Chapter 45: A Close Shave

Duck drove sadly to Wellsworth station. Edward could see that something was bothering him.

"What's wrong, Duck?" He asked kindly.

"It's that new driver, Diesel," Duck said sadly, "He's been telling lies about me, and now I've been sent away in disgrace. It's just not fair."

Edward smiled kindly.

"Don't worry, Duck," he said. "If I know Sir Topham Hatt, he'll be sure to have this sorted out in no time. Now if you wouldn't mind, could you help with these trucks? They're rather heavy, and I'm not sure that my old engine can handle all of them by itself."

Duck smiled, and the two set straight to work.

Meanwhile at the main station, Diesel was rather pleased with himself.

"Things may not have gone exactly as I planned," he thought to himself, "But I did manage to get rid of that thorn in my side. Now to show these old-fashioned fools how a modern engine handles shunting."

Diesel managed to handle the shunting, but he did get a little mixed up and accidentally shunted Henry's goods train to Platform 1. Henry thought it was rather funny, and teased him about it.

"Too much work for you?" He snickered, "I thought a diesel driver could manage this without a problem. Perhaps I overestimated your abilities."

And with that he left the station. Diesel was not happy.

"Who does he think he is? Nobody makes fun of me," he thought darkly, and plotted his revenge.

Back at Edward's Branch line, Edward and Duck were busy pushing a long train of trucks up Gordon's Hill. It was a hard job and required lots of coal, but at last they managed to get the train up and over the crest. Edward tooted goodbye and thank you on his engine's whistle, and Duck did the same before coasting back down. Duck enjoyed the run, before he heard a rattling coming behind him. He looked to see a long line of 20 trucks cascading straight towards him and his engine. They surged into the back of it, and Duck was forced to fight back as much as he could.

They approached the yard, to find to Duck's horror James leaving the station with a passenger train. If Duck didn't do something and quick, there would be a serious accident.

Duck noticed a lever next to the line. These were used to set the points without the help of a signalman. Thinking fast, Duck leaned carefully out of the cab and, using the shovel for coal, hit the switch, throwing his engine and the trucks into a nearby siding, just in the nick of time.

But it wasn't over yet, as up ahead there was a barber shop situated at the end of the siding. Duck, knowing he would never stop in time, slowed the train down as much as he could and prepared for the worse.

CRASH!

As this all was happening, Diesel was using the same tactic he did as last time. Unbeknownst to him, Sir Topham Hatt had figured out his ploy and had paid the sledgehammers to report to him anything Diesel had told them. Diesel had just finished whispering a joke to the workers.

"Now remember," he said before he slithered away, "Don't tell Gordon."

Later that day he returned to the station to find Sir Topham Hatt at the platform, looking rather displeased.

"Diesel!" he boomed, "I know all about your scheme, and I am most unimpressed. Just because someone laughs at you, it doesn't give you the right to tell slander about them."

Diesel opened his mouth, but was stopped.

"Don't even try to weasel your way out of this," he continued, "I was informed of your acts by the workmen you told the jokes to. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Suddenly, he heard a telephone ringing.

"Bother that telephone," he muttered, and entered his office to take the call. When he got out his face was red all over.

"I have just been informed that Duck has just been involved in a serious accident and is hospitalized in a coma. Something that never would have happened if you had let your animosity go. You had better hope that Duck pulls through, or I guarantee you will be taken to court."

Diesel said nothing. He knew that he had lost.

Duck was in the hospital for a month, barely showing any signs of life. At last, he woke up, finding himself surrounded by Doctors. While he was scared at first, he managed to calm down and was assured that everything was alright.

Soon Sir Topham Hatt entered the room.

"Thank goodness you are alright," he said, "I heard about what happened. You were very brave."

"Thank you, sir," Duck said weakly, "But what about Diesel?"

"I never should have trusted that snake," Sir Topham Hatt said crossly, "But I assure you that he is no longer a problem. I have sent him packing, and left his fate up to British Railways. I look forward to when you return."

Duck stayed in the hospital another 2 months. All of his friends visited him, telling him how brave he was and how much they miss him. When at last he returned to work, there was a large party for him.

"Three cheers for Duck, the Great Western Engine Driver!" said Gordon, and everybody followed suit.

Duck just beamed happily.