Chapter Four: Spencer gets Exposed

Spencer's first move was to wake up before Gordon. It was difficult, as he was very tired, but it was worth it to him, as once he was ready to steam, he made his way to the station with a rake of express coaches at once. As Spencer simmered, he saw Henry on his way to the docks to collect the Kipper.

"Morning, imposter!" He teased as Henry passed by.

"SHUT UP!" Henry screamed, he sped away in fury. Soon though, as the passengers began boarding, Gordon pulled into the station. He was incredibly confused.

"Spencer?..." He asked, "What are you doing with the express?"

Spencer was scared, he had to come up with an excuse fast.

"Uh-uh, well you see Gordon…" He began, "The Fat Controller thinks I should give the express a shot while I'm here. He had a feeling I would do a good job due to my great speed, wouldn't you agree?"

Gordon pondered for a moment. "Well… This is true Spencer, but when was the last time you pulled an express train?"

"Since the 1960's, but does it matter?"

"Well… Not necessarily, but you might want a refresher or two. For starters, I think you should take on plenty of water before you go."

Spencer snapped, "I have plenty of water!" At that moment, the guard's whistle blew, and Spencer raced away.

"... I was only trying to help." Muttered Gordon. Due to the fact that he had no other assignments, Gordon wasn't sure what to do. All he could do was return to the sheds to get some extra rest. But not long after he returned to his berth, the Fat Controller came to see him.

"Gordon?" He asked, "Why are you still here? You were supposed to leave with the express an hour ago!"

"I was?" Gordon was shocked. "But… Spencer took it, he told me you wanted him to give it a shot because you thought he'd 'Do a great job'."

"... Did he now?" Said the Fat Controller thoughtfully.

Helen, who was almost ready to head to the station for the Limited, decided to speak up. "It might be partially my fault, sir… Last night, Spencer was being very rude to all of us, claiming that no engine but him and his brothers were good enough to pull the express, and… I dared him to try it himself, and he agreed to it."

"No engine but him and his brothers?" Asked Gordon, "Don't you mean his brothers and his cousins too?"

"No Gordon, that's exactly what he said…" Sighed Helen. "Gordon, my driver recorded the whole conversation on a video camera he has… Spencer's not the engine you think he is."

Helen was about to continue, but then at that moment, a workmen ran up to the Fat Controller.

"Topham, sir!" He panted, "I've just received a call. Spencer ran out of water on Gordon's hill, and Edward isn't available to help him! What are we to do?"

The Fat Controller turned to Gordon. "Well, Gordon…" He said, "Since that was meant to be your express, you wouldn't mind volunteering to help Spencer, would you?"

"Not at all, sir." Said Gordon quietly, and puffed away.

As Gordon made his way to his hill, he was beginning to feel very silly about himself. He thought about what Helen had said, and then he thought about how there was never any inkling that the Henry that came back from Crewe was a different Henry from the one that went there, and he began to understand why everyone besides him was being so hostile around Spencer. Regardless, he knew he had a job to do, and soon he reached the hill and saw Spencer.

"Why didn't I listen?..." Spencer was wailing to himself.

"Run out of water?" Gordon asked slyly.

"Yes!" Snapped Spencer, "I must have a leaky tank!"

"... Perhaps…" Said Gordon darkly, "But we'd better hurry, the train's already late as is."

Gordon switched onto the track Spencer was on, coupled up, and soon, they were on their way again. Other engines laughed at Spencer as they passed by, and all he could do was look down at his buffers. Gordon didn't stop until they reached the end of the line, and sadly, even though Gordon had done his best, they were still a half hour late, and the passengers buzzed out like angry bees. They all swarmed at Spencer and told him that he was a bad engine.

Gordon could only watch in dismay. "You really should have listened to my advice earlier…" He said quietly.

Gordon shunted Spencer into the sheds, and was ordered to wait there. Gordon wondered why, until later when Helen arrived. She came to the sheds too, with her driver, his video camera, and the Fat Controller.

"Well… I don't know about any of my fellow engines, but I think you've made several big mistakes since you got here, Spencer."

"What do you mean?..." He asked, acting oblivious.

"Oh, don't you know?" She said smugly. "Driver, get the TV out, I want to watch my favorite part."

Her driver rolled out a TV on a table, put in the tape from his camcorder, and all Spencer could do was watch in horror… He had recorded everything.

"I've treated you all the way you deserve to be treated… You're all losers compared to me and my brothers. Even that Gordon." the TV played.

When the tape was over, Spencer looked at Gordon, and nearly jumped… Death was in Gordon's eyes.

"I… I trusted you, Spencer." He growled, "I treated you like family… I stood up for you when everyone else was giving you the cold shoulder… But now, it seems… I should have been on their side…"

"Yes, you really should have…" Said the Fat Controller. "We'll talk later Gordon, but for you Spencer? I am absolutely disgusted with how you treated my engines. I would figure that, after what happened with modernization in the 60's, you'd have matured by now and stick with other steam engines that also made it in preservation, regardless of what railway they came from. I do not tolerate engines with your attitude on my railway. As such, once the workmen have checked you over and your water tank's refilled, I want you off my island immediately. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes…" Grunted Spencer, "Crystal clear."

Spencer's water tanks were soon refilled, and he quickly departed for home. This time, nobody paid any attention to him. No cameras were out, nobody waved at him, and certainly no engines whistled at him. Spencer was in disgrace. When Gordon returned to the sheds, the Fat Controller had his word with him.

"I understand that you were excited to meet one of your cousins," He began, "But you too should have known better, Gordon. First of all, this Henry you see here is indeed the same Henry you met in 1923. I have records to prove that many parts from him were reused when he was rebuilt into his new shape. I'd figure, Gordon, that you would trust your friends that you have known for decades before you'd trust someone you've only known for a week or two, even if he was your cousin. I certainly hope you will apologize to them at once."

"Yes, sir…" Said Gordon sadly. He looked up at all of the other engines. "I'm… Sorry to all of you, especially to the two of you." He said to Helen and Henry.

"You are my friend Henry…" He continued, "And I should have realized that you'd have a hard time remembering that red engine. You all do an amazing job at pulling the express, and I think… That I perhaps should let each of you have a turn for a few weeks… I understand if that's not enough to forgive me, but I'll do whatever I can to make up for it."

The engines all stayed silent for a moment. Helen finally spoke up.

"I'm sorry too, Gordon. I know how much Mallard's speed record speaks to you… I can't imagine Spencer's manipulation left a good impression on your cousins for you…"

"It certainly didn't for me…" Grunted James, "Too much puff and not enough steam…"

"You are still the best at pulling the express, Gordon." Said Henry, "We'll be fine, you deserve it after Spencer tried to rob it from you."

Gordon smiled, "Friends again?"

"Friends again!"

That settled things. The engines quickly forgot about Spencer, and life on the railway went on as usual. However, one day, Helen had just finished her run to the end of the line, when she noticed an… Interesting engine approached her. It had a shape like Spencer, but it was painted blue like Gordon. She quickly put two and two together.

"Uh… Hello!" She called to the engine. "Are you…"

"... Mallard?" Replied the engine, "Indeed I am! Are you by chance an engine from the Fat Controller's railway?"

"You'd be correct!" She said, "And proud of it too. What are you doing here?"

"I came to visit my cousin, Gordon!" Explained Mallard. "I've already met some of my brothers, so I was hoping to see one of my cousins. Flying Scotsman's on a tour in Australia, so I figured I'd ask the National Railway Museum to let me come and visit your island, and they agreed! I didn't know they had a Great Western Star Class!"

Helen blushed, "That's probably because the thin clergyman never got a chance to write a book about me. It's a shame, really… But I guess I should be grateful to be a part of it."

"It is a shame…" Said Mallard, "Doesn't he know that you're one of only two Star's remaining? Your brother Lode Star is the only other survivor."

"He is?... Wow, I didn't realize."

"Yes indeed," Said Mallard, "Your class is rarer than mine! You should be proud."

"T-Thank you!" Helen blushed again.

"Well…" Sighed Mallard, "Would love to stay and chat with you, but I am blocking the mainline, so I'd better be on my way. I'm sure Gordon will be excited to meet me."

"Oh… You have no idea." Said Helen. Mallard soon puffed away to get to Tidmouth.

When he was out of sight… Helen couldn't help but ponder to herself, how could an engine this inviting be related to an engine so horrid? She didn't let it bother her too much though, after all, she knew that one should never take kindness for granted.

The end