WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SMUDGER?
CHAPTER 7: Run to Me
The Old Controller's railway is very special. It has special adaptors that allow British Gauge engines to run on Narrow Gauge tracks. The Narrow Gauge lines are laid in between the British Gauge lines, so that they can be on the rails at the same time.
Smudger didn't know this, so that would explain why he was jolted from his sleep when he saw a 2-8-0 pulling a long load of freight past the shed, whistling loudly.
"What the heck!" he cried, watching it pass.
San was used to this, and he chucked at Smudger. "Don't you remember Retsu-san tell you about the rail adaptors yesterday?" he asked with a grin.
Smudger blinked. "Erm…no, not really."
Just then, the Old Controller arrived. "Good morning," he greeted, "Here's today's schedule: Edward Mann-san and Candy-chan will be double-heading the morning goods train, Naruka-san will be doing maintenance with the new route by the dam, and Smadger-san, I need you to shunt trucks in the yard, then take the midnight goods. That will be all."
He walked away to his office while San and Candy puffed away to get to work. Naruka trundled away to the dam, and Smudger puffed to the yard, now knowing where it is without getting lost. He got held up at the signal box, however, and was a tad late when he got there. Retsu wasn't pleased.
"Damn American engines, slow as hell and don't even try to work—"
"Why don't you shut it?" snapped Smudger, tired to Retsu's racial slurs.
Retsu glared at the small engine. "You'll be sorry…" he snorted.
Later that day, Retsu arrived with trucks loaded with freight. He pushed them onto a platform and they lowered into the ground. Smudger, knowing he'd never be able to get used to so many technical stuff and that he'd see something new every day for the rest of his life, watched with interest.
Some of his trucks in the siding tipped to the side facing the larger rails. The larger trucks, now next to the Narrow Gauge line, opened on the side facing the small railway. The smaller trucks, held by some weird yellow pipe under them, came toward the bigger trucks and scooped the loads out of the big trucks and into the small ones, then landed gently back onto the rails. The yellow pipes detached and the trucks sat there, waiting to be pulled away.
San soon arrived and took the trucks away, while Candy took some other trucks from another siding.
Soon, the trucks were all shunted away just as the sun was setting. Smudger puffed quickly away to the Transfer Yards, where his goods train was waiting. He coupled up and set off into the valley.
Along the way, he had to stop at a signal close to the shed. Naruka was in the shed, getting his engine inspected.
"Hey what's up!" called out Smudger and whistled happily.
"Hello, Smadger-san!" replied Naruka and tooted happily, startling his inspector, "How do you like it here so far?"
"It's pretty cool!" he called back, grinning, "I like it here."
The signal dropped. "Can't stay and chat, got goods to deliver, places to go, things to do!" he said and steamed away.
"No wait!" called out Naruka, but it was too late. Smudger was out of site.
Smudger enjoyed his run through the valley. It was beautiful during the day, but at night I was a sight to behold. Everything glistened in the moonlight, the river looking more sleep and rich as it soaked in the light from the moon. The grass seemed to glow a wonderful blue, and the pagoda by the lake looked natural and astounding. The lake reflected most of the moon and stars, Smudger looking at his own reflection as he past it.
"Beautiful…" he murmured to himself.
Presently he made it to the yard, which was lit up by lots of lamps. It was a bust place indeed; people were everywhere, loading cargo into trucks and looking over schedules. Retsu was on the other line, getting loaded up with freight just as Smudger pulled in.
"Bout time," he snorted as he rumbled away. Smudger was detached from his freight and turned on a turntable and set for home.
He was soon heading down the mainline and almost made home if not for the sleepy signalman, who left the signal at "Danger". Smudger had to stop, waiting for the signalman to notice he was there.
If you have been paying attention, Naruka, earlier, tried to tell Smudger something before he left. He was trying to tell him that the signalman on that line was off-duty, and that he had to whistle to get his attention.
But Smudger never whistled, so the signalman forgot him. Smudger waited and waited, getting very impatient. Suddenly he heard something terrifying: a low, furious diesel horn.
He froze in fear and looked ahead. In the distance, he could see a small light getting bigger by the second. He couldn't see what had the light on it, but as the object came close, Smudger went white with fear when he realized what has happening.
Retsu was dead ahead, coming at him, not knowing that Smudger was there. A over 30-ton Diesel engine was about to collide head-on into a 10-ton Narrow Gauge engine.
Smudger gulped and braced for impact.
TO BE FRIGGIN CONTINUED