FanFic:How Tidmouth Was Built, Part Five: Edward's Investigation

Part Five

Next Part: Part Six

Previous Part: Part Four

Plot

Edward investigates the cause of the fire, with shocking results.

Script

Narrator Edward: The next day, I puffed over to City of Wellsworth, who had just come in with a heavy freight train.

Edward: Hello.

City of Wellsworth: Oh. It’s you.

Edward: Yes. You know, I heard that there was an engine in the forest just before the fire the other night. Do you know if any trains were scheduled for that night?

(City of Wellsworth pales)

Edward: I mean, it’s possible they started the fire. Me, I wouldn’t want to have been that engine. The liability of railway damage, injury, I even heard there were a few deaths. An engine could get in serious trouble about that. So were there any?

City of Wellsworth: (Angrily) No! There were no other trains that night!

Edward: Okay, sorry.

City of Wellsworth: You know what? I think you’ve gotten too big for your buffers! Maybe a little yard duty will make you realize your position!

Edward: (thinking) He’s just trying to keep me from going into the forest!

Narrator Edward: I did my job like a good little engine all that day. But that night, I snuck out of my sheds to investigate.

(Cut to Edward, steaming towards the dark forest)

Narrator Edward: I checked all of the lines, sidings, and branches, but I found nothing.

(A light bulb appears over Edward’s smokebox)

Edward: There’s an old line not far from here! It’s quicker than the main line.

Narrator Edward: I headed off to investigate, but started to have second doubts . . .

Edward: But no express trains are allowed on that line because the forest is too dense. Otherwise, the sparks from the speeding engine’s funnel could start a fire!

Narrator Edward: So I was pleasantly surprised when my theory turned out to be correct.

(Cut to Edward next to a long line of freight cars)

Edward: These are City of Wellsworth’s from his express freight. But why would he be here?

(Edward thinks for several seconds)

Edward: Of course! He was probably trying to get to the station faster, so he ignored the rules. A stray spark must have caught on the wood, and then it spread! No wonder he didn’t want me coming here! He started the fire!

Narrator Edward: I was excited by my find, but I knew I had to be careful.

(Cut to the yards the next morning)

Narrator Edward: My chance came the next day when the construction executives came to inspect the half-built station. I puffed up with the trucks in tow just as they were praising City of Wellsworth.

Edward: Excuse me!

Narrator Edward: They all turned to look at me. City of Wellsworth was obviously annoyed by the arrival of an “inferior” engine.

Edward: I think I’ve found the cause of the fire.

Executive: Oh, really? What?

Edward: You’re standing right beside him.

(They turn to look at each other, then at City of Wellsworth)

City of Wellsworth: Ha! That’s ridiculous!

Edward: Oh, really? I found these trucks from your express train on a no-express train line, because they might start a fire!

City of Wellsworth: I- uh- um-

Executive: We can’t have an engine like this running the construction! No one would use the railway! But who else can be in charge?

Executive #2: Why not Edward? He did figure it out.

Executive: Sure! Hey Edward! Congratulations! You’re the new construction boss!

Narrator Edward: I was on top of the world right then. Everything was working out fine. But not for long . . .

(Cut to City of Wellsworth, glaring angrily at Edward from a siding)

City of Wellsworth: You think you’ve won! But not yet! I’ll get my revenge!

Characters

(In order of apearance)

• Edward
• City of Wellsworth
• Executives