The Adventures of Thomas (MKII)

Spies Among Us

8:33 a.m., Friday, September 13th, 1940

The morning headlines announced that the Italians were invading Egypt. They had captured Fort Capuzzo in Libya. The previous night, the British Royal Engineers successfully removed an unexploded one-ton bomb from the southwestern corner of St. Paul's Cathedral. Meanwhile, the Ellerman liner City of Benares had departed the Princes' Dock in Liverpool, carrying a compliment of evacuated children. Had they known what would happen four days later, they would switched their bookings to another ship, but the liner's luxuries and lack of foresight made them stay. Another ship, the SS Flandre, which had attempted to deliver Jewish refugees to Havana, Cuba the previous year, was wrecked by a magnetic mine at the mouth of the Gironde estuary.

On Sodor, the weather that surrounded the British Isles were unsettled. It even went as far as the Awdry's house. When Johnny woke up that morning, the world outside looked a lot grey. He felt it better if he was safe and snug at home. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that today of all days was a Friday the 13th, a day where great misfortune would be inflicted upon innocent souls, even his. Johnny believed in some superstition. He had gotten it from his mother, who believed that good luck could protect her against anything. then again, not all the good luck in the world could save her from death. As he thought of his late mother, he laid his pillow back on the bed, wishing she was with them.

"Johnny! Time for breakfast!" called his father from downstairs.

But Johnny didn't feel like moving. It was cold and he wanted to be in his bed, safe and warm. But, after another shout from his father, he forced his body out of bed. He took a hot bath, dressed himself in warm clothes and headed down to breakfast. Fortunately, Margaret had cooked up a hot porridge for herself and the males of the house. Willie was reading the newspaper, observing the events of the Blitz as they unfolded in the form of text before his eyes.

"Looks like they've bombed Buckingham Palace today," he said to his son and the others. "At least the King and Queen aren't hurt."

"Thank God for that," said Wilbert. "Who knows where we would be without them."

Johnny shared some of his food with Christopher, who was stubbornly refusing to eat his food. He was relieved when his father addressed him.

"I'd rather stay inside if I were you, Johnny. Weather might be getting worse."

For once, Johnny figured it would be best if he stayed. Even though he wanted to show his father that the Island of Sodor was real, he thought it best to ease the strain on his father's worries. Instead, he quickly wrote a short note which read: "I am staying on account of the rain" and delivered to the station. It was addressed to the Fat Director's office in Tidmouth. The stationmaster delivered the letter onto the next train which was then transferred onto Henry's goods train for the island.

When the letter was delivered, was the Fat Director who had gotten it, seeing it was addressed to him. He read it and went to inform the other engines that Johnny would not be coming today.

"Coward," muttered Henry. "Not coming to visit us because of some silly rain."

"Says the engine who hid in a tunnel for the same reasons," teased Gordon.

"That was then and this is now," Henry glared.

Nearby, the diesels were given a touch of oil and had a good run of the yard to exercise themselves. Smoke and 7058 went to q quiet part of the yard near the harbor and whispered their plan.

"It is time, 7058, that we take this railway over. I assume our operatives are on the way?"

"Indeed they are," smiled 7058. "Those two are always reliable."