New Mountain Engines

Chapter Four: Howl in the Hills

While Nigel was shut up in the sheds, Harold the Helicopter had paid the mountain a visit. The other engines always caught him flying over the horizon surveying the area.

"What brings you to the area?" Asked Shane Dooiney.

"There hasn't been much work for me recently over at the Knapford Airfield," smiled Harold, "So I offered my services to keep a lookout for any danger here."

Shane Dooiney was taken aback, thinking Harold was referring to them, "We're always careful. Or at least, some..." Thinking of Nigel.

"No, no, not you!" Laughed Harold, "I'm referring to the people. There's lots of rock climbers that visit the mountain too, you know. That can lead to all sorts of trouble if they're not careful. Anyways, gotta dash, see you around!"

Shane Dooiney didn't have any time to reply, he had to take another train. As he reached Devil's Back, he had to stop and wait for the downward train to pass. As he waited though, Shane could swear he could hear a strange sound. It sounded like a person howling in the mountain.

"I-Is... That who I... T-Think it is?!" He quivered. Shane Dooiney, while very careful like any mountain engine should be, could also be a bit of a worrier.

"Who's there?!" He shouted, but there was no reply. Shane Dooiney came home very pale.

"What's the matter?" Asked Culdee, "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I think I might have heard one..." Whimpered Shane Dooiney, and he explained the howling to them.

"What's this about ghosts?" Asked Patrick, "We may have had a few accidents before but nobody's ever gotten hurt."

Ernest, Wilfred, Culdee, and Shane Dooiney all looked at the other engines, unsure of what to tell them.

"That's... Not entirely true," Said Ernest slowly, "Culdee's told you about the accident with Godred, correct?"

"Yes," Said Patrick sharply, "But that only had an affect on Godred, not any people..."

"That's the part that you don't know," Commented Ernest, "In truth, someone else did lose their life thanks to that accident."

Patrick, Yohan, and even Nigel, who was sitting near the back of the shed, were now all intrigued.

"Godred's fireman and driver both jumped clear when he derailed." began Ernest, "And on his coach, there was a passenger by the name of Elliot Richards who saw them do so. Since the guard hadn't braked the coach to a stop yet, he thought it would be best to jump clear as well, but unlike Godred's crew, his jump wouldn't be as lucky. He hit his head on the rocks, and lied on the ground, howling for a doctor, as everything else unfolded. He was taken to the hospital later, but he didn't make it."

The engines were all deep in thought as they heard the story... But finally, Nigel, of all engines, broke the silence.

"If this howling you heard really was Elliot Richards," he pondered, "Then why have none of us heard it before?"

"I don't know what to tell you on that," Sighed Ernest, "What I can say is, we should be on our guards, as who knows what this ghost wants now."

Nigel wasn't so sure, he didn't really want to believe that Devil's Back was haunted. The next day, Yohan couldn't get to work, his engine had seized up, so Nigel offered to cover for him.

"Listen closely..." Said the Manager as Nigel was fired up, "This is your second chance. If you don't behave today, I'll be sure to take action against you."

"Y-Yes sir, understood sir," Quivered Nigel, and soon he rolled away. Nigel took the truck, he hadn't done it before and found it was an interesting change. But because of this, he could see ahead a bit better once he made it up the mountain, as opposed to his vision being blocked by a coach. As he reached Devil's Back, his eyes began to wander. He hadn't really thought much of how impressive the landscape was. But as he looked down the mountain, his good feeling immediately stopped. He could see what looked like a figure lying several feet below.

"D-Driver! Look!" He shrieked, "There's a man down there! I-It's the ghost!"

"What ghost?" Said his driver, he thought Nigel was pulling his leg.

"It's Elliot Richards!" He said, quivering, "The steam engines were telling me about him last night!"

Nigel's driver rolled his eyes and got out of the cab to see for himself... But when he came back he looked more worried than scared.

"I think that's a person!" He said, "He might be hurt, come on folks, we need to help him!"

Nigel's driver phoned for help, and the workmen tried to call down to see if the man was okay.

"Hello down there!" Said one, "If you can hear us please say 'Loud and clear!'"

"Loud and clear!" Came a dry reply, "I'm Owen Marley," He introduced weakly. As they tried to further communicate, Harold came to the rescue.

"I knew this would happen eventually," he sighed, "Thank you for helping me find him, Nigel."

"Don't mention it..." Sighed Nigel.

Harold soon lowered a stretcher for Owen Marley. As he was hoisted inside Harold's passenger compartment, he was given food and water. It turned out Owen had fallen down there the day before, and had fractured his back upon the impact.

"I tried to call for help!" He explained, "But no one seemed to hear me."

But in fact, they had. When the news reached the sheds, Shane Dooiney felt very embarrassed.

"I hadn't meant to stir up this ghost rumor," he sighed, "I couldn't get a good view myself."

"Not to worry," smiled Culdee, "What matters now is he's being taken care of. Three cheers for Nigel too!"

"Me?!" He said, "All I did was alert the workmen of his presence."

"And if it hadn't been for that," said the manager, "He may not have survived. Well done, Nigel. I heard you've been very productive today."

"Why thank you, sir," smiled Nigel, "I was just doing my job though."

"And you've finally proven your worth with your help today," he said, "I'm sure you can keep up this good behavior of yours, right?"

"Right, sir," smiled Nigel. "I'll be sure to work hard."

A few months later, Alaric and Eric came home from the works, and Owen Marley, who had now recovered, gave his special thanks to both Harold and Nigel for saving his life. All engines are now great friends, and Nigel is now a changed engine. The other day, a passenger that rode his train said it was one of the smoothest rides they ever had! That shows you, doesn't it?

The End.