WWII: A Railway Series Tale

Chapter VIII - The Balahoo Blitz

The explosions evolved into the sound of bullets and planes, the occasional explosion from a falling plane. In the fog, it looked like fireworks. As the cavalcade drew closer to Henry's Tunnel, a plane spotted the group. A group of men stood at the top of the hill in which the tunnel ran through, shouting in German. The plane chased the engines through the tunnel, going through the first borough, and the engines in the second. The pilot, realizing his mistake, screamed in agony as the wings of his plane broke and the body exploded upon impact. Thomas whistled loudly as the tunnel rumbled. "The other tunnel is collapsing! Hurry!" Thomas pushed Bridget with a bump. "Don't die, don't die, don't die!" Bridget yelled loud and long as they emerged from the tunnel, smoke and fire flew out of the other hole where the plane exploded.

Gordon, Thomas, and Bridget stopped not far from where they exited the tunnel. It felt like the loneliest part of the line. The explosions stopped, screams silenced.

Nothing.

"Is it over?" Bridget asked. The general stepped out of Gordon's cab and joined his men next to one of the utility vans. "It seems like it's over. I say we should investigate in a little while." the general answered. "Good thing we're alive." Thomas sighed with relief. "But we're not alone." Gordon muttered. "What's that light?" Thomas asked cautiously.

-

Out of the fog shone a singular, brightly lit light. The vehicle in the fog looked ghostly with its lone lamp, almost as if it were a one-eyed truck. "What in the devil?" Gordon murmured in a serious tone, squinting his eyes to try to make out the queer object whirring in the mist. "What is it?" Thomas asked nervously.

"If only I knew, little Thomas."

The whirring turned to exhaust sounds, and they were nearer and nearer to Thomas and Gordon. "Our paint should hide us in the fog, right Gordon?" Thomas asked the big engine.

"Surely, if we were stuck in pitch black, Thomas," Bridget wheeshed in annoyance.

Gordon shut them up, and said "You lot get behind me, I'll protect you both in case the intruders are a threat." he told them, and the two tank engines obeyed him.

"Whoever you are, show yourself." Gordon bellowed amidst the heavy fog. The one-eyed vehicle took no notice. "Why won't it listen?" Bridget pondered.

"Shh!" Gordon shushed in concentration.

"State your purpose, or we will have no choice but to interfere!" Gordon rallied again. This time, there was a response, a loud, blaring horn sounded as the vehicle came closer and closer.

There, emerging out of the fog, was an olive green lorry. He had a large, mobile crane mounted on his truck bed, and was very dirty. He wasn't alone. A small fleet of military lorries were with him, but their lamps were out.

Thomas was confused. "But why? It is extremely hard to see in this heavy fog, and without a lamp, it would be dangerous to travel, unless...." he thought to himself.

"Evening, chaps. You wouldn't happen to be a NorWester', would you?" The lorry asked, his one lamp flickering on and off.

Gordon stared at the lorry coldly. Thomas decided to break the silence "Yes, we're Sir Topham's engines. Why?" he asked.
"Packard, we've found them." the lorry said blankly without warning. Gordon's face went white.

"Blast that dinky little engine" he thought to himself "He's gone and blown our cover. These could be spies."

"Excellent work, Kelly." said a voice. Stepping out of the lorry's cab was a young commander with fiery red hair that shone radiantly in the flickering light of Kelly's lamp. "I beg your pardon, but who are you?" Thomas asked curiously.

"Commander James L. Packard, Sudrian Squad 17. You must be one of the North Western Railway's engines." the man introduced himself sharply.

"Indeed. But why are you here?"

"My squad and I have been assigned with protecting the Crovan's Gate region of Sodor, where there is a higher risk of intruders from the mainland. We can't trust anyone, it seems." Packard explained.

Everything started to add up. "Apologies if we gave any of you a startle" Kelly apologized respectfully.

"Upon our arrival at Vicarstown, there was an abush from the Sudrian Sea as we crossed the Rolling Lift Bridge. We're lucky that we sustained a few broken headlamps, but it was indeed a close call." he explained.

Gordon sighed. "A close call such as what your...erm..Pack, experience is why we were very startled when we first saw you arrive."

"Gordon's right! We heard what sounded like guns shooting at something and other noises, so we made a decision to find a safe place." Bridget added.

Kelly looked around "I suppose Balahoo Tunnel is quite sheltering against heavy artillery." he said with admiration. "Way to go, Topham!" said a boisterous voice. Another lorry, different from Kelly, pulled up alongside the mobile crane. Kelly cleared his throat with embarrassment. "I -erm...I apologize for Patrick, he tends to speak his mind with practically everything." Kelly sighed and gave Patrick a cold glare. "Aye, I'm a very plain speaker, ye heard?" Patrick belted. "That will do, soldier." Packard silenced the obnoxious lorry.

Gordon interjected, "We just came from the tunnel. We almost got killed when the enemy flew a plane into one of the boroughs. We were going to check the damage, but we should head to Vicarstown and seek shelter until morning."

"Righto! You heard the engine! Saddle up, soldiers!" Kelly riled up his team. Soon, the engines and their new allies started the journey to Vicarstown, where Henry would be waiting for them.