*chapter 3*
the next day shane dooiney was worrying again.
'oh dear i hope mr berrane does not get me to take any trains today i just hate going up the mountain' he said.
'well guess what Shane i hate listening to you worrying every day' said Alaric.
'well it's not my fault i'm scared of heights is it' said Shane.
just then mr berrane arrived.
'Shane i have a job for you to do' he said.
'oh no what is it now sir' said Shane.
'i would like you to take some skydivers to the summit station so they can do a skydiving show for the visitors' said mr berrane.
'what is a skydiving show sir' said Shane.
'a skydiving show is when people jump of something that's high in the air and they jump off and land with parachutes that are strapped to their backs' said mr berrane.
'oh my goodness that sounds exceedingly scary to me' said Shane.
'what's scary Shane is that you just won't stop moaning about going up the mountain' said Alaric.
'well what are you waiting for Shane off you go the skydivers are waiting' said mr berrane.
'oh right yes sir sorry about that i was just going' said Shane.
and with that he gulped as he went to the station.
'that engine has some serious height problems' said Alaric.
soon Shane arrived at the station. Emily was there dropping off the skydivers.
'hello there Shane bust my buffers what ever is the matter with you' said Emily.
'i don't like going up the mountain Emily i get very scared of the view anyway have you heard about the storm that's coming i don't like it' said Shane.
'don't worry neither do i Shane I've heard it's going to be a big one i hope my coaches are going to be safe and don't worry Shane i'm sure you'll be fine going up the mountain besides it's not that windy today' said Emily.
'that's what i'm afraid of Emily well off i go see you later' said Shane.
and with that he set off on his scary trip up the hill. when Shane got past Shiloh he started to get very scared.
'i don't like that at all driver i want to stop' said Shane.
'you can't stop now boy your only half way up don't worry you'll be fine' said his driver.
but looking down the mountainside he wasn't so sure. but when Shane got to devil's back he started to panic badly.
'i really don't like this driver it's too high up' said Shane.
'come on boy your almost there now' said his driver.
'that's it i can't take this anymore i'm scared' said Shane.
and with that he stopped altogether closing his eyes tight and refusing to go any further. his driver tried to get him to move again but Shane was having none of it. the skydivers were getting worried they were going to be late for the show. Shane's driver gave up and went to phone for help. back at kirk machan Alaric was talking to culdee.
'i just don't understand why Shane has to worry so much i'm not scared of going up the mountain' said Alaric.
'that's not very nice Alaric just because he's afraid of heights does not mean you have to be nasty to him for it' said culdee.
'i'm just saying why is he a member of this railway if he doesn't like going up mountains' said Alaric.
just then culdee's driver came.
'sorry boy but Shane has done it again he's scared on devil's back and he's refusing to go on we need to help him' he said.
'told you so he's always scared' said Alaric.
'oh stop it Alaric that's enough come on driver let's go' said culdee.
and with that he puffed off to the rescue. meanwhile Shane was still refusing to move.
'come on boy you can do it there's nothing to be afraid of' said his driver.
'no way i'm not going any further and that's final' said Shane.
'i give up with this railway' said the coach.
just then culdee arrived.
'thank goodness you are here i can't get Shane to move I've tried everything' said Shane's driver.
'don't worry i'll push him up the hill' said culdee.
culdee tried to move Shane but his brakes were still on.
'come on Shane i can't help you if you keep your brakes on come on there's nothing to be scared of' said culdee.
'are you sure culdee' said Shane.
'i promise you can trust me Shane' said culdee.
'alright i'll put my brakes off then' said Shane.
and with that he put his brakes off and culdee started to push. and seen before he released it he was at the summit station.
'it's alright now Shane you can open your eyes your at the top now' said culdee.
'oh i am at the top thank you culdee' said Shane.
'thank goodness for that' said the coach.
soon the skydivers were ready for their show to begin. everyone watched in anticipation.
'thanks again for getting me up here culdee but what can i do about my fear' said Shane.
'don't worry Shane why don't you try closing your eyes and pretend that you are puffing through a field of flowers after all we don't have any signals or junctions on our railway so you won't crash into anyone' said culdee.
'you know that might just work i'll try it thank you culdee' said Shane.
and with that they all watched the skydivers jump off the Cliffside and opening up their parachutes. everyone was amazed. even Shane was very impressed but just incase he decided not to try it himself.
the next day patrick was still happily asleep in his shed but not for long. just then the shed doors were opened and sunlight burst in blinding patrick.
'hey what's going on driver i'm tired' said Patrick.
'sorry Patrick but the railway inspector has arrived and we need to pick him up' said the driver.
'why can't Eric collect him instead i'm too tired to take guests up the hill today' said Patrick.
'because Eric has already taken his train besides mr berrane asked you to collect him so stop complaining and let's go' said his driver.
Patrick was very cross and annoyed.
'honestly waking me up early so that i can take an inspector up the mountain disgraceful!' said Patrick.
and with that he snorted to the station. but when he arrived james was running late with the inspector so Patrick had to wait. this did not improve his mood at all.
'what the devil is taking that silly red engine so long he better not be puffing past a river just to admire himself again or i swear!' said Patrick.
'calm down Patrick i'm sure james will be here soon' said his driver.
at last james puffed in with a very cross look on his face.
'where the devil have you been have you got any idea whatsoever how long i have been waiting for you!' said Patrick.
'don't even think about having a go at me I've had a bad morning to thank you very much!' said james.
'how bad has yours been then' said Patrick.
'how bad i'll tell you how bad my morning has been first the fat controller told Gordon to take the mayor to open a new bridge then he told thomas to pick up the earl from ulfstead castle to take him to a special meeting and then he told me to pick up a rude arrogant inspector to take here and now I've got to go and take a slow goods train which i am now late for thanks to a stupid broken signal!' said james.
'i think i'll take it that either of us are having a good morning today then by the way have you heard about the storm that's coming' said Patrick.
'yes i have heard about it actually it's a good thing i'm going to be in my shed so my paintwork can stay dry' said james.
just then the inspector walked onto the platform.
'this silly red engine has made me late this railway is not good for service at all' said the inspector.
'right that's it I've had enough of that inspector i'm out of here' said james.
and with that james snorted away to collect his slow goods train. the inspector sneered at Patrick.
'oh great another rickety old steam engine to ride on this day is not improving at all' he said.
Patrick was very cross after hearing that.
'he's got a lot of nerve to talk to me like that' said Patrick.
'don't let it get to you come on let's go' said his driver.
and with that Patrick started off. soon Patrick was puffing up the hill. but the inspector was not impressed.
'come on you lazy engine go faster it's going to be tea time by the time we get to the summit of this dratted mountain' said the inspector.
'hey i'm going as fast as i can it's not easy going up you know' said Patrick.
'well i'm here to inspect the line not to have my time wasted now hurry up' said the inspector.
'pah! i'll hurry up alright to puff off this mountain' said Patrick.
then there was even more trouble. a group of sheep had strayed onto the line and Patrick had to stop. the inspector was getting crosser and crosser.
'get those stupid animals off the line now or i'll make sure their farmer gets what's coming to him' he said.
'well it's not my fault they like eating the grass up here and it's not the farmers fault either' said Patrick.
'i don't care get them off the line or else' said the inspector.
Patrick groaned in annoyance. at last the sheep were off the line and they set off again. by the time they got to the summit station it was one a clock in the afternoon.
'the railways of sodor have a very good record of making people late don't they now i better go and inspect this station to now' said the inspector.
and with that he went into the café. Patrick was cross.
'i can't take this anymore driver do i have to take him back down too!' said Patrick.
'sorry Patrick but we can't just leave the inspector here and make another engine come get him' said his driver.
at last the inspector finished his inspection and came back.
'right take me back down to the bottom station engine and be fast about it' said the inspector.
'my name is Patrick' said Patrick.
that's when the trouble began. Patrick was just leaving the station when suddenly a big gust of wind made Patrick go flying.
'waaaaaah what the heck is going on!' said Patrick.
'hold on tight' said his driver.
'oh my word slow down slow down now!' wailed the coach.
Patrick was going so fast that he almost went flying off devil's back.
'arrrrrrgh hellllllllllp!' cried Patrick.
his driver tried to keep control. in the coach the inspector was having the fastest, thrill ingest ride of his life.
'oh my what fun, what excitement, what adventure!' he said.
Patrick however was not having fun at all. some climbers were standing on the tracks.
'get off the line runaway train!' called the driver.
the climbers got off the tracks just in time. Patrick shot past them. then when they neared the bottom a tractor was going over the crossing.
'look out!' cried Patrick's driver.
the tractor got over the crossing just in the nick of time. the farmer was very cross.
'oi slow down you lunatic of an engine!' he cried.
'oh dear i think i'm going to be sick!' said Patrick.
at kirk machan thomas was waiting for Patrick and the inspector.
'i wonder what's taking Patrick so long' said thomas.
'don't worry thomas i'm sure he will be here soon' said Annie.
'he better be i'm getting bored' said clarabel.
just then there was a loud whistle then Patrick came racing into the station with his brakes screeching like mad. at last he came to a big stop. everyone was very surprised. even thomas was surprised. Patrick's driver was so happy to be back on the ground that he collapsed onto the platform.
'thank goodness we are still alive' he said.
'cinders and ashes Patrick that was quite the entrance' said thomas.
'thank you thomas but let's just say that i will not be doing that again' said Patrick.
just then the inspector came out of the coach laughing.
'that was the most fun i have ever had in years i am so coming to this railway again next week' he said.
'well bust my buffers Patrick what did you do to him' said thomas.
'let's just say thomas that it has been a very long day' said Patrick.
note: i got the idea for Shane's fear of heights from enterprisingengine93 check out his videos.