"Thank you." Luke sighed, clearly relieved. Sir Handel's story had badly shaken him, he was now convinced that he would be haunted by three engines in his dreams; the demon, the dead and the derelict.

"We better head back now." Peter Sam butted in nervously. "Skarloey's going to have our funnels for this."

"Yes," Agreed Sir Handel. "I think we've spent long enough here, anyway. Come on, let's go."

The engines daren't cross Skarloey; for though he was normally a very kind and gentle soul, he also had a temper which none of the engines could compete with – except perhaps for Duncan.

….

But as the three started off for the quarry, they all heard a loud 'SNAP!' echo round them. This was followed by a dog bark. This sent chills through their tubes, and they were all instantly alert.

"What...what was that?" Peter Sam asked his companions, shaking violently on the spot.

"It just sounded like a branch snapping- as well as the dog." Luke replied chirpily. "There's nothing to be worried about. Perhaps the dog just broke the branch.

But Sir Handel was worried. The snapping noise seemed to have been made by a human, not anything with four paws. "Luke, Peter Sam, I think someone's here." He whispered. The water in his tank churned with fright.

"What do you mean, 'someone's here'?" Peter Sam demanded.

"I mean there's someone watching us now, you ninny!" His blue friend snapped churlishly.

The little Irish engine watched in bemusement. It was almost laughable that even when frightened out of his wits Sir Handel still had time to insult someone- especially Peter Sam.

Luke himself wasn't scared at all, because he thought that his friends had set up a prank to scare him after the Smudger story, or even maybe their crews had been secretly daring each other to head up to Smudger's shed right now, to see if he was still there.

"Very funny, Sir Handel, but I'm not falling for your trick." Luke told his friend, chuckling. "That is some good acting, though. Did you go to London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts?" And he began chuckling at his joke.

But Sir Handel didn't laugh. Instead, he only said four words, in a shaky, raspy voice.

"It wasn't me, Luke."

"Oh." Luke replied sheepishly. "Erm, sorry, Sir Handel. Was it you, Peter Sam?" Luke asked hopefully.

Peter Sam squeaked out an inaudible noise that sounded like a 'No.' Of course, it would hardly make sense for Peter Sam to be really frightened at a pre-planned prank; unless it was top notch acting. However, Rusty and Sir Handel had told Luke about Peter Sam's tendency to blab secrets (with the assurance that he wouldn't breathe a word about what they were up to.)

If Peter Sam had trouble keeping secrets, how would he manage to pull off a prank of this scale and planning?

Realising the answer to this, Luke suddenly felt his wheels quake. Well, if it wasn't Peter Sam or Sir Handel's doing… then what was going on? And who was watching them?

Just then, from the bushes near the old station beside them, a loud 'CRACK!' boomed across the yard, and the engines jumped out of their boilers at the sound.

Up in front, Sir Handel screamed as he felt something hot across his face, accompanied by a blinding, dazzling flash of silvery white light that forced him to screw his eyes shut for fear of being blinded. Behind him, Luke was so frightened, that he backed up too fast and accidentally bumped into his cousin.

"Sorry!" Luke gasped.

"Never mind that- let's get out of here!" The other two engines yelled, and the trio raced out of the yard and back towards the Blue Mountain Quarry as fast as they could chuff.

If the engines had hearts like humans did, they would have been beating so fast that everyone from Crovan's Gate to Tidmouth could hear them.

...

Once the three friends had reached the quarry, they all piled into a nearby tunnel for refuge. Feeling too restless and scared to drop off to sleep, they all sat there, trembling like leaves for hours, before the sun finally broke out over the mountain peaks.

"Gosh I thought the sun would never come up." Sir Handel muttered in relief, as he emerged from the tunnel.

"Well, it's over now." Peter Sam agreed with elation. Then he frowned as he recalled last night's events. "Sir Handel, are you alright?"

His friend said nothing.

"Why did you scream last night?" The dark green engine persisted.

"I'm fine, honestly."

"I'll tell Granpuff."

"Taffy tattler," muttered Sir Handel. But he wanted his brother to shut up and leave him be, so he added, "A bullet whizzed past my face last night- it was so close I could feel the heat and see the light from the shot. I had to shut my eyes to stop myself from getting blinded."

Luke winced in guilt and sympathy. Why hadn't he weighed out the risks before making such a huge decision? If he hadn't been so selfish, Sir Handel wouldn't have been in danger, and none of them would be so disturbed and shaken right now.

"I'm sorry, you two. I feel that I shouldn't have agreed to go." Luke apologized his tone heavy with shame. "I just… I just really wanted to get out of the quarry for a bit, to clear my funnel of the chaos screaming in it. You nearly got hurt because of me." This last statement was directed at Sir Handel, who scoffed.

"How were you to know this would happen, Shamrock?" Sir Handel sighed. "No, Luke, it wasn't you fault- it was mine. I shouldn't have suggested the idea to begin with. Duke got one thing about me – I am idiotic and reckless when I choose to be."

Peter Sam felt sorry for his friend. The two had grown up together under Duke's teachings, and although Duke had cared about both of them, he did often call out on Sir Handel's dangerous and foolish behaviour. Peter Sam felt guilty almost all the time whenever Duke made the unintentional mistake of comparing the two brothers as he was the favoured pupil, despite the fact that Sir Handel had often brought himself to whatever crisis he got involved in.

Fortunately, they all had overcome this, and Duke learned how to communicate with his mentees more effectively; and they were all glad they had made peace by the time the line closed; for they were forcibly separated for just over two decades.

"Please don't be upset, Sir Handel." Peter Sam said kindly. "I'm sorry too. I feel responsible for not stopping you and Luke from going. Besides, we might all have been terrified out of our wits, but we all got out in one piece."

"I suppose." His blue friend mused.

"I guess we all share the blame." Luke added softly.

"Well, one thing's for sure- one whisper of this reaches Skarloey, and we're screwed from now until Christmas."

"Sir Handel?"

"Yes?"

"It is Christmas." The two green cousins chorused in deadpan.

"Dammit. Well, we're screwed from now till next Christmas. If we're lucky, we may get time off for good behaviour by Rosh Hashanah." Sir Handel commented sardonically.

...

Despite getting little sleep, the crews all lit their engines' fires, and checked their coal and water supplies before they could start work. Fortunately, things seemed to be in order.

"I better go and shift the gelignite for Mr. Bailey." Luke yawned, rattling off to find those newly delivered trucks.

"Do be careful, Luke," Pleaded his cousin. "It is dangerous stuff, and reckless or tired engines aren't the best for the job."

"I'll do my best, Peter Sam, please don't worry. I'll be fine; especially with Mr. Heron and Mr. Wilson here." Luke promised wearily. "See you two later," and he was off.

But Sir Handel realised something. "Hey, did you notice that Luke said 'Mr Bailey?' Does that mean he knows Old Bailey?"

"Seems like it. Then that means..."

The implication hung in the air, unspoken. Both brothers could do little more than exchange concerned glances before hurrying to get started.

The others would be here soon.

Fortunately for them, Rheneas, Rusty and Duncan all turned up for work at the quarry. Rheneas explained that Skarloey was having trouble building up steam and was stuck at the Depot until his fireman could get him going properly.

Rusty was the first to notice that something was wrong.

….

"The gelignite was meant to be shunted onto the Upper Terrace, not left in this siding." He observed to Luke.

"Oops, sorry Rusty - I forgot where I was meant to shunt it." Luke answered.

"That's alright." He replied. "I'm due up there now, anyway- I'll take this with me." It was when Luke flashed a sleepy, grateful smile when Rusty suspected that something was going on. Normally his smiles were small timid ones or occasionally, when he was in a very good mood, the brightest thing to look at after the sun itself.

He noted that Luke did indeed look like he hadn't slept at all last night, and he was worried about his friend.

"How well did you sleep last night, Luke?" He asked casually.

Much to his surprise, Luke paled, and darted away towards a tunnel before he could blink. "Poor thing," the little diesel murmured, as he watched Luke dart into a tunnel, clearly disturbed by something. "He probably had nightmares again."

"It's best to leave him until he opens up," Said his driver encouragingly.

"Yes, or he'll feel uncomfortable forcing it out," His engineer agreed. "Now we better get to the Upper Terrace- Owen can't be kept waiting, and neither can the blasters."

Rusty agreed, and he set off for the tunnel that led up to the Upper Terrace of the Quarry.

...

Soon, all the machines were whirring away, and the engines were working hard; but it soon became apparent to the others that Sir Handel and Peter Sam had been affected by something. Whenever gelignite above them exploded, they both jumped out of their frames and shook violently.

"Honestly! You twa are just a pair o' wimps!" Duncan snorted rudely. "I'm nae surprised at Peter Sam, but you, Sir Handel"-

"Just drop it, Duncan!" Sir Handel snapped, but his voice quivered in a betraying fashion.

"As rude as that was phrased, Duncan, you do have a point. You never usually jump at rock blasting. Are you two alright?" Rheneas asked worriedly.

"Sir Handel and I sneaked Luke out of the quarry and into the Mid Sodor Railway!" Peter Sam burst out, before Sir Handel could craft some cunning excuse.

"You did what?" Rheneas was boggle eyed and shocked beyond compare.

Duncan smirked. "Well, well, it looks like Perfect Peter Sam is nae sae perfect noo, is he?" He crowed. Peter Sam rolled his eyes at hearing that old joke.

"Oh, do be quiet, Duncan!" Rheneas snapped. Normally, he was very rational and sensible, in contrast to his emotionally based big brother. But right now, even he couldn't believe that these two had done something so stupid and dangerous- and to drag Luke into it, too! "You two do realise that Skarloey will blow a fuse if he finds out about this?" He asked them.

"You know me too well, my dear Rheneas." A familiar voice hissed quietly.

Both Peter Sam and Sir Handel paled in fright when they saw, behind Rheneas, was a cold, icy glare burning with white hot fury.

"You two better explain yourselves- right now." Skarloey spoke with a calm, quiet voice; which implied they were funnel deep in trouble.