Day 23-Tap Out
Day 23-Beyond
Other Stories
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A Western Summer
Thomas rolled onto the docks smoothly, humming contentedly, whistling a hello to S.S. United States as he looked for his friend, the liner replying back.
He soon found Percy, cursing at the truck management.
“May I remind you my siblings taught Salty?” he called out amused.
Percy looked back with a glare, “No wonder it's a mess then.”
Thomas chuckled, and began helping Percy sort out the mess.
“Its due to the storm,” he explained, “several harbors are closed for repair, and it's all coming through here. Plus everything meant for past Elsbridge…”
“Has nowhere to go.” The saddletank sighed, “I guess that's why they needed me here so much.
“How was the trip?” Thomas asked innocently.
“Never again.”
Thomas laughed, “I thought it would be better than being stuck in the shed.”
“...of course it was your idea.”
“Come on, where is your love of the water?” He teased.
“I’ll leave that to your boyfriend,” Percy snarked. He then paused and looked back towards the sidetank, “how are you by the way?” He asked, suddenly serious. “I know the storm was harder on you than anyone else.”
Thomas actually considered the question, “I’m alright.” He said finally, “Duck’s been keeping my mind off things, so a lot better than I expected.”
Percy snorted, “I half expected you to have run off to save a scrap yard…”
He stopped when he didn't get a reply. He looked over to see the tank engine staring at the tracks before him, the trucks looking at him in concern.
“I…I can't.” Thomas said, he looked up at Percy, “you hear about the other night?”
Percy nodded slowly, “something about a demon battleship?”
“Not a demon, just one who failed to pass on.” Thomas sighed. “The whole time…I was just tired, not physically but…”
“You're not sure how much more you can take.”
“They’re withdrawing the Class 26s, and the 40s…the peaks will start being withdrawn next year. I thought I would be done. That the end of steam would signal the end. They would scrap the unsuccessful diesels and electrics then I could rest. They're scrapping successful engines now…just for being non-standard.”
Thomas looked exhausted.
“Tap out.” Percy said.
“I can't.” Thomas snapped.
“The hell you can't,” Percy snapped back, “you have an entire island of engines willing to step in, and that's not counting beyond the NWR. Tell us where to go and we'll see it done.”
“I can't just hand off my duty…”
“You're not.” Percy said firmly, “no one expected this to go on so long. You may not be able to hand control over to anyone else, but we can do the heavy lifting.”
Percy paused and continued more gently, “it's been twenty years since they announced the plan. No one can blame you for taking our help…I'm afraid you're on your own with the battleships though.”
Thomas burst out laughing at the unexpected statement, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
