Steam of Britain

Chapter 46: Sleep Whistling

Night had come, and the engines were sound asleep, except for Scotsman, Duchess, Steve, and Tornado, who had to endure Mallard's snoring and whistling. Every time Mallard breathed in, he blew it out his steam whistle. This had just started recently, and it was starting to keep them up at night.

The next morning, Scotsman was backing down on his coaches, but fell asleep while doing so. He bumped them, and woke up with a jolt! "GAH, I'M AWAKE!!!!" he yelled. Silvia pulled up next to him, and asked, "Are you okay?" She then got a good look at Scotsman's face. He looked exhausted. "Yes, it's just Mallard." Said A4 came backing down on his train, and asked, "What's this about me?" "You're snoring. It's been keeping some of the other engines up at night. Like me." Mallard frowned, and said, "I don't snore!!" "It just started recently. That's why." Mallard just let off steam, and headed off after his guard blew his whistle. "Well, I know what that's like," said Silvia, "One of the engines back on the GNR snored. It took a bit for us to get used to, but it was worth it. It reminds me of the old days, and Mallard's snoring actually now helps me sleep." Scotsman didn't know what to think.

Night had come, and the four engines headed to the carriage shed to sleep. In the roundhouse, the lights turned off, and the engines then went to sleep. "Hmph, me, snoring in the middle of the night," said Mallard, "How ridiculous." He closed his eyes, and soon, fell asleep. Silver Link, Diesel 10, Bertram, and Alex were now next to Mallard, to see how badly it really was. Soon, the other engines fell asleep one by one. And just after Diesel 10 closed his eyes, he shot them wide open, and looked over to Mallard. Mallard was snoring, and whistling!! He tried to close his eyes, but he just couldn't go to sleep! Soon, Mallard woke up the other engines. They thought it was just a passing train, but soon found Mallard as the source.

The next morning, all the engines were tired, except Mallard. The shed master then said, "Maybe it's best you sleep in the guest shed tonight Mallard." "Yes sir," said Mallard. He then headed off to the coast.

That night in the roundhouse. The engines soon, headed to sleep. They found the silence peaceful. They tried to sleep, but couldn't. "This isn't working," said Bertram. "I know," said Crovan, "Mallard's whistle really did help us sleep, didn't it?" "I told you that we would get used to it," said Silvia. Mallard meanwhile, was sound asleep, snoring, whistling, and keeping the trucks awake at night.

The shed master came expecting to see the engines well rested. But when he arrived, he saw their eyes were bloodshot, and they all had bags under their eyes. "What happened?" "It seems we had gotten used to hearing Mallard's snoring in the night, we just can't fall asleep without it," said Silver Link. "It was a mistake to let him sleep in the guest shed," said Max, "Please bring him back."

So, it was that night Mallard was allowed to sleep in the round house once more, and once again, he was snoring, but this time, none of the engines complained. They were all too tired to. They we soon sleeping deep with in their dreams. And when they awoke, they were all well rested, and even happy.

The station master looked at them, and said, "Well, it seems you have gotten used to the noise. We all have problems with sleeping at times, and we can adjust to them if we have time." The engines agreed. And sometimes, they tease Mallard about his snoring, and call him, Mallard the Snoring Engine, much to his annoyance.