Night found Johnny and Thomas parked on an old branch many miles from the Auction House. There was an old yard, with a carriage shed that was still standing.
"This is my hideout," said Thomas. "It's got plenty of coal, and the water tower refills every time it rains. No one's been here for years except me."
Johnny was resting inside the shed. He had told Thomas of what had happened to his friends on the way there.
"Now, it made sense to go to the Auction House- that's where they'd normally take any steamies they find. But if they weren't there – hmm . . ."
He paused for thought. "Maybe the diesels want to know more about this so-called 'Resistance'. If that's right, then they'd take 'em to a depot, maybe even the HQ in the Capitol."
Johnny's heart sank. "We can't save them if they're in the Capitol."
Thomas winked. "Have faith – we'll find a way."
The next morning they set off for the Capitol. It was a fair way away – and the diesels had a day's head start on them.
"I know a train who knows a train," said Thomas. "Once we reach the outskirts, I'll find someone to smuggle us in."
They forged onwards. Days passed. Johnny was adept at hiding from the diesels, but Thomas's skill still amazed him.
One night, as they rested on an old siding, Johnny decided to go out on a limb.
"How long have you been out here?"
Thomas was puzzled. "Just tonight."
"No- I mean, how long has it been since your railway closed?"
Thomas sighed. "Years and years. I never saw it coming. We were famous. But, looking back, my line had been a bastion of steam engines even before the Renaissance. They shut it down first."
Johnny put two and two together. "It's really you, then? You're the Thomas of legend? Island of Sodor? Really Useful Engine?"
Thomas cracked a wry smile. "In a manner of speaking, I suppose. But I'm no longer a cheeky little tank engine. I'm old. My wheels ache, and my boiler moans."
"But- you're the most famous steam engine ever. No one would save you? What about the Museum?"
The Railway Museum, Johnny had heard, was where they kept the great steam engines. He wasn't famous, so they wouldn't take him, but the legends of steam were kept there, well-maintained and happy.
Thomas laughed bitterly. "The Museum? I'm too much of a threat. A rallying point. They shipped me off to a scrap yard as soon as they could. I was lucky to escape. They others might be there," he mused. "Toby and James and the rest. They're probably all rotted away, though."
Johnny thought for a while. "Thomas?"
"Yes?"
"What do you think is behind all this? Why would anyone want to kill all the steam trains?"
Thomas said nothing. After several seconds he said, "I don't know." Johnny suspected Thomas did know but he decided not to push the topic.
They were quiet for a while. At last Johnny broke the silence.
"Were you really a cheeky engine?"
Thomas gave a half smile. "You haven't heard? Well, when I was young, I used to shunt coaches for Gordon the big engine. I once gave him such a fright that he decided to pull me behind his train just to tech me a lesson . . ."
And Thomas talked happily into the night of the adventures he'd had as a young engine.