?"
"As clear as crystal, sir."
"Good."
...
"Well, that engine's certainly told you, Mr Pound! How dare you lose faith in these old engines after all they've done for us? It could have happened to any of them!" Mrs. Mabel Illume scolded a young man in his thirties as they stood round and watched. Most of the MPs were touched by Rheneas' dedication and bravery, plus they didn't care that he hadn't been polite to Geoffrey- they didn't like him either, as he was a supercilious, unkind man- high bred and forever looking to the future, with no regard for what had lain the foundations for so much of society
"Yes – by Jove, you're a rotten egg!" An English born MP named William Thomas Hall exclaimed. "You're always thinking of the young! Never of the elderly, or of how they contributed to the history of humanity!"
"Hmph- I prefer diesels any day!" Geoffrey Pound scowled. "These steam kettles are just scrap metal on wheels!"
On hearing this, Rheneas blew his whistle really loudly, making him jump.
"And look, that one is being insolent!" Mr Pound cried, hoping to get his fellow politicians to agree with him and ensure the engine in question was being disciplined.
"Oh, do shush, Mr. Pound!" Mrs Illume snapped, taking no interest in his complaints. "He's only sticking up for himself and his friend!"
Grumbling, they all re-embarked, leaving Skarloey and Rheneas to wonder what had happened. They hadn't expected that turn of events- especially seeing as Mrs Illume seemed a nice lady, if a bit ditzy and eccentric, to say the least.
"I never expected MPs to act so...so..." Skarloey began.
"Childish?" His driver said. "Well, I agree with Mr. Hall –Mr. Pound is a rotten egg- and an unappreciative, unsentimental git."
"Now don't you start," The fireman warned. "You should have left the name calling stage in the playground, old boy."
"Well, no one calls our engine useless and gets away with it." The driver growled.
Skarloey winced at this. He was quite a stern old engine, but he did take things to heart a little more easily than Rheneas, like what had happened with Mr. Pound just now. He felt rather crestfallen that he had let the railway- and Mr. Percival- down again. He felt even worse than the time he accidentally sent Mr. Mack flying into the bushes beside the line when he pulled the inspector's train back in 1867.
"Cheer up, old chum." Rheneas said kindly as he buffered up to his friend's last coach.
"How can I? I've broken down in the middle of an important event on the railway." Skarloey said sadly, as Rheneas started up again. "And the worst thing is, this isn't the first time I have an accident pulling an important train filled with important people. I never want to pull them again." He sulked.
"Now don't be silly, Skarloey," Chided Rheneas sensibly, his former sternness returning with a vengeance. "After all, you couldn't help it then, and you couldn't help it now. No one's blaming you for breaking down. It was an accident, Skarloey, and Mr. Pound's just a horrid man with nothing better to do than spit insults in a pathetic attempt to look superior. You're still a Really Useful Engine, my friend; no matter what that miserable swine says."
"Thank you Rheneas." Skarloey smiled. "I'm sorry."
"What for- I just said you weren't to blame for this. It could have happened to anyone, like Mrs Illume said." Rheneas replied.
"No, it's not that. I just feel that I'm being a... a downer, for lack of a better word." The older engine sighed.
"Not really. I just think you're a bit tired, that's all." Rheneas said soothingly. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"No. I'm still thinking about the argument I got into with Sir Handel Peter Sam and Luke the other day."
"I thought you resolved that though?"
"I did. But I resolved it in the morning, and I still haven't had the chance to apologize to Luke yet." Skarloey explained. "Plus, I just feel like a right old grump this morning." He added apologetically.
"I was wondering when you'd progress from 'old' to 'right old grump,'" Teased Rheneas light-heartedly, which made Skarloey chuckle a bit.
"Aw, once you've had a visit to the Steamworks, you'll feel a new engine. You'll get a rest, and Victor will have you out feeling like new, and then you can straighten things out with Luke after discharge, okay?"
"Yes, that does sound very pleasant right now." Skarloey sighed. "Thank you again Rheneas. What will I do without you?"
"Search me." The younger engine replied, and the two continued on their journey, feeling a bit better now that some things were resolved.
