Chapter 66: Rock n' Roll

One day, Skarloey and Rusty were talking in the yard.

"You've done marvelous work repairing the old rails," Skarloey said, "If it weren't for all of these familiar faces and places, I would've thought I was on a different railway."

"I'm glad you're pleased," Rusty laughed, "Mr. Percival said that we should mend the rails so well that he wouldn't recognize where he is. So, we did, and you didn't, if you know what I mean."

"I do indeed," said Skarloey. He had become quite fond of Rusty.

"Our work isn't done quite yet," Rusty said, "There's still one bad bit, just before the first station. It's rather easy to derail there, especially if you drive as bad as Duncan."

Just then, Duncan drove in. He had been working at the quarry all morning, and had heard the last bit of their conversation.

"What's that about me?" He grunted, "I'm a plain-speaking man, and I believe in plain speaking. Speak up."

Rusty told Duncan about the bad bit of track, but Duncan just laughed.

"I used to work in a factory," he sniffed, "I know about bad track. I don't need some dirty diesel driver to tell me what to do. Either do something useful or buzz off."

And with that, Duncan left to fetch his next train, leaving a hurt Rusty behind with Skarloey to soothe his feelings.

Duncan was in a bad mood. He roughly coupled his engine to the coaches, then drove roughly to the platform. James was there, not looking at all amused.

"You're late," he snapped, "We big engines can't be kept waiting for you."

"I know," Duncan complained, "It's Rusty's fault. He tries to teach me useless information, and then he leaves me to fetch my own coaches."

"You poor soul," James sympathized, "I know all about how troublesome diesel drivers can be. One caused trouble in the yard a while ago, but I soon sent him packing."

Just then James's guard blew his whistle, and James drove out of the station.

Duncan was impressed. He didn't know that James was lying. All the way to the next station he chanted "Send Rusty packing! Send Rusty packing!" Rocking his engine about as he did so.

It wasn't long before they were close to the first station. Duncan was pleased.

"Nothing's happened! Nothing's happened!" He chortled. "Silly old Rusty, but clever me."

But then there was trouble. Just as they approached the final bend, the front wheels slipped off the rails and onto the ballast. The train was stuck.

"Oh dear," Duncan grumbled, "I should've listened to Rusty. Now we're stuck."

Rusty and Skarloey were relaxing in the yard when they heard the news. Rusty was not pleased when he was told to save him.

"After all that he said to me?" he snorted. "Forget it! I've tried to be nice to him, but all he's done is call me names. He is on his own."

Skarloey was shocked by Rusty's attitude.

"I am ashamed of you, Rusty," he said, "Duncan may have been rude to you, but that is no excuse to refuse to help him. Besides, he's not the only one stranded out there. Think about his passengers."

Rusty sighed.

"You're right, Skarloey," he said, "I'll be over there right away.

Rusty soon reached the scene of the accident. It took some time, but at long last, they managed to get the engine rerailed. Rusty helped them to the next station, then set back off for home.

That night at the house, Duncan spoke to Rusty.

"Thank you for helping me today, Rusty," he said, "I'm sorry I was rude to you. I wish more people were like you. Let's be friends."

"Sounds good to me," Rusty replied, "We'll mend that bad bit of rail first thing tomorrow."