WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SMUDGER?
CHAPTER 5: Be Your Friend
There were three other engines in Smudger's shed.
One was a small red engine named Edward Mann, also called EM. He was a bit stuck-up, and was bossy. But he was also friendly, like a big brother kind of person. "If you think that you're better than me," he said, "then you might as well be scrap. But if you wanna learn, go ahead."
The other steam engine was called Candy, and she was yellow and looked like two boxes and a barrel with a funnel sticking out. "Don't think you're getting any breaks," she said, "because we never got any either."
The last engine in the shed was a small white diesel named Naruka. He was the young, hyper kind of engine that hated sitting still. He didn't even acknowledge Smudger's presence as they started the engines up for work.
"I hope I get to go up the mountain today," he tooted, "Haven't been up there in a while…"
EM snorted. "Not today, Naruka-san," he snorted, "It's Smadger-san's turn. He's new and needs to learn the line."
Naruka was cross. Smudger was confused. Why did they called him Smadger?
Smudger puffed out of the shed and collected some trucks from a siding. His driver, looking at a map, flipped a switch on the rails and Smudger puffed down the line.
Ahead of him was a steep hill. Before he could go up, the signal changed to "Danger" and he had to stop.
EM appeared next to him. "Ok, I'm here to help you out. But don't think that means we're friends or nothing."
Smudger rolled his eyes. "Of course not, EM," he snorted as EM puffed up behind Smudger's train.
Suddenly EM rammed Smudger's train, nearly derailing the American engine. He was shocked. "What was that for!" he snapped.
"You will not call me EM, you stupid Gaijin," snorted EM, "You will refer to me as, and ONLY as, San."
"Why?" asked Smudger.
"Because I don't trust you. Now let's get moving," he said as the signaled dropped.
Smudger puffed up the hill with San snorting and growling behind. As they traveled, Smudger pondered if he would like this new railway. And he also wondered what on Earth Gaijin meant. Was it some kind of slang term?
He couldn't be worried for long. The route to the quarry was absolutely beautiful. They passed through a valley filled with trees and green grass, which was covered in the morning dew as it shined in the brilliant sunshine. Small, purple flowers were growing on the trees and a small river flowed through the valley close to the line, the two engines and the sun shining in the water's reflection. It was a marvelous sight indeed.
"You like the view?" called out San.
Smudger grinned. "Yeah, it's incredible," he replied.
"You don't see lots of places like this anymore, because industries and factories spoil such wonderful places like this. Our railway is different. We cherish such sites as these and work hard to keep them alive."
"I see," said Smudger.
As they puffed along, they turned a bend and finally arrived at the quarry. There were lots of trucks filled with stones, and a small tunnel had some pipes along the inside.
"Shunt the trucks into the tunnel," ordered San.
Smudger, slightly confused, shunted the trucks into the tunnel. Suddenly he heard a low rumbling noise and the trucks slid into the tunnel and disappeared from view. He was surprised. "What happened?" he asked.
"Just watch," said San, grinning.
Suddenly, the trucks came out, fully loaded with rock and gravel. Smudger stared in amazement. "How did that happen?" he wondered out loud.
"It's a special system only OUR railway uses," said San with a chuckle, "Now then, let's takes these trucks and head back."
The two collected the loaded trucks and set off back. The two soon started talking about their old lines, and soon were talking and laughing like old friends.
As the two shunted the loaded trucks into a siding, San spoke again. "You know, you're not too bad, for an American engine." And with that, he puffed back to the shed.
That night, Smudger had a very peculiar dream. He was back in the valley, but the trees were dead, the grass was grey and dry, and scrapped steam engines lay everywhere, spoiling the already disturbing view. As far as he could see, there was no life anywhere.
He suddenly heard a puffing sound. Gold, gleaming tracks appeared ahead of him, and a shining purple engine appeared on them in a cloud of shining gold dust. Next to her was Duke, with Stuart and Falcon following closely behind.
"You will never forget," she said in a cool voice, "It is in your blood. You will return when the time is right."
Smudger snapped awake. He looked up at the sky, wondering about the dream as he drifted back asleep, listening to the sleep whistles from Candy and thepuffing of a distant engine…
TO BE FRIGGIN CONTINUED