Chapter 10

The World Around Ben

By Henryandbrunodude1234

Ben quietly rolled into Knapford Station. "Get in and out", he whispered to himself. Rest assured, he did not get in and out.

Rosie rolled up cheerfully next to him. "Hello Ben!" she gleamed. "What brings you to Knapford?"

"I'm picking up trucks to bring to the docks", Ben mumbled.

"Have you ever gone to the docks? One day, Percy fell in there when I first came back to Sodor. We had been arguing about..."

"Rosie", Thomas said as he entered the station, "let's give Ben some space. He lost a close friend a couple days ago".

"Oh", Rosie said sympathetically as she rolled away.

"Ben, I'm so sorry about Bill", Thomas said.

"Whatever", Ben said. "It's not like he's dead".

Rosie shunted Ben his trucks and he left fuming.

For all Ben knew, Bill was alive, but he feared his death more and more with each coming day".

Seagulls fluttered around the dockyard as Ben pulled in. Salty rolled up silently beside him.

"I'm sorry about Bill, matey", Salty said.

"It's too tragic, with the situation and all", Porter sighed. "It was a rocky way to go".

Cranky turned to look towards the sea. Small sniffles could be heard from the crane.

"Is... is Cranky crying?" Porter whispered.

"I'M NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!" Cranky bellowed as he turned around, his eyes watering. "I'm gonna miss that little pest", he whispered.

"HE'S NOT DEAD!" Ben screamed. He stormed off, leaving everyone in shock.

Ben was far away from the docks, but he still was angry. A small cardinal landed on his tank. Ben whistled angrily, and the bird flew away scared.

"Stupid bird", Ben mumbled.

Ben stopped. He had something he needed to do.

The wharf was quiet. Ben rolled in, trying not to wake the sleeping green crane. He wasn't paying attention, and banged into a line of trucks.

"FIRE!" screamed the crane. "CRIMINALS!"

Wharf workers came running over.

"Relax!" Ben screamed. "I'm just looking for the works!"

The wharf workers groaned and walked away.

"The wharf is over that way", the crane said sleepily pointing his arm towards a big shed.

"Thanks Mr..."

"Colin", the crane said, before he drifted into sleep.

"Thanks Colin!" Ben smiled.

"See ya Fernando", Colin said in his sleep.

Ben entered the works. Bill was nowhere to be seen.

"What are you in for?" said a rusty old truck in the back.

"I'm looking for my brother Bill", said Ben.

"Oh yeah! He looked nasty when he came in here!" The truck gave a quick chuckle before coughing.

"Will he be okay?" Ben said worried.

"Shoot kid, do I look like a mechanic?" the truck laughed. "I've been here for ages, and they haven't fixed me up!"

"Is there any way he can be back sooner?"

"If there was, I'd tell ya, but there doesn't seem to be one".

Ben sighed and rolled away. As he exited the works, the truck hollered, "Tell the engine that Ruffey sent ya!"

He burst out in maniacal laughter, as the doors slammed shut.

Ben spent the rest of his day doing his work. He didn't speak to anyone, but wasn't exactly rude.

Ben rolled into the shed next to Edward. "Edward, it was me. It was MY carelessness that caused Bill's death".

Edward looked unfazed by the news. "Whoever killed him, it's still the same. You just have to accept it Ben. Bill is dead".

Ben looked at Edward sadly, but knew he was right. Bill was dead, and he could do nothing...

A whistle sounded over the quarry. A small tank engine entered view in the distance.

As Bill rolled up towards his brother, Ben looked pleased and shocked.

"Now please inform me, who is this Bill who died?" Bill said.

Edward and Ben both laughed. "Welcome back Bill", Ben smiled.

"A pleasure as always", Bill said, flashing his brother a quick wink.

While the three engines talked, the same bird from earlier came and sat on the shed roof. This time, he brought his brother back with him.

The End