Theme is being CUED UP!
...
Okay, am I up?
Indeed you are Mr Starr...damn recorder! There, that should sort it. Fingers crossed.
...
"Urrrrgh, shouldn't have had that curry vindaloo! Gah!"
"I think it's less the curry Thomas, more the ten drinks you downed!"
"Don't get on my bloody case, Duck!"
Thomas the Tank Engine was ill, with a unspecified problem that was causing him to moan, groan and make odd noises. Workmen were trying to make him better, but it was no use. Perhaps because on the Island you didn't need a degree in engineering to be able to work with the engines.
"Edward must take you to the works." said the Fat Controller.
"The non-specific works?" Edward asked grimly. "And why me sir, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Because have you asked James to care about another engine?! It's like trying to get blood out of a stone!"
Edward conceded the point, and Thomas was loaded up upon a flatbed and taken off. Thomas felt very miserable, and made sure that Edward and his crew knew exactly how miserable it was that he felt.
Then the Fat Controller spoke to Duck, or at least he did until the smell was removed. "I want you to help Percy and Toby while Thomas is away!"
Duck was delighted, and not just because it meant that he didn't have to deal with the three big engines and their rubbish for a while.
...
Duck took over the running of Thomas's branchline. He already knew Percy, and soon made great friends with Toby and Bertie. And it just so happened that one day, he met Terrance the Tractor, who gave him a big welcome too.
"Take care of Thomas's coaches." he advised. "He's sure to miss them while he's away. Also, does my face frighten you? People say I should smile less."
Duck smirked and carried on, pulling the coaches behind him. It was lucky that no one noticed that he seemed to be taking far more of a interest in the various nooks and crannies of the line.
Duck was very gentle with the coaches. Annie and Clarabel were impressed. "Such nice manners" they told each other. "It really is a pleasure to go out with him."
"Much better than Thomas." said Annie one day as they crossed the Watermill. Duck's smile grew wider, but even so, he cast a casual look into the mill itself. His eyes flickered, and he took note of every detail.
...
"WHAT HO YOU LOT!"
"Oh god, he's back." Percy said to Toby.
"Well, it was nice while it lasted." grinned Toby.
When Thomas came back into the sheds, Annie and Clarabel how well Duck had managed them. Thomas was so pleased to be back, and to describe his various ailments, that he couldn't be cross for long.
And for the most part following this brief excursion, everything went as smooth as it could be on the Island. Thomas would often pass Duck, in between shunting, sitting on sidings and examining the various people who passed by. It was odd, but they never speculated on it.
The works had left Thomas's handbrake very stiff (Jokes in the reviews, please) and had made it seem as if the brakes, when applied, were hard on, when in fact they were not.
There had already been one or two incidents, mostly when approaching Elsbridge, when Thomas had skidded past the platform and unleashed a torrent of curse words. As a result, he and his coaches soon became rather infamously known for over-running the platform. To say Thomas found this most embarrassing would be a understatement.
Gradually, through practice (And several broken trucks that were often used as said practice) his driver and fireman learned to be extra careful.
...
But one day, Thomas's fireman was struck down with a similar bug to that of James's driver, and a relief man had to take his place. All was good as they approached Elsbridge and waited for the next train.
The fireman had fastened the coupling, and joined the driver and stationmaster on the platform. They did this at the end of the platform, as they were waiting for Henry's passengers, and wanted to see the green engine before heading on back.
But the fireman had forgotten all about Thomas's handbrake, which was hardly his fault considering that the driver had been up all night taking care of the actual fireman and so had not told him properly. Thomas simmered happily.
"Not long now." he remarked, as he saw Henry slowly approaching. In actuality though, Henry sped up a bit more to avoid being nagged. He was grinning quite cheerfully, mostly because whatever mixture had been put into Thomas's face-mask had been put into his as well, so he was frozen with a cheery grin.
But Thomas's brakes were not hard on, and suddenly he felt them move.
"Huh?" came the eloquent remark from Thomas. He tried to stop, but he couldn't without his driver and fireman. "Oh ECK!" he said, his smile finally dropping as panic set in, even ore eloquently as he carried on past the platform. He tried to whistle a warning, but he couldn't do that either. Henry would have stared open mouthed, but his jaw was unable to move anymore than it could.
As he raced off, he let out a terrified "HELP!" but the guard, driver, fireman and passengers were all stranded on the platform.
They stared off into the distance.
"Well." said the driver. "Let me call Bertie and hear him gloat."
...
"STOP STOP!" shrieked Annie and Clarabel. Thomas's mind was trying to focus on happy times such as his race with Bertie, but with plenty of speed he was still going on.
The signalman by Title Screen Bridge saw the train pass him and he sounded the alarm, which echoed down the line.
...
In Knapford Yards, James's driver rushed to the signalman. "Call-"
"I know!" The signalman grabbed the phone and dialed a certain number. "STOP THE RUNAWAY!"
...
Inspector Norris kicked down the door of his office, for the third time that week, and strode out to the Dryaw Airfield. There, ready for action, stood Harold the Helicopter.
The Inspector was already formulating his plan as he climbed aboard. Together, they took off into the sky. Well, not so much the Inspector, cause if he did, he would crash to the ground in agony.
Harold raced over the Island, over the Tier Bridge and through the valley, ignoring Percy, who appeared to be under the belief that they were having another race. And at Suddery, Thomas was finally tiring.
"I-NEED-TO-STOP." He panted. "I-NEED-TO-STOP!"
...
As they approached Suddery Station, Thomas saw Harold land with a bit of a bump in the car park. The Inspector lurched out and rushed onto the platform.
"OH-HECK-I'M-BUSHED!" moaned Thomas. They entered the platform slowly enough for the Inspector to act. Judging his moment, the Inspector scrambled into the cab as Thomas passed and slammed the brakes hard on.
Thomas moaned in agony as his brakes were applied, and at last, he stopped. Both he and the Inspector were very relieved-
"ESPECIALLY ME!"
-Yes Thomas, we know. Then they thanked Harold.
"Think nothing of it old chum!" said Harold cheerfully. "Glad ta be of service!"
"Oh stop with the bloody accent." moaned Thomas.
"Phew!" remarked the Inspector. "We must never let this happen again Thomas." Wearily Thomas agreed with him...though he wasn't really in a position to do otherwise.
...
At Brendam Docks, a crate was slowly lowered down.
"Hey, what's in it?"
"Dunno. Let's leave it for now. Tea's on."
As the workmen left, there was complete silence for a moment. There was suddenly a slow creaking noise, and slowly but surely, the crate shattered into tiny splinters of wood. Through the woods teamed a figure, definitely not a steam engine, all in black save for his buffers and his sallow, grey face.
He surveyed the Docks, and then he smiled as he slunk away into the sheds.
"It is good to be home."