Chapter Ten: Sparks Fly

No one had expected the bridge weather to be as bad as it was.

As soon as the four engines roared left the mild safety of the high cliffs, the bad wind and rain turned into tremendously awful wind and rain! Rocky was instantly blown around, smashing once again into the van behind him. Coal from the very top of Edward and Gordon's tenders were blown away, the strong wind managing to throw the coal over the sides and into the ocean below.

The crashing waves sounded louder and more frightening here. They were completely surrounded by the water, and the way it was smashing so thunderously into the cliffs was scaring them all just enough. They couldn't look over the sides, but that just meant their imaginations were getting the better of them.

"You can't take me onto Sodor, you will just be arrested and sent back!" Gordon was shouting over the wind. Despite what he would say, the big blue engine was afraid of going across the bridge: the wind was threatening to blow it over, even if the diesels didn't shove him over the side. It was the scariest situation he had ever found himself in.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP!" Bark roared and gave Gordon an angry bump. The express engine huffed as he was bounced around, but that was when he noticed something: the coupling was rattling more than they should be! The workers clearly hadn't done the coupling up properly, and now it was coming loose.

If I get bumped again, I might break free, and then I can move to freedom! Gordon thought excitedly, but he tried to keep his emotions down as not to alert Bark to the situation.

"We need to move faster, that old engine is catching up!" Wood snapped. Bark nodded, and the two diesels did their best to speed up as they rattled across the bridge, trying not to slip on the patches of water or get blown off.

Edward, meanwhile, was indeed catching up, moving as fast as possible, using the last ounce of strength he had to speed along the tracks. He had quickly told his crew and Rocky his plan, and was now trying to speed up in order to do it.

"Are you sure this will work Edward?" His driver asked cautiously as the crew put raincoats on and shielded under the cab roof.

"If I keep this speed up it hopefully will work." Edward puffed, his face completely red and his smoke turning to a thick grey under his strength. Rocky stared back at the vans, his arm and cab still being pushed outwards by the immense wind. The vans were rattling in the wind, and if this plan failed then the there could be an explosion, but not the one Edward was hoping for.

"Very well then…." Edward's driver sighed, and he unclipped a radio from his pants. Crew's had begun carrying radios in order to report accidents or issues without having to stop and use the telephone. The driver was hoping the signalbox would be able to hear them, as the storm would most likely be causing trouble.

"This is Charlie Sand Jr." He yelled into the radio. "We are on the bridge in pursuit of two Class 14 Diesels that have taken Gordon. We need the tracks to be switched pronto. Over."

"I'm sure they could hear you without the radio." The fireman said, rubbing his ears.

"It doesn't matter how loud he was, let's just keep going!" Edward shouted. Wood was very close to them, but Edward suddenly realised something: the diesel was on the other track! "We've already changed tracks!" He shouted back to his crew, and cursed under his breathe at their stupidity. Suddenly there was a crackle, and Charlie Sand Jr grabbed the radio.

"This is Mark Jones." The voice on the other end said. "We recommend you move off the bridge. A second signal has blocked what would be your left side of the bridge. About two lines are damaged."

"This is Charlie Sand. We can't leave now, these diesels are serious about scrapping Gordon."

"You bet we are!" Wood sneered, the driver's voice being carried on the wind. He began laughing, making Edward boil with rage.

"The points just changed!" Bark suddenly shouted. And sure enough Gordon and Bark were moving onto Edward's track, Gordon's face wide with horror.

"GET OFF THE LINE EDWARD!" The express engine shouted. And almost like his words were magic, Edward found himself moving onto the next track as well.

"This is getting very confusing." Edward sighed. There was a loud clunk as they changed tracks, and suddenly the fireworks began rolling passed Rocky, pulled by no one. He gasped as the vans hit his arm, the force pushing him backwards.

"The trucks are loose, the trucks are loose!" Rocky shouted. "The changing tracks must have snapped the couplings!"

"They are heading straight for Bark!" Wood shouted, and the diesel suddenly sped up, chasing after the trucks that were heading for his brother. The place were they had changed tracks was just up ahead, and Wood moved as fast as possible.

"Slow down, we'll collide with them!" Wood's driver snapped, and he slammed the brakes hard on. He didn't take into account the fact the tracks were soaking wet, and Wood simply slid forwards. The vans slid onto the points, the front one derailing slightly. Wood shut his eyes as he smashed into the truck just as Edward and Rocky went past: wet wood was sent spiralling into the air, and crates of fireworks crashed onto the tracks. Wood bounced up onto the truck, the van barely supporting his weight. His brakes were sparking from the slipping, and that was when Wood realised his mistake.

"Ooops." He mumbled, and looked down at the fizzing fireworks. Edward, Gordon, Rocky and Bark listened as fireworks began exploding, sending multicoloured sparks into the air. Wood yelled in pain as his leaking oil caught fire: his driver and the workers all jumped screaming as Wood erupted into flames, his fuel tank on fire. There was a loud bang and an orange first of flames rose up from one of his engines.

"WOOOOOOD!" Bark screamed, and his driver slammed onto the brakes. The sudden change in speed didn't stop Gordon, who was still moving quickly. They was a snap as the couplings broke, and Gordon wailed as he slid down the line.

"GORDON!" Edward shouted, and he chased after the blue engine. Bark watched as Gordon slid further out of the sight, the rain and wind making his disappear. He wanted to chase after and get him, but his brother's safety was more important.

"I'M COMING WOOD!" The diesel shouted, and he began reversing. Edward was coming up alongside, and Bark honked angrily at him. He didn't notice the large red object suddenly shoot out of nowhere….

"Watch out!" Rocky wailed. The speeding vans had pushed his arm back around, but now the strong wind was blowing it back. Bark's eyes bulged as the crane arm smashed into his side at an alarming speed: sparks shot into the sky as the speeding diesel was pushed off the track. The people in Barks cab had no time to flee, and Bark tipped onto his side, skidding slightly across the tracks.

"Sorry!" Rocky shouted back, but Edward just laughed.

"Serves them right!" He chuckled, and he began to gradually slow down. There was a loud "oof" in the distance, and a few moments later Edward came to a stop alongside Gordon. The big engines tender had hit the signal, causing it to derail, but at least Gordon had finally stopped.

"Where are the diesels, are they still chasing us?" Gordon asked nervously, trying to stare through the rain. Edward looked back at a blushing Rocky with a wide smile.

"I don't think they'll be bothering us anytime soon." The old engine laughed. "Come on, let's get you home."