Chapter 301: The Queen of Sodor
Summer means many things for the residents of Sodor. Warmer weather, trips to the beaches, and even more visitors coming to the island. But for the employees of the railway, it also means something very unpleasant: The Duke and Duchess of Boxford's visit, and inevitably the return of Spencer.
"Can that cousin of yours possibly be any more insufferable?" Thomas complained to Gordon one morning.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Gordon groaned. "He's just living proof that some people never grow up."
Just then, Sir Topham Hatt came to the sheds.
"The Queen of Sodor needs to go to dry dock for her overhaul."
Percy was puzzled.
"I thought Sodor didn't have a queen of its own. And don't they have doctors for that?"
Everyone else couldn't help but laugh.
"The Queen of Sodor isn't a person, Percy!" Edward chuckled. "It's a fishing trawler that works in the Norramby Fishing Village."
"Ugh," James groaned. "Its probably dirty and smells like fish."
"Not to mention leaking," added Sir Topham Hatt. "The fishing village's dry dock is too small for the work it needs, so I need someone to take it to Brendam Docks. I'll try to arrange for it to be taken during a quiet period."
The minute he had left, everyone let out a collective groan.
"Ugh, not that job again," Thomas said. "I couldn't get the smell of fish off of me for weeks!"
"But somebody has to do it," James sighed.
"If only somebody would volunteer," Percy piped in."
"Yes," agreed Henry. "But who?"
Just then, they heard the all too familiar whistle of Spencer's engine. This gave Gordon an idea.
"Follow my lead."
Spencer stepped down from his engine's footplate, smug as ever.
"Ah, good morning to all of you. Such a lovely day to be delivering the Duke and Duchess to their summer home, isn't it? I don't know what they would do without me. What's on the agenda for the rest of you today?"
Gordon winked at the others before addressing his cousin.
"Actually, Spencer, The others and I were just talking about who will get to collect the Queen of Sodor."
Spencer quirked an eyebrow at this.
"The Queen of Sodor? Preposterous, there's no such thing!"
"Oh, but there is! Isn't that right, Edward?"
"It's true! Sir Topham Hatt was just here asking for volunteers."
Spencer snorted.
"If there is a Queen of Sodor, she deserves to be shown around by someone truly grand like me!"
"Well, we were going to ask you, Spencer, but you're such a busy man. After all, what will the Duke and Duchess do without you!"
"Pah, they'll be fine for a day without me! But to take the Queen is a once and a lifetime opportunity! I shall see Sir Topham Hatt and volunteer at once."
And Spencer flounced away without another word. Once they were sure he couldn't hear them, everyone burst out laughing.
"Too easy!"
"He'll be in for a big surprise."
Sir Topham Hatt was quite shocked when Spencer volunteered for the job.
"You, Spencer? Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! After all, I can't let Gordon be the only on in the family to have chauffeured a queen."
"Wait, Godon's the one who told you about the job?"
"Indeed he was!"
Sir Topham Hatt suppressed a knowing grin.
"Very well Spencer, I'll run it by the Duke and Duchess. Thank you for volunteering to help."
"Of course, sir!"
The Duke and Duchess agreed, and Spencer set off for the fishing village.
"Funny place to meet a queen, isn't it? Ah well, perhaps her yacht got-ugh!"
When Spencer found his load, he was immediately repulsed by it. The fishing trawler was dirty and old, with barnacles and rust caking its surface. The wood was rotten, and the aroma of fish hung all around it. Spencer seethed in fury when he realized he'd been tricked.
"When I catch that Gordon, I'll give him a piece of my mind!"
Still, he knew he couldn't back out now, so reluctantly coupled his engine to the wellwagon and set off. All the way there, he gagged and moaned at the horrid smell.
"Phew! At least no one is here to see me."
But there was trouble ahead. The workmen hadn't quite accounted for the bridges along the way, as Spencer soon found out. As they passed through the first tunnel, the mast of the ship scraped along the roof, making an awful scraping sound. Dust and rocks fell as they moved along, but that was nothing compared to the noise.
"Oh, Gordon is definitely going to get it now!"
Fortunately, they made it through without trouble, and continued on to Brendam Docks, where they arrived without issue.
"Phew! Glad that's over. Now, where's my cousin?"
When Spencer returned to Tidmouth Sheds later that night, the occupants were dismayed to see him smug as ever, both him and his engine spotless.
"Thought you could pull a fast one on me, did you? Well, the joke's on you, because I didn't get a speck of dirt on me all day! I guess I just know how to keep myself more clean than–"
"Coal trucks coming through!"
Just then, Murdoch rushed past with a long train of coal trucks. Some of the coal dust flew out as he passed by Spencer, coating him and his engine in a thick layer of soot, making all of the others laugh.
"You were saying, Spencer?"
Spencer wisely decided to remain silent.