Luke suddenly woke up to see an unfamiliar and very strange looking red car on rails making its way along the line. Or at least, that was what it looked like- he couldn't see. It was too dark to see. "Rheneas," He whispered softly, but the older engine just snored in reply, making Luke freak out even more.
"Rheneas, please wake up! There's something here with us!" He hissed as loudly as he dared, finally managing to get his friend's attention.
"What is it Luke...?" Rheneas yawned, blinking blearily at his surroundings, before his fog addled mind quickly realised that the two engines weren't alone; as established by an unfamiliar noise juddering and bumping in the dark outside; as a result, poor Luke was trembling.
"Shh, Luke, it will okay- it'll leave." Gallant Old Engine whispered consolingly, even though he himself wasn't so certain of that sentiment.
...
"Are you sure about this, Peregrine?" Asked Sir Topham curiously.
"Where else would this engine be, Sir Topham? I'm going to bed with migraines just trying to find out what's happened to this engine and if he's been here all this time..." Replied his colleague, rubbing his temple.
"I apologise for the objection, sir, but why would your engines have any reason to hide a new one here?" Asked Winston curiously. "It just doesn't seem very logical or sensible at all… not to mention impossible to achieve, Mr. Percival, sir."
"Winston is right- there's no way your engines would have a feasible motive or means of execution of such an idea." The Fat Controller agreed. "Perhaps Mr. Pound is trying to wind you up into great scandal- I am aware he is not fond of your railway. I read about his visit here in the papers."
"He hates steam engines in general, Topham, and if I don't find that missing engine soon, I will never be able to find another engine anywhere thanks to the wretched media. After all, who loses an engine before you've even met him or her?"
The Fat Controller paused thoughtfully.
"Yes, indeed. This is a problem. Though if you do require an engine, I know my friend Sir Robert is returning to the Island very soon, and he has a narrow-gauge engine you might be able to borrow should you require her." He suggested.
"But that's no use, Topham! That engine must be found and dealt with, immediately!" Mr. Percival snapped, then inhaled. "I do appreciate the offer," he continued, carefully. "It's just… I'd rather have my own engine here, than another man's… however, I'll keep your offer in mind."
Poor Luke could barely stifle a squeak of fright on hearing the two men as they passed by… but he was glad that his dear friend Rheneas was here- otherwise he would have given the game up long ago.
As for his companion, Rheneas was angry that they would dare speak of Luke like a... like a rat loose in a kitchen that needed to be dealt with!
"What do we do, Rheneas?" Luke asked timidly.
"We'll think of something yet, so don't lose faith, Luke." Rheneas replied, but his heart sank when he saw the track car's headlights glaring at the rails, the two controllers holding on for dear life as they scrutinised every nook and cranny they could think of, narrowing the hunt down, down...
Until only the tunnels were left. And, to a young engine like Luke, they looked like something that could swallow you into an unknown realm. Poor Rheneas knew they didn't have that bliss...of being swallowed into oblivion before they were found. What else could they do?
He could feel Luke trembling like a leaf behind him, and his own heart quivered.
"...Luke?" he asked quietly.
He heard his friend gasp- and a pair of headlights parked outside the tunnel mouth, causing the brave old engine to stiffen with fright. He didn't even know why he was afraid- Luke was the one who would be shipped off Sodor permanently. He would just get into a lot of trouble for hiding an engine in the quarry, and lying- the same as Skarloey and the others.
Suddenly, his thoughts were cut off when something small and dark flew past him, causing him to jump out of his boiler in shock. The shape sailed out of the tunnel, squeaking and screeching loudly at the red car, the Fat Controller and the Thin Controller.
"Um, on second thoughts, I think we better call the search off for now, Topham, and deal with...another issue here, first." Mr. Percival said, going pale.
"Good idea, Peregrine- come along, Winston!" The Fat Controller said cheerfully, tapping Winston's side affectionately before lifting the hand brake.
"Coming sir!" Answered the red car faithfully, as he felt himself jerk forward roughly.
"Go raibh míle maith Spéartha!" Luke whispered in heartfelt relief as he and Rheneas watched the two men drive in the car- Winston. "We're safe!"
"And to think- that one lone bat that saved us!" Chuckled Rheneas heartily. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes, he is." Luke admitted shyly. "He doesn't do much in here in the day, and nor do I, so we're quite compactible."
The old engine laughed again. Luke was a queer fellow, but he was very charming, too. He seemed to have a knack for animals- he remembered the incident with the Irish setter spaniel long before.
"Go raibh maith agat, Peter!" Luke called to the bat, who screeched in response.
"Goodness, you certainly have a loud guest!" Rheneas exclaimed in shock. He had heard bats before, on his night runs on the Skarloey Railway; but he had never heard one as loud as Luke's little friend.
"Hm," Agreed Luke thoughtfully, staring up to where his friend was flying round his funnel. "Well, I did think Banshee was a better name, but that's too morbid..." he sighed quietly.
"How so?"
Luke explained that the banshee was a female spirit that was an omen of death where he came from, which unsettled his companion. He also understood the unspoken connotations behind Luke's first choice.
"So why the name Peter?" he asked curiously. "I thought an Irish name like Patrick might have been your first choice.
Luke blushed. "It was… but, well, do you remember when I mentioned I had a brother, but I never knew him? I'm hoping that maybe I could meet him one day. Skarloey told me you and he both have twin brothers in Wales that you sometimes see." He voice dropped. "But I doubt he'll want to meet me... especially with so shameful a secret."
"Luke, if there's one thing I've learned with family, especially being Skarloey's brother, it's that family isn't about being perfect- what's important is learning from mistakes and continuing to love and support each other through the bad times as well as share the good times."
Luke didn't say anything more, but he was very thankful that Rheneas had been there. He smiled, suddenly realising that the excitement was giving way to fatigue. "Thank..." yawn "... you for...helping me, Rheneas..." He yawned sleepily, surprised to find how tired he was once the excitement from before had worn off.
"You're welcome, Luke. Good night."
"Good night...and good night, Peter." Luke mumbled sleepily in reply. Peter squeaked back before disappearing deep into the tunnel. Luke nodded off too, which left Rheneas, wide eyed and alert, all night long- unable to find salvation in sleep.
