A full moon hung beacon-like in the night sky illuminating Sodor. The rows of tenements boarding the outer limits of Tidmouth Hault. The stillness of the night was broken only by the voluminous crashing of the waves along the seaside. All was at peace for the inlet town except for one restless sleeper.
Oliver tossed under his covers, sheets sticking to his soaked shirt and arms as the anxiety prompted night sweats bled through the material. His expression pained as he ground his teeth from the paralyzing discretion of his night terror.
'A lone red bicycle collapsed on the rail kilometers from Haltrough station. Oliver watched in abject horror from the cab window of Number 11 as the engine pounded the rails in unnerving fortitude. Fearful for the passengers his train hauled in the autocoaches, Oliver wretched the brake lever on and held on for dear life as the locomotive seized it's wheel movement. The momentous weight of the train thrust into the back buffer beam propelling the consist onward as Oliver fought for control. He closed his eyes bracing for impact.'
"STOP!" Oliver shouted as his eyes flung open and he sat upright in his full size mattress.
Toad who'd been wheezing contently asleep in the corner was immediately on all fours barking manically before darting to Oliver and jumping on the bed, front paws pressed to his friend's chest.
Oliver looked bemused as he caught his ragged breath. Exhales loudly forced from his mouth as he put a hand on Toad's head. His eyes darted in a constrained manner about his bedroom.
"Aye blimey Toad. What on Earth was all that?"
Toad stared intently into Oliver's sopping disposition. His usual carefree tongue was nowhere to be found. Oliver gave a light ruffle of the fur atop Toad's head and closed his eyes briefly as his breath steadied.
"It was just a dream. It's okay, it was just a dream."
Oliver's brow furrowed as he recalled the last moments of his visions again. It wasn't so much a dream as just reliving his latest run on the branchline. He'd bet Duck that something bad would happen and damned if he wasn't right. Moving past the abrupt stop he remembered the face of the girl who's bike he'd mangled beneath his engine's wheels. Between sobs she told her mother and the police that she couldn't find her bike that morning, only to catch sight of it down the hill from her house on the tracks. Just in time to be crushed beyond repair.
Oliver's heart had never felt so empty. He'd wager everything he had that either Bulgy or Scruffey had nicked the child's bike and staged it on the rails for the accident to happen. Oliver seethed as his mind drew back to this conclusion. If they'd been hoping for a derailment then they would be disappointed. But the casualty was harmful none-the-less.
Oliver shook his head disparagingly before catching Toad's eyes once again. Paws still steady on his chest, tail stood at full attention. Oliver sighed and softly rubbed one of Toad's small pointy ears between his thumb and forefinger.
"You know you're not allowed on the bed."
Toad cocked his head listening before relaxing and sitting on Oliver's lap. Tired eyes softened as he panted lightly, tongue reflected in the moonlight spilling in from the bedside window.
Emily pinched her nose as she slowed Number 12 along the through rails of the docks. The pungent smell of this morning's catch perforated the air from the fishery to the loading platforms. Number 12 chuffed along a line of wagons boarding the crates and pallets ready for loading on the key. The deeper into the dockside she got, the more forceful the fishy odor became.
"Oh aye no. No way. PHHEEEEW" Emily held back a gag as she buried her nose into the elbow of her boilersuit to filter the aroma.
"Tis a lovely smell aye Emily!" Came an unmistakable Scottish accent from the edge of the platform.
Emily lifted her elbow defended nose up to see the two twins standing with their black bandanas tied tightly around the lower half of their faces. Both waving enthusiastically as she rolled past them over the points from the mid-line to the left to back down on the train of fish vans.
"Easeh does it lassie."
"Donnae bump them too hahrd or the crahtes wehl tip."
Emily braked gently and Number 12 barely touched the buffer of the first van. Douglas grabbed a shunting pole laid against the wall of the goods shed on the platform and hitched Emily to her train. Emerging from between the van and tender fanning his face. Donald laughed and looked to Emily with his eyes gleaming.
"Yeh really lucked out today Emily."
"A true honor." Douglas chimed in.
"Yeah well if it's such an honor why aren't either of you taking this train?" Emily's retort muffled through her sleeve.
"We wee lowly peasants would nevehr deny yeh the pleasure." Donald laughed. Douglas chuckled too before offering their actual reasoning.
"Yeh're just the ferst of three trains leaving today. Donnie and I will be righ' behind yeh."
"So we'll all suffer together. Bully." Emily voiced defeatedly.
Donald and Douglas looked to each other before turning back to Emily with looks of determination.
"Tell yeh what lassie. If we all make it to lo' Brendam in one piece.." Started Douglas,
"First round at Awdry's is on us!" Donald finished gallantly.
Emily's genuine grin could be seen in her eyes over her sleeve as she leaned off of her footplate with a hand extended.
"I'll hold you both to that."
Donald and Douglas reached out and simultaneously grasped her hand in a strange tri-grip and all shook.
"To theh fish!"
"To theh fish!"
"TO THE FISH!"
The mix of firebox embers and late November chill mixed pleasantly in Number 1's cab as Thomas stood nonchalantly flipping through his favorite issue of Hornby as he waited for his next train's departure time. As he thumbed from a page on new releases to one of rollingstock, he heard a familiar 'peep peep' come cheekily up the line ahead. Thomas leaned out his cab window and waved as Percy pulled Number 6 steadily along the terminus to brake on the opposite side of the platform. Stepping off the footplate, Thomas made his way through the milling passengers to greet his friend.
"Good morning Percy."
"Good morning my foot." Percy grumbled as he stepped off Number 6. "Have you heard the news?"
Thomas was immediately puzzled and his impatience reflected it.
"I've been en route all morning so no. Out with it Percy."
Percy looked around suspiciously before cupping a hand to his mouth a whispering low.
"Do you remember those surveys we took about a month ago? About new diesels being trialed on the island?"
Thomas blinked twice as his memory dusted the cobwebs.
"I think so. Wow yeah I remember. Everyone was up in arms about it and then conversation just fell off."
"Well raise those arms because guess who's branchline is doing the first trial runs."
Thomas felt his mouth fall agape and made no effort to change it. Surely not his line. Between He running passenger trains and Toby and Percy alternating at the quarry, the line was a well-oiled machine. Percy snapped his fingers demandingly in front of Thomas' face in an attempt to stir any response from him.
"Quit that. I'm allowed to be caught off guard after dropping a bombshell like that. I don't want to learn to drive a diesel. What's wrong with Number 1?"
Percy shrugged and reached back to scratch his neck anxiously.
"Or Number 6 for that matter. I feel so put upon."
Thomas laughed. "Oh Percy's been put upon, poor old Percy."
Percy laughed too and the tension eased momentarily. Thomas clapped Percy on the shoulder, figuring a way to bring some good news to light.
"Well Percy, we'll address it when it happens, but how about doing something tonight? I've just seen Emily at the signal by Tidmouth, she says there's a group going to Awdry's tonight."
"The place in Knapford right off the station?"
"I think so. Just casual. Might be a good time to 'blow off some steam'."
Thomas emphasized his last words to an unimpressed groan from his friend.
"That could be nice. I'd feel bad though since I wasn't directly invited."
"What are you talking about? I'm inviting you." Thomas frowned.
"I guess that's true." Percy pulled out his green handkerchief and began mechanically wiping down his hands. "Are you hungry?"
"It's not even noon Percy." Thomas chided. An eyebrow raised as he turned to see if the cafe in the station was open yet. As his eyes scanned the platform, his breath caught in his throat as his gaze fixated on one individual.
A mauve fascinator stood out from the crowd as the lady wearing a matching ensemble glided amongst the masses toward the ticket counter. Her gold bangles tinkling in the early afternoon sun as she unclasped her pocketbook. As she exchanged for a ticket, the realization dawned on Thomas that she'd be boarding his train. He licked his lips as he realized his entire mouth had gone dry. A dull patting sensation on his back anchored him out of his thoughts.
"See you're hungry too! And you make me feel foolish for it." Percy huffed as he ceased his thumps for attention.
"Percy…." Thomas started, his voice trailing off as he remained focused on the lady now standing by Number 1's coaches and looking curiously at the passersby.
"Thomas…" Percy mocked in tone and presence as he prompted further conversation.
"Do you… who is that?"
"Sherman? He's been your guard for ages."
"No, not him, her."
Percy came shoulder to shoulder with Thomas and followed his eyeline.
"What? The big hat lady?"
"Big Hat Lady?" Thomas repeated the words with venom as he turned his head to Percy. "How dare you."
"Oh look! She sees us… HI!"
Percy waved jovially as Thomas' head snapped back her direction. She was indeed looking their way. And here they both were just staring at her side by side. Thomas felt his face go hot with a blush to match. Sherman the guard blew his whistle, and Thomas speed-walked his way to Number 1's cab as the throng of passengers made their way into his coaches. The lady in question lost from his eyeline.
Gordon stretched tall and broadly as he descended the footplate of Number 4 onto the platform at Tidmouth. He had a brief interlude as new coaches were added to his train for the return trip to Vicarstown, which offered him a moment to recover with his feet up in the break room off the main station.
Making the easy jaunt from Platform One he opened the break room door to find James already occupying the seat closest to the stovepipe furnace that was compensating for the colder temperatures.
"Hello Gordon."
"James."
The terseness seemed to be lost of James as the man in question took an obnoxiously loud sip from his tea, the day's paper resting on his lap. Gordon went to the kettle to pour his own as he decided to lead the conversation on his own terms.
"Any news today."
James flexed the paper to give it rigidity as he browsed down the front page.
"I haven't seen anything too worthwhile. Not since that dieselization article Edward told me about when I last drove the local."
Gordon rolled his eyes and snorted as he seeped his tea. He migrated to an armchair across from James and reached for the paper expectantly.
"Utter nonsense. Number 4 can run circles around any diesel any day of the week."
"Number 5 too. You're right it's nonsense."
Gordon let loose a sigh as he fought back his annoyance at James 'yes-man'ing everything he said. Choosing to change the subject before he lost his temper.
"How is Edward lately. It's been ages since I've seen him."
"He seems well." James picked up a biscuit before setting it back down, eyeing the crumbs that had fallen to his boilersuit by merely touching it. He brushed them away and continued. "Hasn't let his age stop him yet. Plus with Rosie now at Wellsworth he's managing just fine."
Gordon smiled to himself. Remembering Edward's deeds in the years past. His admiration for the older driver was unwavering.
"I'm glad to hear that. I really must catch up with him soon."
"Well you'll see him tonight. He said he was coming at least."
Gordon folded over the paper he'd been using to block his sightline of James and looked to him quizzically.
"Where exactly am I to be tonight?"
"Oh! You haven't heard?"
The sheer pompousness in James' voice crawled so deep under Gordon's skin that he physically shivered in agitation.
"I obviously haven't."
"Well then, just so you know…" James crossed one leg over the other and stirred his tea sardonically as his lip curled in narcissistic relishing. "Edward saw Emily at the docks and was told of a group outing to Awdry's tonight. Edward insisted I should come, and now, Gordon, my dear friend, I'd be honored if you'd come as my guest."
"Oh the indignity." Gordon shuddered. The word no poised on his lips, but held by momentary hesitation. He remembered the last time he'd gone to Awdry's with his coworkers. He and Henry had shot darts and Edward and Toby led a chorus at the piano in the corner. The end of the night was fuzzy but he recalled having a rather pleasant time. But to go as James' guest… His rebuttal was sharp and unforgiving.
"You don't need to bring a guest to a pub. Maybe I'll see you there if I'm not busy."
James' plastered smile faltered as he let out a light snort of indignation.
Gordon smirked into his tea.
The reddening hues of the setting sun cast deep artistic shadows through Vicarstown station's rafted skylights. Rebecca's final express having terminated, she was set to shift over to the turntable in the yard and make the return journey to the sheds. At her stop-off at Knapford she'd heard from Rosie in the yard who'd been told by Percy who'd be invited by Thomas after being informed by Emily that there was a get-together at a pub called Awdry's at the station. She had never been and didn't want to miss out on the fun, however her new habit rooted her to number 27's footplate at the empty platform with an empty train.
The past few evenings as she finished her route, she'd hang around the station and watch the remaining engines from the other railway depart with their trains. When questioned by the guards or porters she simply stated she was interested in all the different diesels that were now becoming commonplace with the connecting trains, but realistically that was all a front.
She intently eyed any locomotives specifically arriving with goods to be shunted for tomorrow's trains. Looking for any sight, any sign… that someone was on a mission.
She clutched her boilersuit tight to her chest. A letter in her inner pocket pressed against her person that she was still apprehensive about sending.
Without a return address she was relying on finding the third party driver mentioned in Gordon's reading that she could hopefully sway to be her messenger.
The large clock on the support beam chimed seven and Rebecca felt her hopes dash, again. She let loose a sigh and craned her head back to look over the tender as she pulled the reverser on Number 27, heading toward the turntable in the yard.
As the large Bulleid shifted over the points, a Class 28 rumbled quietly over the bridge to the island, reducing its speed as it approached the station at the border. With Sodor in its sights, the diesel and driver prepared to drop off their extra passenger back to his home.
Hullo friends! This was fun to write =) I love getting to play with more intimate dialogue scenes. Next chapter should be something different but hopefully as enjoyable! A chance to utilize all the characters together in one space again!
As always thanks so much for reading =) -REN