The Whistling Woods had fallen silent, still and solemn under a continuously clouded sky. On this very day, in this very hour, Bernie had tried to flee with the whole shop's worth of Arlesburgh's jewelry, and now, only a few brief minutes ago, he had put a stop to all courses in his life, brought forth by his own desperate hand. In the time that followed, with terribly aching hearts and tightened breathing, David, Phelps and Gallagher were now striding back through the woods with their fallen culprit. Both detectives had already radioed into the Search and Rescue Centre and called to bring in Harold.
David walked a few paces ahead, staring ever-upward to the clouded sky for a few minutes, then fixating his view straight ahead, all while his eyes didn't blink once. All that stopped David now and again were bits of jewelry he had to pick up and return to Arlesburgh. Phelps and Gallagher walked behind him, both carrying Bernie by his knees and his shoulders until they came to where he had spilled his pocketful of jewelry. Copper and Jordan had brought the rest of the crew over to retrieve the pile, but then they all looked up and suddenly stopped. David could sense the realization from them all, so he stopped as well, and slowly looked at all of them. Seeing all their frozen expressions, he turned to Phelps and Gallagher, who both put Bernie down briefly and emptied all his pockets of whatever jewelry he had left. David emptied his pockets too, and the crewmen gathered everything until all the jewelry had been retrieved. Every last tiara, necklace, bracelet, earring and diamond ring was now safe and retrieved, but the cost paid in the end was the last anyone here could have expected.
David then turned to Phelps and Gallagher. "Go on ahead. I'll tell them."
Both detectives nodded, and walked on, taking Bernie with them. It didn't take long for David to tell his crew all the details. In the end, all eight crewmen stood there with slightly open mouths, still as stone. Then they all shut their eyes and bowed their heads, ensuing a moment's silence for their fallen parolee. One moment passed, then another, and another. After several moments of silence, the crew looked up to David again.
"Come on," David said strongly at last. "We can't delay his due passage."
Over the next few minutes, the whole ship's crew walked through the forest to catch up with Phelps and Gallagher. After what felt like a long time, Copper finally spoke.
"Well, our retrieval proved successful, Captain. All the jewelry is present and accounted for, and we'll have it sent right back to Arlesburgh's shop."
"Very good, Copper," David answered neutrally.
"What will we do about Bernie, sir?" Copper asked.
"We'll have a coroner keep the body safe, then give him a burial at the Cemetery."
"Aye, sir," said Copper as he touched David's shoulder. "The man was beyond saving, sir."
"I should have found a way," was all David answered with.
Not a moment afterwards, there came a whirring sound above the forest. David and his crew followed the sound to a large clearing in the woods and saw Harold come down and land, with Phelps and Gallagher standing underneath with Bernie in their arms. Harold's door opened and out came a coroner with a stretcher. Carefully and discreetly, Bernie was placed on the stretcher and inside Harold. When David saw both detectives board Harold, he thought it best to go along with them. He nodded to his crew, then as he approached Harold, David swallowed hard, feeling his throat ache with sheer despair.
"Captain Rider. We have Bernie onboard," said Harold. "Yes, please, please hurry. We should leave the forest now."
David just nodded as he got onboard Harold, then sat down beside Phelps and Gallagher. Right by their feet was the stretcher with Bernie on it. In these fleeting moments, David could almost hear Lola's voice.
"David? Is Bernie alright?"
David shut his eyes tight. Although Lola had cut her ties with Bernie upon hearing the truth, this would be a most bitter and harsh pill for her to swallow and digest. For just a small moment, David felt some form of refusal to accept what had just happened, and made one last little procedure.
"Bernie…"
David then kneeled right down to Bernie and slowly lifted his face with his palm. Then a moment afterwards, David gently laid Bernie's face back down. In the moments that followed, the great stinging sense coursed through David as the harsh reality once again pierced through him, Phelps and Gallagher. Bernie, Baz's simple-minded handyman, was dead.
It wasn't long before Harold started up again and soon lifted off from the ground and was now flying high above the forest. But David felt no joy to be seeing the island down below. He shut his eyes and trailed his palm over his face, absolutely devastated by this most tragic turnout. Both Phelps and Gallagher sighed gravely, then removed their hats and bowed their heads as well.
Eventually, Harold landed close to the Funeral Home where Simon had his funeral after Flynn and Belle lost him to the fire in which he saved those two children. There, the coroner prepared the stretcher and wheeled Bernie inside to make ready for the funeral. David, Phelps and Gallagher all watched until they were out of sight. A tingle of straining weight coursed through their hearts as they realized that would be the last they would ever see of Bernie. Harold then flew all the way back to Arlesburgh and landed in a field just outside the village. At last, David, Phelps and Gallagher had returned and walked closely together into the village.
When they returned to the jewelry shop, they saw the rest of the crew had returned with all the jewelry and were helping the owner restock the shelves. Hetty, Geraldine, Wainwright, Lola and her parents, and Beatrice were all there, having waited for David to return with any updates on the pursuit. All of them were watching the crew restore the shop, until they saw the three other men return. At first, they were curious as to what the update could be…but when they noticed the specific absence and the looks on David, Phelps and Gallagher's faces, a different and much more serious sensation started taking hold of all of them. Quiet murmurs began sounding among those gathered just as Donald and Douglas arrived on the scene too.
"Davey? Phelps and Gallagher?" Donald spoke up. "Did you catch the thief?"
"Ohh…Donnie…" Douglas said gravely. "That didnae happen…but something has indeed happened. I can feel it."
After waiting several hours since the thievery was discovered, Lola walked right up to the three men. In spite of her breaking ties with Bernie, she had to know the result.
"Sirs? What happened?" she asked the detectives, then turned to David. "Bernie? Where is he?"
Beatrice watched intently as David's face was drawn tightly and his eyes were burning with fresh tears as he uttered two most shaken words.
"…He fell."
A second or two later, all the murmuring from the others stopped altogether. Beatrice felt her heart tense and pulse in a most particular way as she grasped her collar in reaction. In that same moment, Lola's expression froze with widened eyes and her mouth opened ever-so slightly. She seemed to sway very slightly from left to right as those words sunk into her. Then Phelps and Gallagher gravely told the whole story to everyone, right up to what Bernie had brought upon himself by his own hand.
"No…no…it can't be," Lola shuddered softly, but strongly. "It CAN'T be."
One by one, as the story was told, each and every person, and Donald and Douglas seemed to freeze where they were and didn't move a muscle. The news sank into all of them from bottom to top, and the whole village seemed to turn melancholy. After all the trials, tribulations, tumult and instability, it was over.
"We're very sorry," Phelps said at last. "He's gone."
Beatrice swallowed and quivered in her feet. "Oh, my God…he's…"
"Yes, Mum," David heaved, barely able to get his voice out now. "I'm afraid…I'm afraid Bernie is dead!"
After which, David shut his eyes and groaned very badly in remorse. Beatrice moaned most mournfully while Lola started to cry as well, both her parents holding her shoulders. Donald and Douglas shut their eyes and leaned downwards in remorse. Hetty and Geraldine recalled all they had done prior to all this and felt a stinging wave of guilt wash over them as they shook their heads and couldn't believe what had come to happen. Even Ian Wainwright struggled to hold back a few tears, wringing his hands together very tightly. Just one story told, and everyone had been transformed in some way or other.
At last, Phelps cleared his throat, making everyone look up and manage to withhold their tears for a few moments.
"All those who are present, make ready for tomorrow, and spread the word," he said. "A funeral and memorial service is being put together for Bernie even as we speak, and we encourage as many as we can to attend it tomorrow. Ladies, gentlemen, engines, and what have you. A gathering to stand against the cold and the sorrows of today."
Everyone nodded in turn, then left the scene. Phelps then patted David's shoulder and nodded, as did Gallagher. David nodded to them both as they left as well. Beatrice then came up to David and reached to touch his shoulder, but before she could, David turned and walked swiftly back home while Beatrice followed. When they returned home, David let Beatrice in first, then shut the door loudly before he ran to a chair beside the window, then collapsed down on it in tears. Beatrice knew that any words of consolation and comfort would have little effect now. Without a word, she kneeled to David's side and gently patted his knee while he sobbed and gasped through his desolation.
Then Beatrice suddenly looked up. From outside the open window, Wainwright came walking along and seemed genuinely sympathetic for once, ever-so slightly approaching the window.
"Captain Rider, I-"
"Just go away."
Despite it being a whisper, Wainwright could taste the desolation, anger and sense of failure through David's strained voice and indeed went away with his head bowed. Beatrice looked sadly to her son once more before she left the living room to leave him be. David continued to lament and grieve over what had just happened for a long time, endlessly thinking on how it could have gone very differently had certain things happened or not happened. Now, it was too late.
The hours passed, and the news of what happened to Bernie spread madly across the island, and many, many the engines from all corners of the railway came to hear about it. Edward and Philip at Wellsworth, Henry and Rosie at Vicarstown, Gordon and Rebecca with the express, Percy with the milk train, Nia coming back from the Animal Park, and Toby and Henrietta at Arlesdale End. Wherever they were, all the engines felt stunned, shocked and deeply remorseful for what had befallen this particular man.
Even the Vicarstown Dieselworks picked up the news. Paxton, Den, Dart, Sidney, Norman and Mavis talked gravely among themselves and each other, all hurt and saddened by what Bernie had gone to do to himself, and the sheer, terrible pain David was in now.
But huddled away from all this depressing talk was one other figure who had been kept here ever since his underhanded ploy in all this. Deep inside his own berth, with the news now buried deep inside him, Diesel didn't say a word. He felt very, very dull, achy and jittery in his motor. The very motor Emily had given him to apologize for not listening to him and calling him smelly all those years ago. Diesel knew that what had happened today had stirred the entire island in some way or other…and that perhaps it never would have happened…if he had just stayed put. If he had only stayed out of it. If only. For the first time in a long time, and a very, very, very long time at that, he felt very, very and truly bad. And so Diesel continued to idle where he was, breathing slowly and heavily as he thought back to many, many other times in his life, and so this would go on until the next time he would venture out. It was just a matter of when…
By that afternoon, just about the whole island had heard the news…except for two engines who had played the biggest part through these two weeks next to David. Thomas and Emily were huffing along the line together, having just finished their work for the day. But finishing their work was nothing compared to what they were both thinking. Ever since they heard that distant boom over the hills, their hearts had been pounding away in their boilers as to what might have happened.
"I don't feel good at all, Thomas," said Emily. "Something terrible has happened. I don't know what, but it has happened. Something to David and Bernie…"
"There's no escaping it, Emily," said Thomas. "Something most awful has happened. I'm sure all the rest of the island knows…and we're going to find out."
And so they did. Thomas and Emily trailed all along the Main Line until they came round the bend and saw Knapford Station…and there came a sight that made them both hold their breath. The whole Steam Team, current and former members alike had all gathered round. Gordon, James, Percy, Nia, Rebecca and even Edward and Henry were at the station. Thomas and Emily already knew what this could surely mean as they came nearer to the station, then stopped at Platforms One and Two, where the Fat Controller stood outside his office and looked at both engines. All the other engines looked at them too, all with serious expressions.
"There they are," said Henry.
"Thomas, Emily. We were wondering when you'd show up," said Rebecca. "Have…have you heard?"
"We haven't heard any news yet, everyone," said Thomas. "But Emily and I did hear something...out on the line."
"Only a few hours ago, we heard a huge bang echo through the air," said Emily. "Both of us have been left stunned ever since then…but now we must find out. What has happened?"
The Fat Controller stepped forward with a big breath.
"Thomas, Emily…Bernie is dead. David, Phelps and Gallagher chased him through the Whistling Woods until they cornered him. They were ready to arrest him and bring him back to the Prison Unit…but then Bernie…"
Thomas and Emily then heard what had befallen Bernie this very day, only a few short hours ago. In the moments that followed, Thomas and Emily felt the all-too familiar sense of loss hitting their boilers as hard as it always did. Their eyes widened slightly and they began to breath heavily and a little unevenly. After wondering endlessly what happened, here it was. Neither of them ever would have believed Bernie would have done such a thing.
"S-s…sir…" Thomas struggled to speak. "If this is a mere rumour, I refuse to believe it! You told me not to listen to rumours yourself!"
"IS it true, sir?" Emily shuddered. "Did Bernie truly fall by his own doing?!"
The Fat Controller looked directly into both their eyes. "It's unfathomably true, Thomas and Emily. I'm so sorry."
In that moment, it all came sinking into both engines. After two weeks of wondering, monitoring and speculating to themselves and each other, never did either of them contemplate it would end like this.
"Oh, my God," Thomas gasped. "I don't believe it…he's gone?"
Emily gave a strong whimper of pity and disappointment. Then she looked around to the other engines, until her view landed on the navy blue tank engine who had been the closest to both thieves of any engine. She gave a little gasp and tooted her whistle two times.
"Sonny…come with us, please," said Emily. "To Arlesburgh. We must see David now."
And so they did. Thomas, Emily and Sonny hurried together to Arlesburgh and all stopped outside the Rider House. They all whistled together to which Beatrice came out and saw who had come along. David then followed and all three engines could see it all. His eyes were pinkish red after shedding uncountable tears, and his walking was uneven and shaky as he came down toward the engines. He could see on all their faces they had already heard everything. There was no need to catch them up on anything right now. He shut his eyes and walked alongside his best friend, finally speaking.
"Emily…" he said gravely, and most regretfully. "Emily, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was going to do that. I…I just…I can't believe any of it. The funeral is arranged for tomorrow, and that's that. You're all coming. No question about what work you may have tomorrow. You've GOT to come."
Thomas held his gaze and nodded surely. "Yes, David. We all will."
Emily held their gaze on David and sighed sadly. Somewhere in her boiler and Thomas' too was an instinctive feeling telling them that David's spirits had been dampened, if not crushed by the recent events, as were Percy's when he careened off that valley and into that family's cottage.
Sonny was still barely able to take in what he had come to know with the rest of the engines. Knowing Baz and Bernie the longest and closest of any engine, he took this news with a very personal impression, but all the same, he felt very bad for Bernie in the end as he looked very downheartedly at David and peeped softly.
"I'm sorry, Gov. Maybe I should have held my ground…and tried stopping them thieves from ever bringing me here in the first place."
A look of pure sadness and melancholy coursed over David's face as he looked back at Sonny. After a moment, he lowered his head.
"…No, Sonny. I'm sorry."
Then he turned and walked slowly back inside. Beatrice nodded to the three engines and went inside after David. Thomas, Emily and Sonny all stood where they were for a few moments, then saw it was getting dark. They then thought it best to go home and call it a night so as to be ready for the funeral tomorrow. They looked to David's house once more then set off, all with heavy hearts and a deep, slow sigh.
That night at Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas, Emily, Sonny and the other engines spoke for some time about Bernie and what to do the next day.
"We've got to go. We HAVE to go," said Emily. "Think of everyone who might be there, and what David may have to say for Bernie's passing."
"Emily is full-on right," said Thomas. "She and I saw this fortnight through, and we're not forsaking it now. So who's coming with us tomorrow?"
"I will," Percy peeped as he came out of his berth. "I haven't forgotten that whole family's funeral…when my spirited were crushed. I have to see what David and they others may say."
"So do I, Percy," Gordon added, coming out of his berth too. "I may not have had much to play in all this, but I must see it too."
"I'll manage the passengers until you come back, Gordon," said Rebecca. "Someone has to keep them moving until then."
"I'll go," said Sonny, coming out of James' berth. "Baz was a pure monster, but I would never miss Bernie's passage. Despite everything, he has my pity too."
"I wish I could go," said Nia. "But I still have a few loads to manage for the Animal Park. But I'll gladly hear all about it afterwards."
"It's decided then," said Thomas. "Me, Emily, Percy, Gordon and Sonny will all attend Bernie's funeral and burial tomorrow."
"Here, here," the four other attendees answered.
Soon, the other engines were asleep until Thomas and Emily were the only ones awake.
"Emily…" Thomas whispered. "Among the others who may be at the funeral…I really think you and I should have some final words for Bernie."
"Of course we will, Thomas," said Emily. "We'll think it through while we sleep. Then they can all hear us both tomorrow."
"Impeccable idea," Thomas whispered. "Sleep well, Emily. Tomorrow is going to be quite significant."
"It certainly will be, Thomas," Emily whispered. "And you sleep well too."
Then she and Thomas fell asleep with the rest of Tidmouth Sheds. Through the quiet of the night, the engines slept soundly and peacefully…but for someone else, tonight would be full of difficulty and inner torment.
Just after midnight, inside the Rider House, David couldn't sleep. Hour after hour, he stared straight up at the ceiling with his mind endlessly bouncing and jostling as to what had happened today, and what he had to be ready to do the very next day. The only sound to be heard with every waking moment was the ticking of David's clock. Finally, after trying endlessly to fall asleep, David couldn't keep still. He had to venture outside. He got out of bed, put on his clothes and very quietly entered Beatrice's room, where she was sound asleep. Despite his ongoing struggles right now, David thought it best not to wake her, and quietly leaned down and kissed her cheek. Beatrice stirred gently, but didn't wake up.
"I'll be back, Mum. I promise," David whispered.
Then out he went, very quietly closing the door, then after inching carefully down the stairs, David left the house, walked out of the village and ventured into the night.
Under the ever-clouded night sky, David walked for a long, long time. The air was damp and David could sense it would rain soon, but that didn't occupy his mind for more than a moment. David walked and walked until he came back to the Whistling Woods. He trailed all along the very path he had chased Bernie on only hours ago, feeling sadder and sadder by the minute. Along the way, he kneeled to a small flowerbed and picked a small bundle of flowers before he carried on and on, until at long last, he came to that dead end. The little spot too clustered with trees and bushes to go any further. The very, very spot where Bernie's last moments were spent, right to the very end.
After walking all this way, it was then that David couldn't hold it in any longer. He gently lay the flowers on the ground where Bernie took his last breath. Then through intensely strained sobs and tightly squeezed eyes, David let it all out, barely audible at first, then out loud…then reached the peak at the very end.
"Please come back. Please, Bernie, don't leave me! Forgive me, Bernie, I'm fully sorry! I'm so sorry, Bernie, please forgive me! …BERNI-I-I-I-I-IE!"
David's deafening cry of anguish echoed from all corners of the forest, through the trees and right back to David's ears…just as the clouds delivered what they lingered for, and it began to rain at last. It rained harder and harder every few minutes. David was soon getting wet from his coat, to his shirt, right down to his boots as he hurried back through the forest, finally overwhelmed by his despair and sense of failure.
By the time David returned to Arlesburgh, his coat was dripping water everywhere he went. His hair was soaked right through to his head, and his whole body was shaking from the cold rain. He hurried to his house, ran inside and bolted the door. Not a moment after this, he ran upstairs, changed into his robe, wrung out his clothes in the bathroom, placed them in a hamper, then finally retreated into his bed, trying endlessly to escape his ever-crushing despair and put it aside until the next day. After much writhing and squirming in his bed, David's mind became tired enough to let him fall asleep…but his inner torment tonight had only begun.
The hours ticked on through the rainy night. Beatrice was sound asleep, resting her mind as best she could until morning would come again. But for David, the troubles had only gotten worse than when he was awake. Every which way in his bed, David tossed, turned, moaned and groaned to a most haunting nightmare showing away through his head…
Under a purplish grey sky, thunder rumbled through the air and lightning streaked through the sky as David was running full-tilt along the line, following the distant yells of Bernie's voice. Then he came to the bridge leading to the Search and Rescue Centre. As Gordon had dreamt of some years ago about Edward and Henry, the bridge was only half done, and Bernie was hanging from a wooden beam hanging from the edge, gripping for dear life, and screaming out for help.
"David! Davi-i-i-id! Help me!"
"Bernie!" David called out.
He hurried to the edge to approach Bernie, when suddenly, a strong cackle split the air. David glanced behind him, then his heart slammed at the sight of a shadowed phantom perfectly resembling the deceased Sailor John with glowing orange eyes. As the phantom continued to cackle, it began striding toward them both.
"No! Bernie!" David urged as he inched down the ledge and reached for his parolee. "Give me your hand! Take my hand!"
Bernie reached desperately and David leaned down as best he could. But then, just as their hands could barely touch…
"GOTCHA!"
Sailor John's voice sliced through the air boomed as David's other hand was seized in place. David turned around fast and saw the phantom clamping down on his hand with a purely demonic smile and a most blood-curdling voice.
"You pitiful, insignificant FOOL!"
As David's ears rang awfully to the entity's voice, Bernie began to slip and cried out in anguish.
"Davi-i-i-i-id!"
Bernie was mere moments away from falling, to which David cried out helplessly before glaring back to the pirate-baring phantom.
"Sailor John!"
The pirate phantom smiled hugely, then laughed like a man gone mad. In that moment of almost demonic spark, David gave a sheer yell of effort as he brought up his free hand and struck Sailor John away. David then scrambled back to the bridge, drew his sword with a strong forward flourish, then stabbed the pirate through his chest. Sailor John's eyes bulged and his chest uttered a gurgling groan. Then suddenly, he smiled right at David.
"Good form, young lad, but the game is over. Your little parolee is forsaken. And we both know, as does Lola…you're no Lawrence. Are you?"
Only seconds later, Sailor John's eyes lost all sense of light and closed forever. David retrieved his sword and resheathed it as he rushed desperately for the bridge's edge, just as Bernie's grip couldn't hold any longer.
"Bernie, please! Let me help you!" David begged.
But even as David spoke those words, the wooden beam suddenly snapped, and Bernie went plummeting down the abyss and into the water below, wailing one haunting question.
"Why couldn't you save me-e-e-e?!"
Bernie then disappeared into the ocean with a hard splash and knew no more. David came to the edge and shuddered in sorrow.. Down below on the rocks, he saw not Bernie…but his father, Lawrence Rider standing down there, looking up with disappointment and despair.
"Why couldn't you save him, son?"
That's when David jumped out of his sleep, panting and sweating profusely as he looked around his dark room. His clock read 3:15 a.m., exceedingly late to be awake, but David didn't think about that. With his nightmare still fresh in his head, he dashed downstairs to the kitchen and turned on the sink tap. He then began taking cupped hands of water and splashing his face over and over, but it didn't do much to improve his position. Desperately, David dried his face off and went back to bed, feeling more and more desperate to sleep. But just when his mind fully settled again…another nightmare slunk through to his mind…
This time, David found himself in a dark stone hallway, damp, foreboding and isolated…from everything. In his arms, David carried Bernie's lifeless body, his mind almost obliterated by sheer lament and regret. Finally, he gently placed Bernie on the floor and crossed his hands together as his voice cracked through a most broken message.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Bernie! For all of it!"
Not a moment later, David felt someone's presence looming over his shoulder. He turned around fast, and there was Baz, dashed behind the bars of his cell of solitary confinement, with thirty years to let pass by for his full sentence. He looked at David through the bars with a mixture of resentment and a small hint of pride, then spoke solidly and very dryly.
"He is not your failure. You didn't kill poor unfortunate Bernie. …I did."
David gradually lost his sense of despair for Bernie and nodded very slowly, gradually forming a look of anger and building wrath.
"If that's what you claim, let God bear witness to MY words: May thirty years of solitary confinement deteriorate you slowly through due consequence, cut off from all society. May you face God in the end and answer to him, for all you have done. I gave your pupil the chance of aiding his future willingly...but YOU...have elected...the way of PAIN!"
Then David drew his arm back and shot it forward, striking Baz over the head through the bars when…
David burst awake again and looked around, panting profusely. Everything was spiraling out of control all over again. Bernie's funeral was only a matter of hours away. How was he going to escape these dark and haunting images bouncing around inside his head? He shut his eyes and tried to sleep again, but it was no good. Sleep simply did not set in as David kept turning every which way in bed, and he softly recited what he had been dreaming to himself.
"'Not your failure…You didn't kill Bernie…I did.' Of course Baz did in his way, but I…Jesus, what can I do?! What WILL I do?!"
David turned over in bed again as his eyes fell upon his clock. 5:12 a.m. David scoffed and pounded the side of his bed. Then it suddenly came to him. As David managed to gather himself together for just a few moments, he steadily knew just what he had to do to settle his mind. After another moment or two, he got out of bed, put on his robe, then went downstairs to the living room. There, he sat at a nearby desk and turned on the lamp. On the desk were a few sheets of blank paper, and a pen. Right there, David had it all worked out with a slow nod. Before long, with a mug of coffee at his side, David was settled in at the desk, writing steadily and efficiently on the sheets of paper, and so it went on through the wee hours of the morning.
When the sun rose around 7:30 a.m., Beatrice woke up and went to check on David. When she saw he wasn't in bed, she felt worried at first and went downstairs. In the living room, she saw him sitting at the desk with sheets of paper full of his writing, and he was still busy with another sheet with his pen writing swiftly but efficiently. Beatrice had a feeling he had been up for some time and thought it best not to disturb him. David could hear his mother's footsteps through the hallway, but didn't avert his eyes for one moment. Over the next few minutes, David could hear the sizzling of a frying pan, the spreading of butter, and the popping of toast. It smelled delicious in the kitchen, but he kept on writing. About twenty minutes later, Beatrice came into the living room with a tray of food. A plate of fresh eggs, ham, melted cheese on toast and a glass mug of ginger beer. At this moment, David was just about finished what he had been doing since the start.
"Morning, David. I made you something," Beatrice said gently. "Are you hungry?"
David didn't look up, but gestured to put the tray down, indicating he would have it soon. Beatrice placed the tray on the table, and was just about to ask what David had been doing, when he gave the answer.
"Morning, Mum. My eulogy and closing message for Bernie," he said, gesturing to his written paper. "Been writing it since just after 5:00 a.m. Life seems so much simpler when you're writing things. I like to write when I have the time. Everyone does."
Beatrice could sense David had been busy, but his slightly rigid tone suggested he was still holding something in, and she was all too ready to hear it come out. And it did.
"Why did he have to die?" David asked strongly as he looked to his mother. "Why couldn't I save him? I KNOW I could have!"
And he told Beatrice about the nightmares he had been having through the night. Beatrice nodded grimly to such images to have gone through David's head and tried to ease his position.
"Now and again, there are some sorts of people who can't be saved, however hard those who want to save may try. Through all that transpired through this entire ordeal, you did what you could, David."
"Not everything! There must have been something that was or wasn't done! It could have worked out very differently! Except for the fact that there were so many conspirators with different parts they all played! Firstly, it's Baz's fault! He USED Bernie and Sonny to get to Ruth's plans, then left Bernie behind to rot at the last moment! He BETRAYED his own helper and left him for worse! It's Hetty and Geraldine's fault! They never shut their mouths and kept gossiping every tale they could, even when Bernie saved Lola! It's James' fault too! He had the criminal gall to jab at Bernie's mother's memory, and provoke him into worsening his own probation record! It's very particularly DIESEL'S fault! He orchestrated Bernie into placing me on that shark, to which it becomes MY fault! I locked him in the brig and didn't think to hear his side of the story! It's Donald and Douglas' fault as well! They revealed everything to Lola just when it seemed Bernie may have had one last fleeting chance to redeem, and didn't inform it to me right away! To which once again, it's MY fault for not catching Bernie sooner, and therefore I couldn't stop him from taking his own life! In the very same vein as how Romeo and Juliet ended…All are punished. ALL ARE PUNISHED!"
At this point, David couldn't say anything more. His neck flushed red and he collapsed to the chair again, sobbing persistently. Beatrice had heard everything and stood where she was for a moment. She agreed that her son had a fair point from all ends, and to include himself in the matter with his part played in all this was admirable. But she still wanted to see her son get through this as best he could as she lifted his chin again.
"In that sense, perhaps it is everyone's fault," she said. "They all did something at some point in all this. Or you can give it less of a hurtful sense, and say it's nobody's fault."
"Hurtful or not, they all had something to do with it all," said David. "Including my miscalculated judgment…just as father asserted me of when he came to me that night. It's too late to change anything now, and all I care about today is giving Bernie the best and most respectable send-off we can possibly give him."
"And so we will, David," said Beatrice. "Right now, for the given moment, please eat. I promise you'll feel even a little better."
David nodded and went for the tray. Beatrice watched as he ate his food steadily, but sadly. She then glanced to the papers on his desk and pondered a little bit as to what she could do about all this. She really admired what he had written for today and she started working a few things out in her own mind. Soon, David's tray was empty. As his mother intuitively knew, he did feel even a hint better with some food in him.
"Well. We'd best make ready," said David. "The funeral service will be in session soon."
Beatrice simply nodded.
Over the next few hours, while David and Beatrice made ready for the service, Thomas, Emily, Gordon, Percy and Sonny all made ready to attend the service themselves. At Knapford Station, they told the Fat Controller about their intentions today, and given the circumstances, he solely agreed.
"Of course you must go," he said to them all. "After all, Thomas and Emily, you monitored the whole matter as much as you could, and you, Sonny, knew both thieves the closest of anyone, and of course Percy should go, and I will be there too."
All five engines thanked the Fat Controller, then set off, remaining respectfully silent for the matter. Preparations continued throughout the day until 11:00 a.m. It was now time for the funeral. At that exact hour, all five engines arrived at the Funeral Home just beside the line, all stopping at the very spot Belle and Flynn found to attend Simon's funeral all those years ago before he slipped into a phase of complete clown business before coming out the other side. Several cars were already in the car park, including the Fat Controller's car.
"Well…here we are," Thomas said gently. "Simon's funeral was held here, that innocent family's funeral, and now…Bernie."
The other four engines hummed lowly in agreement. Percy felt a certain tingle in his boiler and Sonny just nodded slowly. At that moment, Donald and Douglas came along and stopped with the other engines. They too thought it best to attend after Phelps encouraged it the day before.
"Ohh, by Scots, Douggie," said Donald. "What do you suppose will be said today?"
"We shall see, Donnie," Douglas replied solemnly. "We shall see."
"Well, you two," Emily said gently. "Thomas and I spent the night, in our sleep, pondering what we'll say for Bernie."
"And we're fully prepared to say our part," said Thomas. "As will David and others are too."
At that moment, Bertie pulled in to let off two more attendees for the funeral. Out came David in his captain's coat, and Beatrice in her blue dress, wearing a little rose brooch. She and David nodded to the engines, then walked inside the Funeral Home while the seven engines waited in silence.
Inside the Funeral Home, the Riders saw who else had come, some of which were a surprise to David. The whole Sea Emperor's crew, Phelps and Gallagher, Captain Joe, the Hatt family and the Thin Clergyman were all there amongst others. What caught David's eye were that Hetty, Geraldine, Lola and her parents, and even Ian Wainwright and Ruth had come. David wondered for a moment, but kept his focus on the funeral. There, right down the aisle, there it was. Bernie's coffin with a few flowers mounted on top of it. Despite all that had occurred, David couldn't help but feel his heart flip with sheer admiration that they gave this man's passing such a decoration. For the whole entire service, while the Funeral Director spoke condolences and regards to Bernie, and gratitude to all those who were attending, everyone else remained completely silent, feeling every moment the most purely that they could.
At last, the time came. It was time for the burial. As was the case for Simon's funeral, a group of pallbearers assembled, then carried Bernie's coffin out of the Funeral Home, followed by all the attendees. Outside, Thomas, Emily, Gordon, Percy, Sonny, Donald and Douglas were all waiting. Then all their eyes turned as everyone came out of the building. They watched as Bernie's coffin was placed in a large, fancy black car, then it drove away, followed by Bertie and all the other cars. The seven engines took a deep breath, knowing the time had now come, and off they went down the line together.
Eventually, the engines all came along that particular line, then saw the big green field full of gravestones, and the black iron fence. The cemetery where Simon was buried, where Emily saw David pay his respect to his father, and where Percy often visited that unfortunate family's grave. All the engines closed their lips tightly, holding their silence as long as they had to until their chances would come. They stopped and gathered at the main gate where they could see the open pit dug for Bernie's gravestone, and around it were all the attendees. The Funeral Director looked around and saw everyone was together and ready, and so he came forth and spoke.
"Thank you for coming, one and all. With the service concluded, now comes the burial for this man. To allow us to come to grips with what has suddenly happened in regard to this man, we are all here to pay tribute, time and closing words for Bernie. To start this final procession, as the one who handled Bernie's ever-changing situation right to the end, I believe it be appropriate that our Captain and Commander David Rider should start us off with his share."
All the engines and people watched and listened as David walked slowly to the front with a solemn, defeated expression, glancing slowly among the many attendees, including Lola, who seemed most upset that her curious friend was now gone. David then gave one look to Emily, then it came out.
"Today, we acknowledge what I believe to be…an arguably hurtful and saddening loss. Bernie, as you are all aware, was not a well-put together example of a good sport, or a strongly developed mind, or being really useful on the Island of Sodor. Rather, he was an absent-minded, misguided thief under Baz's scheming villainy...and even embraced such villainy full-force on the very eve of his final hours. But to take my word for it in the long term, Bernie was also someone, who I believe, had some, if not a lot of potential to be a better, brighter and healthier man in and amongst a better bubble of society than what Baz ensnared him in. And I think therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died."
All the engines and guests watched and listened as David spoke further. His shoulders shook lightly, and more than once, it looked and sounded as if he would cry. He didn't, but the sensation was nonetheless there.
"You see…Bernie took his own life, by driving a bullet into his heart, by means of his forceful hand against Detective Phelps' firearm! I'm near certain there are several of you who do not wish me to tell you this! But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to Bernie's memory! Now the pain that I and some of you amongst us may feel with this loss reminds me, reminds us, that while we may think differently and have our own views on countless Sudrian matters, our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, I declare that the bonds of friendship and comradery we hold amongst ourselves and our friends and family are more important than EVER! You all take this to heart, and Bernie will not have died in vain. You take all take this to heart, and we will celebrate the fact that this man, in some way or other, brought us together for this moment of dignity, humbleness and unity. Henceforth, if any of you have any words to say in regard to this whole matter, please come forward. Ladies, gentlemen and engines."
"David? If I may?" came Emily's voice.
"Of course, Emily," David said gratefully. "Please, let us hear you."
Emily winked to Thomas, took a deep breath and slowly came forward, closer to the gathering. Everyone looked to her as she gave her final words for Bernie.
"It's most unusual…but I must say. As troublesome and disruptive as these two thieves were…as strange as it may sound, I do feel fairly, if not truly sorry for Bernie. He did have a cheery disposition, even if it was for the wrong reasons…and he was let down in some way or other when he was left behind in Kenji's coach. Had he been cleverer than he was…who knows? He might have never ended up a thief, and he would have had a chance to be happy. But as is…oh, dear…it just did not turn out as we ever might have expected. Here and now, for this man's funeral, I do hope with all my heart that he finds peace and belonging in the afterlife, now that he has been received by Heaven above. May he rest now in peace and settlement, for always."
All the engines solely agreed with Emily, as did David and Beatrice, who swallowed hard. Next, Thomas came forth. He swallowed again and spoke his share.
"I have seen many monsters in my life, as have the rest of us, such as Diesel, George the Steamroller, Diesel 10, Sailor John and Baz. But I don't believe in ANY realm whatsoever that Bernie is one of them. In spite of his wrongdoings, he was as far away from these monsters as he could ever be. What treachery he may have committed yesterday was not out of malice, but desperation and feeling the loss of all he thought he could have. As wrong as his actions may have been, he did not have a heart of evil. And to that effect, I really do feel sorry for him, like we all should."
Emily thought Thomas had spoken as true as true could be, as did a good few others gathered here. Then it was Lola's turn. She sniffled hard and had to wipe away a few tears as she took a moment to compose herself. She cleared her throat and managed to speak clearly with no stumbles, but the despair in her voice was clear as ever.
"Upon hearing the full story about this man, I made the most difficult decision of cutting ties with him. But doing that, it is my full and firm belief that Bernie was not a bad person who needed to be punished into being good. He was troubled and in serious need of help. Sudrian Society and all society must of course be defended from truly ravenous monsters such as George, Sailor John, Baz and Diesel 10, but Bernie, of all suspects, was NOT dangerous. I think by some of those around him targeting him and kicking him down, he felt his worst beliefs about himself and Sudrian Society were confirmed, which is what likely led him to offending again and again. I don't know if Bernie and I would have truly come together, but in some way or other, he was still my friend…and now, I've lost that friend."
Then the Fat Controller stepped forward and gave his input, which was more practical than the others so far.
"Bernie did himself no more justice than Baz in the way he behaved. A most unfitting and dishonourable exit, given his last few days of probation. If you act like that, you will never be treated as a rich gentleman or noble person. In the end, he chose to follow Baz's path. No one forced him to do it, he chose to do it."
Next it was Copper's turn. David watched as his first mate gave his own input.
"Bernie learned the hard way that there's no place to hide from the law. He wouldn't bend to the discipline of my captain's naval stature, and wouldn't pull together for the rest of us. Oddly enough, as Emily stated, I feel sorry for him. He came here to taste fortune and life on Sodor with the World of Tomorrow, but he departs with a bitter and spiteful taste, with no fortune at all."
At last, after all words and closures were spoken, the time came to end the procession altogether, and so David stepped upward and gave the final prayer for Bernie.
"Therefore it shall be noted with dedicated memory that Bernie, right-hand man of Baz, departed this life on the afternoon of August 25th. Thus, here and now, unto Almighty God, we commend the soul of this man received by Heaven above, and commit his body to the ground, to be turned into soil, looking for the resurrection of the body when the planet Earth shall give up her dead, and the life of the world come, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who at His Coming, shall change our vile body, that it may be like His glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby He is able to subdue all things to Himself. Amen."
"Amen," everyone followed in unison.
With no further delay, all the gatherers stood back, and the coroners lowered the coffin into the ground, while David kept his eyes on it the whole time. Soon, the soil was laid down and spread nice and smoothly, and it was all over.
While most everyone else left, Lola, David, Beatrice, Thomas and Emily stayed a little while longer, still fully lost in everything that had transpired over the past few days. Lola kneeled to the gravestone and whimpered softly. David leaned down and just started to hold her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "Truly, I am."
At that moment, Lola turned and got up, looking straight at David. She spoke not a word, but held his shoulder for a moment, then left to go home. Beatrice then got in Emily's cab while Thomas waited for David. He gestured to them he would have one more moment. He took one last look at Bernie's gravestone, then finally felt it coming. A red burn was waving up his throat, threatening to shed tears from his eyes. He shut them tightly and sniffed hard as he turned and walked slowly out of the Cemetery.
"Oh, my God…! I'm sorry, Bernie. I had true hopes for you at certain points…now you're gone. Father's gone, Emma's gone…God, I'm sorry…"
Then he got onboard Emily too. Thomas whistled softly, then together, they silently left the cemetery. After Thomas and Emily dropped the Riders off at home and left to resume their work, David and Beatrice went inside. While she went about her business, David went upstairs and stood for a long, long time at the top, not saying a thing. Today was for Bernie's memory and nothing else, at least until the next day.
Hours and hours passed, and evening began to set in. David looked outside and saw the sun setting. After a whole day of dedicating regards to Bernie's memory, there was one more thing he felt he had to do before calling it a day. He ventured outside and through the village for a few minutes, then turned to one house in particular and walked straight for it, taking a deep breath. The house was of course Lola's. She had been sitting on her own for a fair while, lost in thought over a few things she had been feeling, until she heard a knock at her door. She opened it, and within five minutes, she was seated in a chair in her living room, with David in another chair, facing her with a look of seriousness, but also sincerity.
"Today was for Bernie's memory, and we all honoured it," he said gently. "Now that the day is coming to an end…I felt I needed to see you. I know how you feel, Lola."
"No, you don't," she whimpered. "I left Bernie that night…I didn't give him another chance. I feel like…it's somehow my fault."
"No, Lola. It's not. Among the others who played their ill part, the fault is also mine. We all said our words for today's service, but right now, I have my own words to say…just for you. Sorry about Bernie. I didn't think about the ripple effect locking him in the brig would have, or about you paying the price for a choice you never made. It's not fair, I know. Then I made it worse by barring you from Bernie the way I did, and not restraining him faster than I did when we chased him down, which probably would have averted what he ended up doing."
Lola could sense the sincerity and truth in David's voice, then looked him square in the eye.
"I have to be frank, David. Please tell me. You served your time in the British Navy, and you've seen and been through things that surely the rest of Sodor could scarcely comprehend…but I want to know. Why? Why do you do what you do? Feel the way you feel? React the way you react? All of it? Please give me nothing more or less than the truth to all of that."
David thought for a moment. Then he gave the briefest, bluntest and yet truest answer he had to this question.
"…Because I'm a Navy Captain."
"You are also a son, and a mentor. Emily's mentor," Lola answered. "You're not all military, David. And you shouldn't have to be. Not for a considerable amount of time, at least."
David knew this to be true and agreed with Lola in some way or other.
"You're right. I shouldn't have to be all navy. But here and now, in regard to Bernie, I know it makes no difference now, but for all that's happened and for what you had to go through…I'm truly so sorry! I'm used to knowing what the right thing to do is. It's what I was trained and motivated to do through my service to the Navy, but after yesterday, I'm not sure now. I don't want to interfere in matters like this anymore, or at least, not nearly as often. All I want right now is to be Emily's best friend…and a good captain. Right now, that's all I think I really need to be."
As David bowed his head and took a deep sigh, Lola nodded, then slowly got up and held David's shoulder, making him look up.
"You're not just Emily's best friend," she said surely. "You're her true and only best friend…and perhaps I'll have to let go of this tragedy too over time."
"What do you mean, Lola?" David asked.
"Well, your final instincts were right, David. Bernie was ultimately up to no good."
"Yes. But he did save you…and he did try saving me from that shark," said David. "So maybe there indeed was a good man in him."
David then held Lola's shoulder for a moment, then gave a nod and left. By now, it was getting dark. David walked all the way back home, considering in his mind. Despite knitting a few of the tears with Lola, in regard to Bernie, he still felt very bad. While Bernie had ultimately brought this fate upon himself, David felt as though it almost could have worked out for him. Had circumstances not played out exactly the way they did, Bernie probably could have truly made a better man of himself. Now that scenario would never come to be. What had happened had happened, and that was it.
As the sun set and the stars started to appear, David returned home. He walked inside and closed the door with a most mournful groan as he sulked to the living room where Beatrice was sitting on the sofa. David told her everything he and Lola had talked about, and she of course came to agree completely.
"You're right and she's right too, David," she said gently. "As honourable as your service to the Navy was, you shouldn't have to be completely naval all the time. You don't need to be. And I believe practicing that distinction is the first step to getting through this difficult time."
"Whatever you advise as my mother, I will follow it," David whispered as he held her face gently and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Mum."
"I love you too," Beatrice whispered softly. "And while your judgments did play a core part in all this, it isn't completely your fault. Everyone involved had their own parts, both good and bad. But things are what they are, and dampened spirits are a luxury we can't afford indefinitely. Always remember, David. You're not alone. Never alone."
Then Beatrice kissed his cheek and went upstairs to make ready for bed. David watched her go and whispered very softly to himself.
"Thank you…Mummy."
As David lay in bed that night, with each passing moment, he took in his mother's words about dampened spirit, and he felt more and more that he had indeed reached the absolute low point for himself, like several others on Sodor had come to experience at some point. And just like those others' experiences, there was no telling yet when this would be over and moved on from…
Throughout the next day, while the Sea Emperor's crew worked fairly with the rest of the village, David barely worked at all, still trying to work out how he would move on from all this. But one thing David gradually came to notice was that something had changed in Arlesburgh…and on the Main Line, some of the engines slowly noticed a change too. It seemed that everyone, people and engines alike, in a very small way, were not the way they were previously, but for this matter, this was a good thing. Everyone seemed to be being a little bit kinder, a little more understanding. Even the hardest of hearts were rising to the matter, as David would find out himself today.
By that afternoon, the village was just starting to wind down and return home, when David was sitting on a crate on the pier. He gazed at the Sea Emperor, reflecting on all that had occurred on and off the ship between him and Bernie, once again keeping silent and still. That's when Ian Wainwright came along, walking slowly and feeling a need to speak to the captain. But in complete contrast to their recurring habit of taking jabs at the other, this would be quite different as Wainwright stopped only a foot or two next to David.
"Hello…Ian," David answered, without looking up.
"C-Captain…" Ian said gravely. "I…I came t-"
"I suppose you're here to brag all about how I only made things worse," David muttered. "Like you've complained about before now and then?"
Ian looked down for a moment, then slowly sat on another crate beside David.
"Well…maybe I would have brought that up over something less serious," he said. "But that's not what I'm here for. I just wanted to say…I know how you feel."
David looked up, remembering how he said that to Lola. He could see Wainwright's heartfelt expression, but then he looked down again.
"Such a senseless waste of life," he said blankly.
Wainwright sighed gravely and spoke heavily, but sincerely. "Your grief is admirable, captain. But I fear you take it too much to heart."
"...I failed him, Mr. Wainwright," David answered heavily. "I gave him the chance, and he threw it away at his own will. This time, it was all for nothing."
"Not all for nothing, captain," said Wainwright. "The man had long-since lost his respect for life and for the law. But to take my word for it, your ambition and firm actions to imprison Baz in London surely saved the lives of many on Sodor."
David slowly got up and turned around to the tailor.
"I feel certain that General Malcolm would have found a positive solution for Bernie," David replied. "I wonder if my duty really is clear."
He then began to walk away, but Wainwright reached out and touched David's shoulder. David looked back and could see a deep expression on Ian's face.
"I'm truly sorry, David," he said sincerely. "I know how heavy this must feel for you, but it will be better. Eventually."
David held Ian's shoulder in turn, but said nothing as he walked thoughtfully away. From the distance, Beatrice had seen everything and what she just saw suddenly gave her an idea. She had been thinking about how David wrote so much to say for Bernie, and to hear him speak it at his funeral was most moving. She also knew Percy would be busy with the mail run soon…and that's when she had it all worked out. She went back home, went to the telephone and called the Sodor Postal Service to place an order for a certain package. Something to give David for him to make use of whenever he had the time.
By this time, Thomas and Emily had just finished their own day, mostly with passenger duties and were huffing along side by side to return their coaches to Knapford Yards. After Bernie's funeral had come and gone, they had been wondering what to do next to help David.
"You know, Thomas…" Emily said eventually. "I'm sure David will be feeling low for quite some time."
"Indeed, Emily," said Thomas. "But there's no telling how long or brief this may take for him to move on from. I think he needs someone who would understand the way he thinks and feels…as a soldier."
Emily looked slowly to Thomas, feeling a certain sense as to just who he was referring to. Then suddenly, her eyes fell upon the road and saw a car driving along…and who did she see driving that very car?
"Ohh! Thomas! Look! It's him!" she gasped then whistled briefly. "Oh! General Malcolm! Please, excuse me!"
Thomas's heart jumped as he looked to the road too. Indeed it was General Malcolm, on a brief period of just two days off duty before he'd return to Sodor's Military Unit. Ever since Sailor John's Vendetta, he had become much stronger and wiser over the years, and when he saw Thomas and Emily, he hurried on ahead, then stopped right at the level crossing, where Thomas and Emily stopped too. Malcom came out and nodded steadily.
"Thomas and Emily. How divine it is to see you again, and after a long, long time too. I see you're both in need of my presence. What moves you to call me to your voices?"
Making sure not to take too long, Thomas and Emily told General Malcolm all about Bernie and David, and what had happened right up to now. Then Emily put forth a little proposal for General Malcolm, who listened and pondered with intrigue. Then he gave Emily a message to pass on.
"Tell him I'll be there for him," he said. "I'm sure he'll take well to my words."
Thomas and Emily thanked Malcolm for his time, then let him pass through the crossing. Then they hurried to Knapford, dropped off their coaches and headed for Arlesburgh.
Meanwhile, Percy was now running along with the mail train. He had heard about Beatrice's particular order for David and was considerably intrigued. He whistled and hurried along, eager to bring the package to the Riders' in good time. Soon enough, he came through Arlesburgh and looked through the village. He couldn't see David anywhere, then he saw the Rider House just up ahead. He came to a quick stop and peeped his whistle. Beatrice came out and saw the postman open one of Percy's wagons and unload the package.
"Hello, Beatrice. Your package as requested," said Percy. "David isn't home, is he?"
"Not yet. This works very nicely," Beatrice smiled to the little green engine. "Thank you, Percy. I'm sure David will find this package…interesting."
"I think he will too, Beatrice," Percy peeped as he set off again, while Beatrice made ready.
Soon afterwards, David came back home after a long day of very little talking and working, aside from his little interaction with Wainwright. When he came inside and walked into the living room, he saw Beatrice standing there and waiting.
"David…" she said. "Could you come in here, please? After some thinking and observing since yesterday…there's something I thought you should have."
David watched as she reached down behind the sofa, then brought out a light brown package. David was suddenly curious and intrigued.
"Mum? What's this?" he asked.
David looked curiously at his mother and took the package. He brought it to the table, then opened it and took out what seemed like a small, but tall briefcase. He looked at Beatrice, who rose her eyebrow, silently suggesting he open it. David undid the latches, opened the case up, then looked right at what befell his eyes. An emerald green typewriter with a full keyboard set, and all the distinctive parts, from the printing point indicators to the carriage return lever, page gauge, line retainer, paper knob and all the other bits and pieces that made this nifty little device. David was considerably enthralled and surprised by this innovative token.
"For me? Wh…why, Mum?" he asked.
"Well, David. I recall what you said about writing when you put together your eulogy for Bernie. You wrote and said a lot about him yesterday, all of which, I found quite moving and significant. And you said yourself everything seems simpler when you're writing. So I thought perhaps you should have this. Something to occupy your mind and let you breathe after all that's happened."
David nodded slowly as he ran his hands gently along the typewriter. "Thank you, Mum."
"You're welcome. Just one little thing, David," said Beatrice. "This order came in your name, but I brought it in from my pocket. You know what that means, don't you?"
David straightened his lip and knew just what his mother meant personally. He nodded and drew his wallet.
"Very well," he said. "What do I owe for this, Mum? Name your price."
"Two hundred pounds altogether, including postage," said Beatrice.
With no hesitation, David drew two hundred pounds and gave it to his mother at once, to which she nodded thanks. Such a price wasn't even a puddle-jump next to David's full fortune.
For about another hour, while Beatrice went about her business, she could hear David's activity in the living room. Intriguing yet relaxing sounds came from the living room as he tried out the typewriter. The tapping of keys, the occasional ding when the paper reached its line's end, and the drawing sound of David pushing the carriage return lever. She peeked her head through the living room doorway and had to smile. David was indeed making use of this intriguing little device.
Just then, there came those two whistles from outside. Beatrice opened the door and saw Thomas and Emily side by side.
"Hello, Thomas and Emily," she greeted.
"Hello, Beatrice. Is David home?" Thomas asked.
"Yes, and still feeling very, very low after all that's happened. What brings you both here?"
"Well, given all that's happened, we've something to tell him," said Emily. "A message from someone who we thought could extend his condolences for the current situation. Please bring him out."
Beatrice pondered curiously, then brought David out to see the two engines.
"Thomas and Emily? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"David…we've a personal message for you. From General Malcolm," said Emily. "We met him along the line earlier, and he wants to see you for dinner at the Seaside Bistro."
"A filling meal and a close-bonded talk is what he wishes," said Thomas. "Won't you go and see? We'll be right here to hear it all when you come back."
David had heard some of General Malcolm's stories regarding his actions during Sailor John's Pirate Vendetta and wasn't fully sure, but given the circumstances and the military and navy proximity, he thought it best to comply. He nodded to Beatrice, winked to the two engines then hurried to the Bus Terminal to board Algy. David spoke the destination and Algy set off, while David kept wondering what this could be about.
When David arrived, he looked around outside the Seaside Bistro, suddenly feeling a hint of sadness and aching remorse as he recalled this was where Bernie and Lola had their one and only date together, and how wonderful he must have felt to be here. Then David looked and saw General Malcolm standing at the front door waiting. He noticed the captain, then beckoned him to come over and reached out his hand.
"Captain Rider," he said steadily and solidly. "A great honour to have your acquaintance."
"General Malcolm," David said as he reached his hand and shook Malcolm's. "You wished to see me?"
"Yes. Come inside. We've a table for us both," said Malcolm.
Soon, both navy men were inside the restaurant, seated at a table for two. Aside from placing their orders to the waiter, neither David nor Malcolm said anything. Then after waiting about twenty minutes, their food arrived. General Malcolm had a clam chowder with salt, pepper and a dash of melted cheese. David had the evening special of lobster thermidor, a most intriguing dish of a lobster shell stuffed with tail meat and a sauce made of whipped egg yolks and a tiny touch of brandy. It was then that General Malcolm spoke.
"So, nautical chap," he said. "I thought to invite you here so I could…"
David thought that Malcolm wanted to hear everything about Bernie, so he answered early.
"It's a long story. I'll save it for the typewriter. Perhaps we might each take a glass of northern ginger beer with our clam chowder and lobster thermidor special."
"Actually, Captain Rider, you needn't talk at all about what's happened," said General Malcolm. "I'll bring up my point after dinner."
For about half an hour, both the captain and general dined heartily and in silence until their plate, bowl and glasses were empty. The waiter arrived with the cheque, and both men paid their bill. Then General Malcolm stood up and ushered David to follow him. David did so until they went through a door outside, to the balcony of the restaurant. The tables were all empty, but there was a beautiful view of the sea right there for any patrons to enjoy, and the sun was just beginning to lower through the sky. David looked out to sea for a moment while General Malcolm joined him. In this moment, it came clear to David. The general had invited him here to extend his condolences, which was exactly what General Malcolm did.
"Thomas and Emily have already informed me of the man Bernie…and that you carry the weight of his death on your shoulders."
David nodded once, not looking at Malcolm at first.
"For six years, I served in the Royal Navy onboard the HMS Defender and ultimately lured Sailor John to his end, even before it befell him here on Sodor. Here on Sodor since the start, I've had good times and bad times, and my interferences in big matters have had varying results. But after this line of events, I feel I must question the clarity of my duty."
"Captain Rider, men like Baz and Bernie choose to cast themselves adrift," said General Malcolm. "You attended to your duty as a captain, as you did at sea, and shall continue to do. And you fully attend to your duty as a mentor to Emily, as you always will."
"Baz is well taken care of and out of the way, no doubt," said David. "But I failed to find a way to help Bernie."
"You have nothing to reproach yourself with," said General Malcolm, holding David's shoulder. "One fugitive man has fallen, all others on Sodor are safe, thanks to you and your crew's establishment."
"Yes, sir, but Bernie's death was needless," David answered.
Seeing no point in beating about the bush a moment longer, General Malcom left the balcony and stood alongside David.
"Sometimes, that is the price of command and upholding the law, I'm afraid. And it doesn't do to dwell needlessly on the past. Besides, you have much to do for and with Emily, just as your father entrusts upon you as his son. And much to do for Arlesburgh, just as you have done since you moved there. Your grief will pass on in due course."
"Well...if it's your word for it, General, I know I can take it to heart."
"Good. That will be all," said General Malcom. David was just about to leave, when he spoke again. "One thing more, Captain Rider. Just between us."
"Yes, sir?"
"I understand you targeted Donald and Douglas for some time when you first ever came here, concerning the accident with that snowball they threw at Emily, as it were?"
"Excuse me, sir, but what relevance does that have right now?" David asked.
"That's out of the question," General Malcolm replied solidly. "As Sodor's General, I am curious as to why you, as a navy captain, did such things upon them?"
"Well, to answer your curiosity; given how unfair it seemed for Emily to put up with at the time, I thought it best," David answered.
"You thought it best," General Malcolm eyed, walking around David. "You thought it best, sir? Chasing Donald and Douglas out of Black Loch, locking Douglas away, and arguing with the other engines over the twins' faults, when they've also done so many useful things over the years? Wanton extravagance! I'm surprised at you."
"Begging your pardon, General. I know now it was not my place," David answered. "I merely did it because I love Emily as my best friend."
Malcolm nodded slowly and ever-so slightly curved his lip into a small smile. Then he reached out his hand to shake David's.
"Good to have you onboard Sodor, Captain Rider."
David looked and nodded as he shook the General's hand. Shortly afterward, David and General Malcolm were riding back to Arlesburgh in Algy. David was dropped off at the terminal and nodded to Malcolm, who nodded and even smiled in turn. David then walked through the village and on toward the pier. There, Thomas, Emily and Beatrice were all standing beside the Sea Emperor, watching as the sun started to set. They all saw David return and immediately inquired as to how the outing went. David told them all what he and General Malcolm had talked about, and the General's word of the wise to the whole matter. Thomas, Emily and Beatrice took in everything, while also noticing that David steadily grew very downhearted and sad again in regard to Bernie. David then asked Thomas and Beatrice to give him and Emily a little space. There was something he wanted to tell her himself. Thomas and Beatrice indeed gave them space, but kept close enough to still hear.
"Well, David…do you think General Malcolm's words helped?" Emily asked.
"It certainly helped in the moment," David said sadly. "But I…I keep wishing this all didn't happen how it did for Bernie."
"We know, David. But I do believe General Malcolm is right," said Emily. "Sometimes, that is the price of command and upholding the law. Especially in the SPD. Phelps and Gallagher certainly know that to be true. But the way I see it…that shouldn't mean it absolutely must be paid."
"That's what I believe, Emily," said David. "Bernie's death was needless by all meanings of the word."
"I agree with that too, David. But as you told Beatrice yourself, there were so many conspirators who pulled Bernie's path down to the end that it came to…including the judgements that you had for him, and I'm not saying that to hurt your heart. I mean these words to speak the truth."
"I'm sorry, Emily. For all that had to happen," said David. "But most specially for you and me…in the midst of this most ill-fated turn of events, I only hope for one thing right now…and for always."
"What's that, David?" Emily asked.
"That you and I can still, and always will be friends."
Thomas and Beatrice watched from the distance and kept absolutely quiet. Emily's eyes glimmered ever so slightly as she stared into David's eyes, which were glimmering just the same. They stared deeper and deeper into the windows to their souls, just as Thomas would do with Emily now and again in their silent little moments together. After a few moments, both Emily and David could feel that little sensation only they could know inside and out, and all it took was one look into each other's eyes. There never was, and never would be any doubt. Emily blinked once and said those two little words, with surety, spirit and caring all shining through her voice.
"Best friends."
David nodded in turn, then spread his arms and hugged Emily's face, not saying a word. Emily closed her eyes and sighed gently as she cuddled into David's hug. This had indeed turned out to be a dampening low end for David to take, but however long it would take, they would come out the other side. After a few minutes, David let go of Emily's face, then held her cheek and gave her a kiss, feeling her soft, gentle and warm skin on his lips. Emily closed her eyes and felt her boiler tingle with surety as her best friend kissed her. Then David hugged her face again, much more closely.
"I love you, Emily," he whispered. "I will never have another best friend in the world like you."
"I love you too, David," she whispered. "Through all the times we share together, good, bad and in between…there will be no better best friend for me than you."
Then she very softly touched her lips to his cheek and kissed him very lightly. Afterwards, David let go of Emily and looked into her eyes again as he stepped down from her running plate then looked back out to sea as the sun set. After a few minutes of silence, one of them spoke again.
"Do you think he would have succeeded? Had all this never happened?" Emily asked.
"No…no, he was lost from the start," David said lowly. "In the end, it was Baz. It was all Baz. I did nothing. I can't help it, Emily. Even with General Malcolm's encouragement, it's still encrusted deep in me. Through Bernie's abrupt and most undeserved end, I've proven myself a failure."
To this, Emily gave David a strong, serious look, while Thomas and Beatrice listened closely.
"David Rider," Emily stated. "Read my lips: You are NOT a failure."
Before David could utter, "Yes, I am," Emily kept going.
"You are NOT. I know what's happening to you right now, and it's happened to me and plenty others too. We all hit the absolute low point in life somewhere. I hit mine under Gordon and James' villainy, which was also their lowest stoop, Flynn when he lost Firefighter Simon and became very, very silly, Thomas when he was sent away to Harwick, and when his demon awoke for the final time, Percy when his spirits were crushed…It happens to all of us at some point. But even then, we all come out the other side, happier and better than we were before…and so you will too."
David knew Emily was right, but like all the others' experience, there was no clear way yet.
"That may be so, Emily. But of course, the always unanswered question is how long recovery will take? Furthermore, it should be my burden to bear. Many around me have carried enough burdens for a good while now."
"I always admire your courageous ambition, David," said Emily. "But sometimes, if I may say so, even you can be very thick. You don't really think you can move on from this tragedy all alone, do you? You need us all to pitch in however we can and should. Your beloved mother Beatrice, Thomas, and of course…me. Your best friend, and your beautiful, caring and devoted No. 12 Stirling Single Safety Engine. As your mother said. You're not alone. Never alone."
David looked at Emily, then nodded with surety as he affectionately rubbed her buffer before looking out to the sea again, speaking one more sentence.
"I've never realized often enough how beautiful this place is."
David and Emily stood side by side together, while Thomas and Beatrice slowly came back beside them both, and there they all stood at the pier, watching the horizon and the sunset for a long time. This had been a failure in some way or other, in that David had given all he could, both reasonable and unreasonable to try and save Bernie from slipping into darkness, and through it all, David's plan had not worked. Bernie was gone now, and there was nothing more he or anyone else could do about it. David's spirits were bound to stay low for a considerable amount of time, but as with others on Sodor who had experienced their low point and came out the other side, so too would David, and his most beloved friends on the rails always had been and always would be there for him.
It's finally done. This is tied with "A Cracked Ruby" for our second-longest story after "Thomas and Emily's Relationship" at ten chapters. David's speech for Bernie is inspired by Dumbledore's speech for Cedric Diggory in "Harry Potter IV: The Goblet of Fire", particularly on account that Dumbledore's main actor, Sir Michael Gambon passed away recently. This is the absolute peak of David's instability as a character, and from this story on, he shall embrace much more being reasonable, open-minded and guiding; not that he didn't have these traits before, but he'll embrace them much more from now on. I must also stress that, as someone who is on the autism spectrum myself, Bernie's treatment throughout this story was sincerely never intended to offend anyone, but it should also be noted that there was never any intention of having Bernie make a proper redemption or earn a happy ending. The next story will essentially be the epilogue to this story, focusing on David coming to terms with this entire ordeal. So until then, tell us what you thought of this finale, and as always, stay safe.