Chapter two
Kate didn't dream that night.
It seemed as though her mind wouldn't relent bombarding her with worries and residual anger. As the sun streaked daylight through her room, she sprung up amd threw the large comforter off of her body. As she looked to her bedside table, she kissed her middle and index finger; placing them to the book's cover.
"Today is the day." She whispered softly. Filled with determination, she packed as many items for adventure she assumed would be needed. Going off of a mental checklist for being out on the island the whole day. She toted her school backpack around the house, careful not to wake her parents.
As she packed a third water bottle and a light jacket that refused to stay out of the zipper's way, she flung the backpack over her shoulder and quietly left the flat. Careful to lock the door as slowly as she could behind her. Possibly too painfully slow. The moment the key left the lock she flew down the three flights of stairs and rushed into the early morning air.
Dew stuck to blades of grass she walked over with her nearly knee-length boots. Leggings tucked neatly beneath her flowing skater skirt. She dusted off the long-sleeved shirt that tucked into her skirt and gripped both straps of her backpack.
Her long, chestnut colored hair tied back into a ponytail that swished back and forth as she walked along the main road that lead to the train yard.
Kate checked her watch. Nodding at the 6:45 timestamp the neat hands of the clock provided to her. "Early bird catches the rat." She spoke out loud with an indignation that the rat in this case went by the name Lyra.
Many workers and townsfolk waved at her as she made her way through town. Making sure to shake the postman's hand as she often seen her father do.
"You're going to school in the middle of summer?" The postman asked jokingly.
"Not at all, I'm on an adventure." She replied. Then she would wave and carry on to her destination.
Periodically she would stop and gaze at the map she had tucked away in a side pocket of her pack. Attempting to match landmarks and road names. Kate was having a wonderful time until she realized the time had gone by for what seemed like forever and her legs begged for her to stop and rest. She took a seat at the side of the road and opened up a water bottle. She calculated the remaining time amd with her current travel speed, she figured she would arrive at the yard very close to nightfall. She promised herself she'd try to pick up the pace, just in case.
Kate hummed to herself for a while. Songs she heard on her radio, some she learned from her mother when she was younger and they used to dance while cooking in the flat's kitchen. Songs she learned at school. She would be a junior next year in high school, and that in and of itself terrified her. She dreaded work and deciding on what her life would become.
Just as the sun was setting, Kate approached the Tidmouth rail yard. She ducked down and walked along the chicken wire fence until she came to a gate with a combination lock. She stared at it and sighed. It would be easier just to jump. She slid her backpack off and chucked it over the fence. It landed with a thud and kicked up some dust. She looked around and couldn't see anyone, so she persisted.
She climbed on the fence and slid one leg over. The fence rattled under her weight, and she cringed at the noise. In the distance she heard a muffled noise and the settling of metal. Kate stayed absolutely still. Hanging onto the top of the fence as tightly as she could. She realized then, that she was directly behind a shed on the west end of the yard. She let out a deep breath and waited until she was sure no one was around. Hoping down into the yard, she picked up her backpack and walked as briskly and as quietly as she could over to the side of the shed. She peeked around the front and saw lights from a trolley taking men home to their families. She searched for her father, but was unsuccessful. She let out a long sigh of relief as the trolley pulled away out of sight.
"Do you belong to one of them?" A voice boomed from the shed. Kate squealed, jumping back and nearly falling on her backside. Gazing up at the engine before her she became awestruck. His face was amused, yet curious, and his body was painted a friendly blue.
"Wh-Who are you?" Kate chirped out nervously. Embarrassed she had been caught.
"I recall asking first." Responded the engine with a chuckle. "But as you say... My name is Edward. Will you enlighten me to yours?"
"K...Kate." She replied sheepishly. "And I don't belong to anyone." Retorting a little more indignantly than before.
"I see." Edward tilted himself to one side as of his weight sat on one side of the track. "So where did you come from? You're not lost, are you?"
"Not at all." Kate hefted the backpack on her shoulders. "Can you point me in the direction of Percy's shed?"
Edward watched her for a good few seconds. As if he couldn't quite decide what to make of the girl. "And if I help you?" A sly smile lit up his face. "What if I'm aiding in a robbery? Are you here to steal Percy's coal?"
Kate snorted a laugh. "I'm not a thief!" She shook her head as if that was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.
"Not a thief, huh? Then why have you brought a large backpack with you?"
Kate's face fell. "I... I brought food for myself. And my sketchbook."
Edward's face softened. "I see. So you are a runaway."
"No." Kate stated flatly. "I didn't run away. I have every intention of returning home. Once I'm finished with my mission."
"And what mission is that?"
"Frankly, Sir, it is none of your business."
Edward chuckled again. Not just at the fact the girl had called him sir but the absurdity of her in his presence at that time of night and claiming to not be a runaway. "It may not be my business, but Percy is a friend of mine, and whatever business you have with him in a way also concerns me and the Controller."
Kate's stomach fell. Did Edward truly threaten her with the boss himself, Sir Thopam Hat? "Please don't tell a soul," Kate pleaded. "It would ruin everything."
"Then if you really have such pure intentions, you wouldn't be opposed to proving you're not going to hurt the other engine."
Kate sighed and took her backpack off yet again. One knee hitting the dirt just beside Edward's track. She pulled her sweatshirt out first.
"A disguise." Edward mused. Kate looked up at him with a scowl. She then pulled out her book and her pencil pouch. "A map and lockpocking tools." Came the same musing reply. Kate threw her hands on her backpack and looked at him angrily. Edward smiled back innocently at her. She then removed her water bottles and a few bags of dried fruit and nuts. "Provisions for the hostage."
"Will you please cut that out?" Kate snapped. Edward chuckled yet again, and Kate had to wonder if he was playing some game with her she wasn't privy to.
"Don't be so upset, now," Edward soothed. "I can see you intend no harm and you seem to be only staying for a night. What do you like to draw?"
Kate felt herself bottle up nervousness. She didn't have any intention of showing the train her diagrams of those who looked like him. She worried it would make her intent look much less pure. It may even weird him out. She looked down at the sketchbook and felt a knot in her throat.
"I'm..I'm...not very good." She choked out. Gordon lifted an eyebrow, sensing her discomfort.
"You don't need to show me anything you don't want to." Edward gave a kind smile. "I'm sure you're just as good at drawing as any accomplished artist. If more students had faith in their work then there's no doubt in my mind you could make a very good living."
As Kate brought the book to her chest defensively, she almost began to cry. No one had told her something so kind when it came to her diagrams. Her classmates would just retort that they looked boring, and her parents would try to push her to follow her father's footsteps. "Thank you, Edward." She whispered. The engine smiled back at her kindly.
"Thank you for humoring me, Kate." The engine no longer had the air of curiosity about him. "Percy is in the rotunda sheds just beyond this one. He isn't alone, so please be careful not to wake anyone."
As she gathered everything back into her backpack, Kate thanked the number 2 engine and rose to her feet. Looking ahead into the dark she could see the outline of the rotunda and the large building that housed the other engines. Looking back at Edward, she gave him a kind smile. He winked at her and retreated back into his shed.
Striding up to the side of the sheds, Kate's hand ran across the building's wall. With only the moonlight to guide her, she walked over the tracks of multiple engines she knew couldn't be Percy. One Blue, one Red, one Green who wasn't Percy. And then she saw him. Sleeping soundly within his shed, Kate saw for the first time in years her father's engine. She wondered if this was a good idea. Too frightened to step into the building. Coming ever closer to what felt forbidden. Her heart beat a loud rhythm in her head as she stepped inside. Gripping her backpack straps so hard her fingers hurt. Wondering why she never felt this way when Edward had approached her. Seeing Percy now, here, not imagining it felt like a sin. Like Sir Thopam Hat would walk out from behind Percy's sleeping form and arrest her on the spot. Her face felt hot as she held onto a siderail. It led onto a platform that made her feet level with his face.
As she put down her backpack and pulled out her sweatshirt, she couldn't sneak around in the trains quarters without him knowing. Gathering her faith and retracing her steps in the dark. Tiptoing down the way she came. At once coming face to face with the small train.
"Uh...Percy..." She whispered.
The train slept on.
"Percy..." She whispered an octave louder.
The train slept on.
"Percy!" Her voice echoed once in the large space.
The green engine sniffed and scrunched his face as he began to wake. "Hrrh... huh?" His voice was soft and groggy. "What is it... am I late for the mail?" Percy's eyes shot open and looked directly at Kate. He shouted in surprise.
Kate shouted in surprise and covered her mouth with both hands.
"Who are you?! What do you want? I didn't lose your letters I promise!"
"Ssshhhh-!" Kate put a finger to her mouth and the other one outstretched to Percy in an attempt to quiet him down. She became acutely aware of his breathing, and she looked down his side curiously as he let out deep breaths. Trying to imagine how it was possible. Her eyes flicked up to his stack as smoke bellowed out into the night. She tilted her head in curiosity.
"What are you doing?" Percy whispered to her. Kate listened for any movement and once she was satisfied that, surprisingly, no one had awoken, she lowered her hands.
"I need your help, Percy." Kate held her left elbow with her other hand.
"My help?" Percy seemed irritated. "That's why you woke me? I don't know who you are, but you could get us both in a lot of trouble." The last word trembled in Percy's throat. "I don't want to work the docks again this week." Something like distress filled his eyes.
"We won't get in trouble." Kate tried to soothe the train. "I... I'm going to take whatever blame comes my way. With trespassing and whatever else."
"Why my help?" Percy asked.
"Because my father is having an affair with a co-worker." Her voice trembled despite her willing it not to. "His name is Jeremy. Jeremy Spearing. He's your driver. You're the shunting engine, Percy, are you not?"
"Of course I am." Percy responded, gazing at her in a new light. "You are Kate?"
"You...know who I am?"
"Yes, how could I forget? I remember when you were merely a baby." Percy looked her over again. "You've... seemed to have grown up."
"Well, people tend to do that." She attempted to hide her smile with the back of her hand.
"It is good to see you again." The green engine settled calmly back onto his tracks. "Though, untimely as it may be."
"Percy?" A gentle voice called from the mouth of the shed. "Are you alright?"
"That's Thomas." Percy whispered, and Kate scurried onto the platform as Percy slowly chugged his way to the opening. "I'm fine!" Percy spoke reassuringly. "Just a nightmare I think."
"You think?" Came Thomas' retort. "You should know if you have a nightmare or not."
"I'm sorry to wake you." Said Percy patiently.
"It's alright. I'm going back to sleep, please keep it down."
Percy retreated back with a cheeky smile on his face. "We should whisper from now on." His smile was infectious. Kate giggled and nodded in agreement.