The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 2
Episode 8: Duck Takes Charge
"Do you know what?" asked Percy.
"What?" grunted Gordon.
"Do you know what?" asked Musa.
"Silly!" said Gordon. "Of course I don't know what. If you don't tell me what what is."
"Sir Topham Hatt says that the work in the yard is too heavy for me and Musa. He's getting a bigger engine to help us."
"That's right," said Musa. "It would be nice to have someone to help us."
"Rubbish!" said James. "Any engine could do it. If you work more and chattered less, this yard would be a sweeter, a better and a happier place."
Percy went off with Musa to get some coaches. "That stupid old signal!" he thought. They were remembering the time he misunderstood a signal and gone backwards instead of forwards. "Musa, no one listens to me now. They think I'm a silly little engine and order me about. I'll show them, I'll show them." But he didn't know how.
By the end of the afternoon, they felt tired and unhappy. They brought some coaches to Knapford Station.
"Hello, Percy," said Sir Topham Hatt. "You and Musa look tired."
"Yes sir, we are, sir. I don't know if I'm standing on my dome or on my wheels."
"That goes double for me, sir," said Musa. "I don't know if I'm standing on my head or on my feet."
"You two look the right way up to me," laughed Sir Topham Hatt. "Cheer up. The new engine is bigger than you and can properly do the work alone. Would you two like to help build my new harbor? Thomas, Bloom, Toby and Roxy will help too."
"Oh, yes, sir! Thank you, sir!" whistled Percy.
"Yes, thank you, sir," said Musa. "We would be happy to help."
The new engine arrived.
"What's your name?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Montague, sir, but I'm usually called 'Duck'. They say I waddle. I don't really, sir, but I like Duck better than Montague."
"Good. Duck it shall be."
Soon, Percy and Musa arrived.
"Percy and Musa, this is Duck," said Sir Topham Hatt. "He's a tank engine from the Great Western Railway. His original name is Montague, but we'll call him by his nickname."
"Pleased to meet you, Duck," said Percy.
"Same here," said Musa. "And I kinda like your nickname, Duck. I think it suits you."
"Why, thank you, Musa," said Duck.
Finally, Sir Topham Hatt spoke, "Here, Percy and Musa, show Duck around."
Musa and the two engines went off together. Soon they were very busy.
James, Gordon, Henry and the other fairies watched Duck quietly doing his work.
"Wow!" said Flora. "He is an amazing and strong tank engine."
"Indeed," said Henry. "He seems a simple sort of engine."
But James laughed, "Are you nuts? What kind of engine is named after a bird?"
"Well," said Stella, "it is kind of unusual."
"Exactly," said James, "So we'll have some fun and order him about."
"Uh-oh," said Aisha. "This is not good."
"QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!"
"Wheesh!" Smoke billowed everywhere.
Percy and Musa were cross, but Duck took no notice. "They'll get tired of it soon. Do they tell you and Musa to do things, Percy?"
"Yes, they do," answered Percy.
"You wouldn't believe it," said Musa, "but before you arrived, they played a trick on me and Percy about backing signals. Someone must show them some respect on Sir Topham Hatt's railway."
"Right," said Duck. "We'll soon stop that nonsense." He whispered something. "We'll do it later."
Sir Topham Hatt was looking forward to hot-buttered toast for tea at home. Suddenly, he heard an extraordinary noise.
"Wheesh!"
"Snort! Snort!"
"Get off that turntable!" shouted Stella.
"Bother!" he said and hurried to the yard.
Duck, Percy and Musa calmly sat on the switches outside the sheds, refusing to let the engines in. Gordon, James, Henry and the other fairies were furious and began shouting and whistling.
"Stop that noise!" bellowed Sir Topham Hatt.
"They won't let us in!" hissed Gordon.
"Duck, explain this behavior."
"Beg pardon, sir, but I'm a Great Western Engine. We do our work without fuss. But begging your pardon, sir. Percy, Musa and I will be glad if you would inform these, um, engines that we only take orders from you."
When they heard that, James and Gordon blew their whistles loudly.
"QUIET!" called Sir Topham Hatt. "Percy, Musa and Duck, I am pleased with your work today, but not with your behavior tonight. You have caused a disturbance. But I'll let you three off with a warning."
Gordon, Henry and James snickered.
"As for you," thundered Sir Topham Hatt, "you've been worse. You made the disturbance. Duck is quite right. This is my railway and I give the orders."
After Percy and Musa went away, Duck was left to manage alone. He did so... easily!
The End
