Chapter Text
It was a beautiful moonlit night on the Island of Sodor. The day's work was done and all the engines had returned safely home. "Thomas," ventured Percy, "will you tell us the end of the story?"
"You mean the one about Duke the Lost Engine?"
"Exactly." said Henry.
"But," added James, "please remind me of the story so far."
So Thomas began and here is the rest of the story he told:
~o0o~
Duke was old, and lived with two young engines called Stuart and Falcon. They teased Duke and called him 'Granpuff', but they were happy together. Then their line was closed down and the young engines went away. Duke was left alone in the shed. He went to sleep while everything around him changed. But Duke was never forgotten.
Years went by until one day, not long ago, visitors came to see the Fat Controller. "We want to find Duke," they said, "and make him happy again."
Soon, maps lay everywhere. "Thomas' branch line runs close to Duke's old line," said the Fat Controller, "but it ends at the road south of the Mountain Village. The old line ran north of the village and then into the mountains. The maps show the works at the Old Station. If Duke's anywhere, he's there. Good luck, gentlemen!"
~8~
The visitors spent days and days at the Old Station. They came up every morning on Thomas' train. He always whistled "Good luck," as they walked through the village, but they had nothing in the evening except scratches and torn clothes.
They wouldn't give up, though. "Duke's there somewhere." they said.
The group's leader found him in the end. Scrambling over a hillock, he trod on something which wasn't there, crashed through a hole, and landed, legs astride, on Duke's saddle tank. "I've found him!" he cried in delight. "I've found our sleeping beauty!"
His friends peeped through the hole above.
"Excuse me?" enquired Duke. "Are you a vandal? Driver told me vandals break in and smash things."
The rescuer laughed and felt his bruises. "Bless you, no! I mean no harm. I dropped in 'cos I couldn't find your door. Falcon and Stuart will be pleased to see you."
"So they DID remember." said Duke happily, then, "Does His Grace approve?"
"Yes, he's paying for your repairs." the rescuer replied. He climbed down from Duke and dusted himself off. "Now then, Duke," he said, "let's get you cleaned up and out of here."
~8~
Soon, workmen arrived with tools and a digger. While they worked to dig away the soil, the rescuers cleaned all of the dust and cobwebs from Duke. When the shed was clear of soil, the workmen hauled Duke out and put him on a low-loader to take him away by road. "I'd be ashamed to travel by road." Duke complained. "It's... it's undignified."
"We're sorry, Duke," said the workmen, "but there's no suitable railway tracks around here anymore." And indeed, the rails of Duke's old line had been lifted up long ago, leaving just a dirt track in their place.
Duke gave in then, but so many people came out and greeted him that he felt better. "So they still remember me." he thought to himself.
Thomas was waiting at the Big Station with a flat truck. Everyone cheered when Duke was lifted onto it and still more when he started on along the Big Railway on the last stage of his journey to his new home.
~8~
Stuart and Falcon were ready with a big welcome. "He's here!" they whispered excitedly. "Shh! Shh!"
"You woke me up." grumbled Duke. "In my young days, engines were..."
"...seen and not heard, Granpuff, we know." interrupted Stuart.
"We'll all be back at work tomorrow." said Falcon. "We're glad you've come back. We can keep YOU in order now."
"Keep ME in order?!" said Duke indignantly. "Be off you! Impertinent scallywags."
Stuart and Falcon chuckled away, well content.
"Impudence." muttered Duke. But his old eyes twinkled and for the first time in years he smiled as he rested in the sun.
~o0o~
"And that," said Thomas, "is the whole story. Did you like it?"
"Yes, indeed." agreed the engines. "Especially the happy ending."
And soon, they were all asleep too.