Chapter 2 - Casualty Of War
Ten Minute Prior...
Henry was pulling a goods train towards the mainland. He passed Edward and the rubble, giving a toot on his way past. Once they were out of the damaged zone, his driver opened up the throttle.
"Easy there partner!" The fireman yelled. "Speed restrictions!"
"What for, we've passed the bombings!"
Henry's fireman pointed behind him. "For the dynamite!"
Henry's train was a long line of explosives and munitions, and he was barreling along the main line. He felt the edge to sneeze, so he did. A dark black cloud puffed out of his funnel. He then passed the next station, where the station master was shouting at them. They struggled to hear him as they passed.
"Liar?" The fireman guessed
"That can't be it..." the driver pondered. The fireman stuck his head out to try and make out a red flag. "Wire" The driver guessed.
"FIRE!" The fireman yelled.
"What about it Phil?!"
"A wagon is on fire!" The fireman clarified as they heard the guards whistle from the back of the train.
"Well do something about it!" Henry panicked.
His fireman yelled the plan to the guard, grabbed the hose in the cab, and started spraying the fire. The driver sped up the train, hoping to get to the next station quickly.
As they passed the signal box the guard jumped off the train and ran up to the box.
"Get the fire department at the next station!" He yelled to the signalman, who ran instantly to the phone.
Soon Henry and his crew were almost at the station, Henry whistled loudly as his fireman uncoupled the wagons.
The auto brakes on the vans snapped on, causing a jolt in the wagons.
Then it happened.
The van on fire exploded, starting a chain reaction. Henry was scorched, bent and thrown of the rails head first into the platform.
Gordon saw the explosion ahead of him. The shockwave almost threw him off the rails. When he arrived he saw firetrucks and ambulances, escorting injured people away.
Then he saw Henry.
"HENRY!" Gordon shouted. Gordon's crew jumped out and ran over to find their colleagues. "HENRY SAY SOMETHING!"
There was no reply.
"Matt can you find them?!" Gordon's guard yelled.
Gordon's driver reemerged from the wreckage. "Chris is... gone. And we can't find John."
"He was incinerated," said the guard, lifting up a charred hat. The crew sat dumbfounded at the loss of their colleges.
"Matt, can you check on Henry..." Gordon sobbed. Gordon's driver walked around to the front of the wreckage.
"Is he alright?" The guard asked. Gordon's Driver just shook his head. Whatever he had seen, it made his skin crawl.