The Abandoned Island

Rest and Repair

When Zephyra finally woke up, it was midday, her stomach growled, and her body ached. Her arms and legs screamed at her as she hauled herself up onto her feet, having to use the desk and console beside her. Slowly walking down the stairs, she looked over at all the standard gauge engines who were asleep. She knew it wasn't from them just sleeping in, but from them undoubtedly questioning Rosie throughout the night and certainly into the early morning. Thankfully, she saw Victor and Kevin were awake and attempted to hurry over to them, though her legs partially gave out, and she stumbled over to them. "I heard everything from Rosie, and by that determined look in your face, you are ready to fix her," Victor said, watching her stumble over. She didn't bother to try and speak and just nodded, making the narrow gauge engine smile. "Then we'll start immediately, as it is unwise for her, or any engine in this case, to be under the effects of green water for long periods of time."

With a tired but determined look, she began to follow Victor's instructions to the letter. She would use the cranes to lift Mavis to get under her, unbolting this, bending that, welding here, and plasma cutting there.  She worked for several hours, and when she stopped for the night, she would send an email to Mr. Percival to in form him that that weeks order of China Clay would be delayed till next week. Of course, she included the incredibly important reason why. Also, despite knowing her friends would be incredibly worried, she put up a makeshift wall so they couldn't see Victor, Kevin, and herself working on Mavis. She doubted they wanted to see their friend's damaged and mangled body every time they woke up or went to sleep.

The next week was completely taken up by Zeph working her absolute hardest with Victor and Kevins help. The trio worked sixteen hours every day, all week. It was obvious to anyone and everyone that it would take a few months to fix her proper, but the goal was to repair her to a point where she would be in as little pain as possible. They would warm and untwist her frame, bend metal back into place, remove what was left of her cab, and provide a substitute axle. All in the goal of easing her pain as much as possible and all done at Victor's instruction. At the end of the week long working session, they started her engine just long enough to clear away the effects of the green water. When they did, she would groan awake and look around, clearly in a daze from being unconscious for so long. Zeph had a worried look on her face as she stepped in front of Mavis, "How do you feel?" Mavis blinked a few times as she fully woke up before smiling softly, "I feel old and sore, but I feel a lot better than I did when you found me." Zeph let out a sigh of relief, "I'm glad. Obviously, we couldn't give you a full overhaul, but we did our best to ease your pain." "I appreciate that," Mavis then looked over to Victor and Kevin. "And I know you did everything you could as you clearly listened to the experts." Victor and Kevin smiled sheepishly but were clearly glad to see Mavis wasn't in intense pain.

Satisfied with what they had accomplished, Zeph and Kevin took down the privacy wall and saw the anxious faces of their friends, which soon to looks of relief. They all immediately started chatting with Mavis about everything, from what was her last days like before the island closed, how she didn't go crazy from being alone in her shed, and things of a similiar nature. They were all just catching up with their friend they hadn't seen in forever, but Zeph wasn't listening as she left the engines and headed over towards the narrow gauge sheds. It had been a while since she had last been over to talk, but she was also sure they were curious about the noise of her and Rosie rushing in with Mavis. So she walked over and softly rapped on the door before pulling the doors to both sheds open. The little engines smiled at her. "Well, hello, Zeph. Decided to spend some time with us, have you?" Skarloey teasingly asked her.

She would nod and smile back, "Yes. I came to talk, but also ask a question I've been sitting on for a while. First things first, though, I'm sure you heard that commotion a week ago." "Yes, we did. To be honest, we were worried something happened and one of the standard gauge crew had their brakes fail," Rheneas said, with Sir Handle chiming in, "We did hear the brakes though, so we figured everything was under control. Are you saying something happened, though?" Zeph sighed softly and nodded before explaining what had happened to Mavis and the subsequent rush to the Works and her emergency repair. The little engines listened intently, occasionally interjecting to ask a question or two. When she was done, they all seemed relieved to hear Mavis was out of danger, though were sad she wouldn't be able to contribute to helping on the island.

Ivo Hugh spoke up from the second shed, "So what was the question you've been sitting on?" "Oh, well, it is more for Peter Sam, Sir Handle, and Duke. I heard you mention a Stanley and a Smudger and was curious who they were." The sheds went quiet, but Duke soon spoke up, "They were two engines that worked with us on the Mid Sodor railway. First was Stanley. He was an American engine our manager bought after World War one and he was regauged for our tracks. He constantly derailed and didn't care, so manager took his wheeld away and turned him into a generator behind our shed, before selling him to the mine at Cas-ny-Hawin where they used him as a pumping engine till it flooded. After that, I don't know if he was left or scrapped." The young girl listened, both in interest, but also in shock. Duke continued, "Smudger was like Stanley, though he looked like Rheneas. He just liked to bounce around and be rough with the cars and coaches. He also derailed a lot and didn't care about who or what he hurt. The manager didn't put up with him long and turned him into the new generator behind the shed at, well, it was called Duke's station, but it became known as Arlesdale. He could still be there or not. Once I was found, I hadn't ever really thought about them as they had been rude and careless, but after all these years, I feel bad for them. I'm sure they are incredibly sorry and lonely."

The air was filled with silence, and all the engines had sympathetic looks, even Duncan as they all understood how horrible being alone could be. Zeph, on the other hand, pulled out her phone and looked up the places Duke had mentioned on the map. When she found them, she had an annoyed look on her face. "Looks like the easiest way to get there is by road, but I don't think taking some like Kelly would be a good idea. First off, I need him and the Pack at the clay pits, but secondly, he weighs a lot, and I'd be afraid of bridges collapsing." The little engines thought for a moment before Rusty spoke up from the back, "Maybe Bertie could take you." "That is right, him or Butch or even Caroline could take you," chimed in Skarloey. "Wouldn't Madge make more sense since she is able to carry engines like us," Duncan added in his abrasive tone. "If they moved everyone together, I'm sure Terrence and Bulgy are there too," added Peter Sam thoughtfully. Zeph looked confused as she took in all this information, "So all these friends are possibly in the same place together. There is Bertie, Bulgy, Butch, Caroline, Madge, and Terrence." She had counted on her fingers before looking at the engines, "Anyone else I should be made aware of?" "Do you know of Trevor and Elizabeth?" asked Rusty, which Zeph nodded to. The engines would think for another minute or two before all agreeing that they couldn't think of anymore. The poor girl rubbed her head and sighed. Now she had to find these vehicles, but the little engines said they'd probably be together, which would be good.

She would spend the rest of the day chatting, but mostly listening to the little engines and their stories. That had a great many of them, and she loved to listen to them, almost as much as the engines loved to tell them. She could see how happy it made them and their faces lighting up with happiness. She ended up listening well into the night, and when the story she was listening to ended, she politely excused herself and said goodnight. Closing the doors, she then jogged back over to the works and entered. She saw most of the engines were asleep except old Edward, who watched her enter and smiled. "Out late again, missy," he said quietly, but teasingly. Zeph smiled and nodded, "Yep. I figured I'd give you all time to catch up with your friend since you were all stressed out. Plus, I wanted to go check in on them anyways." "That is very kind of you, but then again, you have been kind and helpful since you first arrived on the island. So, what is going to happen tomorrow?" She sighed softly. She hadn't expected the whole fiasco with Mavis, which had taken a week out of her schedule. "Well, first thing tomorrow, I need to take the brothers to Brendam and then hop on the boat and go sell the clay. Buy fuel for everyone, and pick up some machines to help clean the line of overgrowth. Mr. Percival had a special machine made that can attach to your buffer beam. It is powered by the wheels that touch the track, so there is no need to fuel it. As long as it is moving, it is powered." Edward smiled, watching her get around for bed the entire time she was talking to him, "That'll make quick work of the overgrowth. I assume you will put it on Boco or Derek so they can run up and down the lines while you do other things?" Zeph climbed into her sleeping bag and yawned, "Yeah, if they are willing, of course. I also need to find where this Bertie is, as there will be others packed away with him." "Hmmmm, he would probably be tucked away at the bus station near Knapford where he was stationed before everything closed down." Zeph nodded and smiled, "That'll make life easier, but that'll all wait till tomorrow. Goodnight, Edward." She rolled over to sleep as the blue engine said goodnight and went to sleep as well.