Joshua
Shunting Engine
Posts: 55
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Post by Joshua on Jun 4, 2012 13:51:39 GMT
Tandem Stories Thread This thread is designed to let creative genius thrive and develop writers into doing their own work. All you have to do, is write a piece that continues on from someone elses story (unless you are starting a new story, in which case you start a story for someone else to finish. That said, anyone is welcome to participate, if they follow the rules. Rule #1: Continuity If someone writes a dark story, you can’t suddenly be gallivanting off without good reason. You can add humour, and of course you can add a happy ending (though it’s not necessary ). Also be on the lookout for facts, if a story is set in Britain, for example, don’t go writing about their happy lives in Los Angeles. Read the story thrice, then again once you have finished your bit. Rule #2: Respect Respect someones story. Don’t kill everyone off because you don’t like the user. Don’t use lame endings “and then a plane crashed and everyone died. The End.” Keep it fresh! You can surprise us, but it must be fun. If you think it’ll offend the writer, don’t post it, and if you think it’s a bit dull, send it to me and I’ll proofread. Rule #3: Length and Format To make this organised and orderly, we should follow a strict format. Here’s an example of how each post should look (excluding comment posts which are formatted at author's whim). Story Title Part Number: Part Title Story (500+ words. No more than 2000 [But don’t aim for 2000]. PM me if you think your section breaks word limit but is strong enough to enter.) Each Story should be at least 3 posts long but can be as long as authors wish it. Don’t drag it on for unnecessary amounts of time and make sure it is concluded well. Once a story reaches its climax it shouldn’t be dragged on for more than 2 posts. Rules #4: Double Posting Don’t Double Post (Excluding format comment/story). Once you have finished your bit, let someone else continue it. You may return to the same story some posts later, but give it some time and make sure no-one else wants to add something. A story takes more than a second to write! Rule #5: Facts If you want story guidelines to make sure your story goes a certain way, put it in your story. No adding “Make sure he is safe” or “Remember that they are not allowed to marry” if it’s not in the story, it’s the next authors choice what happens. Remember, unexpected things make it fun! Now, most importantly, check your work and have fun! I would love to see this thread develop into something many people enjoy and visit. Always feel free to comment or add a story and lets hope we get writers from New Engines through to ERS Evaluators! To kick us off, I’ve started with something familiar (Engines) but the stories are not bound by anything. The next story could be about anything! Anyway, enjoy, and I hope to see a good follow up soon!
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Joshua
Shunting Engine
Posts: 55
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Post by Joshua on Jun 4, 2012 13:53:17 GMT
The ‘Rogue’ Engine Part One: A Small Engine in a Small Shed
It was dark. A small engine in a small shed was listening. Next door, the railway’s manager was talking to the engines crew. They were talking softly, and the engine had trouble hearing. “We’ll have to let you go.” “Why?” “...bankrupt...sorry...” “...the engine?” “...scrap...” The word made the engine shiver. Why? Why him? Yes there were stronger engines, but it was only a small line. He hadn’t ever failed, or had an accident. And he had so many friends at all the stations. The thought of scrap was terrifying. He didn’t want to not exist. It was too much to comprehend. To never run again! Never to feel his wheels spin again. His driver and fireman had told him about a place called ‘heaven’ where they would go after they died, but the engine remained insecure. He was unsure if such a place could exist, and if it could, would he go there? The drivers could walk, but how would he get there? Was there rails to ‘heaven’? Who would drive him? He couldn’t move without a driver. Suddenly, he heard a loud “BANG!” The door had been slammed shut, presumably by the crew who had left in rage. He heard the manager sigh, exit his office, and start his car. A spider crawled out of the engines funnel. He was envious of the car. He hadn’t run in weeks. Lorries had been taking his jobs and he was only let out about once a week. The last time he actually saw his driver was weeks ago. He waited for the day the fireman would come in at four and light his fire. And the driver would walk in with cocoa and biscuits for the two of them and they’d share jokes on the engines footplate. They often talked of bringing another cup for the engine, and pouring it into his tanks, though fortunately they never did. He missed his driver, and fireman, and all the other people he met on his line. The station master, the farmer, the young teacher, the school children.... But most of all, he missed the rush of the wind and the whir of his wheels. A draught was blowing at his wheels through the gap at the bottom of the shed, but it wasn’t like his wheels spinning on the rails. The sun’s heat usually balanced out the cold of the wind. But there was no sun. There was just cold. Maybe scrap was better than this. He doubted he would ever run again. Maybe it would be better to just disappear. To be put out of his misery. Maybe he’d even make it to this ‘heaven’ place. He didn’t want to stay if he’d never run again. What was the point of staying still for all eternity. The engine thought about this long into the night, before eventually drifting into sleep. The moon was past its peak and the sun had long been gone. No-one was outside, no-one was working. The engine’s sleep was strangely peaceful given his horrendous circumstances. Though the peace was soon to be ended. The shed doors opened and two lights looked into the engines eyes. “Thieves!” the engine cried “Stay back! Stay back!” The ‘thieves’ chuckled. “It’s only us.” laughed a familiar voice. “Driver! Fireman!” exclaimed the engine. “Come on!” said the fireman “Let’s get your fire started and get you out of here!” “The manager wanted to scrap you,” put in the driver, as he went into the office to boil some water “but that would never do!” Another flashlight soon entered. “Who’s that?!” asked the engine. A beautiful young face soon became clear. The engine knew who it was. “Kate!” The teacher smiled. “I was walking home when these two came out of your shed, looking very cross. I asked them what the matter was and they told me. It’d never do for me to lose my favourite engine!” The engine blushed. “Now we need a name for you! I thought of a suitable one!” said the teacher, as she climbed onto the engines footplate. She pulled some chalk out of her pocket and wrote a single word on the engines black tanks. ‘Rogue’. They then heard the kettle whistle and the driver soon came out with three mugs. “Who wants a drink?” he asked. “Not me,” said the engine “I’d like to run today!” The others chuckled. The sun was starting to rise and the driver and fireman knew the fire was ready. Nancy had fallen asleep, squashed up against the cab sides. The driver put his jacket over her as a blanket. The driver opened the regulator, and wheel turn by wheel turn, ‘Rogue’ puffed out of the shed, unaware of the challenges that would lie ahead....
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FlyingFordFalcon
Goods Engine
I challenge you to do the impossible; make me happy.
Posts: 229
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Post by FlyingFordFalcon on Jun 14, 2012 11:12:59 GMT
Rogue was happy he wouldn't be scrap, at least not so soon. He thundered along the line, through the cool night. He enjoyed the breeze a bit now that he was warm again. long down the track, at the other end of the line, there is a connection to British Railways. It is only a single set of points that leads to the main-line. Rogue had to be careful going through the towns, but he didn't care. He was going to miss his friends. His home. His quiet nights. But he was going to York.
The plan of going to york was, it had the largest railway museum in the world, and the Railway museum always accept new trains, to clean up and repair, and put on display. To be an exhibit, he thought, all the happy children that will come to see us engines. but this was only if he made it to York, and with that being said, he had another thought. it wasn't a cheery thought. it was about scrap again. surely he couldn't make it to York with such a small supply of fuel.
Sure enough, it happened. about 2 miles out of the nearest town, he asked his driver how much coal he had left. "God almighty! I didn't think to check!" said his driver. he was just passing a signal box when his bunker was emptied completely. "No more coal, we better look for something else to burn." said his fireman. "our best hope is to find a coal and water supply, how far do you think we can make it wihtout coal?" asked the driver. "We'll have to wait and see." and with that, his fireman and driver looked back infront of them. "how odd..." said rogue, as they past a truck in a siding. "They wouldn't leave a truck in the middle of no-where!" exclaimed his driver. "does that mean there is a town nearby?" asked the fireman, already knowing the answer. "let's find out." They could see lights ahead, and rogue charged forward.
but was it the town? That's up to you my friend!
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Post by jswatso2 on Jun 24, 2012 5:33:56 GMT
As Rogue, the little engine, made his way to the lights of a big yard, he was welcomed by some enthusiastic men. "Hello," they said to Rogue's crew, "we'd like to ask you about your engine. Where are you off to?" "To York." "Well, you're lucky. We might just have a place for the little engine right here...."
Rogue could see several steam engines in a line, off in the distance. Apparently they were undergoing repairs of some sort.
"...it's perfect for our collection, sirs. Now sign here..." Then, Rogue's driver walked back to his engine and gave them the good news: "This will be a new railway museum. You're going to be a charter member, Rogue!" "How wonderful," sighed Rogue, with relief after days of anxiety. "Are they official," asked the fireman. "I mean, how will they pay for their museum pieces, like, for Rogue here?" Nancy didn't like the look of the other engines. They seemed to her, poorly maintained at best. Some pieces may have been missing, and scattered about the yard.
They were allowed to leave Rogue in the siding that night. As mentioned before, there was a flat truck in the siding by itself. After a while, they all fell asleep in Rogue's cab.
When they all woke next morning, they saw a crane next to them and the truck. The fireman was worried. "I wandered into the yard last night, and I saw a crane lifting one of those engines. And a diesel took it away..." "Maybe they'll set to work on Rogue soon," said the driver, "and then he'll be part of the museum at last. We won't have to fight our way to York after all!"
To Rogue's horror, he noticed something written on either side of him!...
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FlyingFordFalcon
Goods Engine
I challenge you to do the impossible; make me happy.
Posts: 229
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Post by FlyingFordFalcon on Jun 24, 2012 11:56:35 GMT
The driver quickly went to find the men. "I think we've been tricked!" said the fireman to his engine, and Kate, who was wondering what was going on. Just then, a diesel rolled up beside them. "All-right then, I really hate this job so let's get it over with." said the diesel, in a rough sort of voice, but he seemed kind. "W-What are you going to do with me?" asked rogue. "Well, It says on some paper on a clipboard that you are due for scrap, so it must be important." he replied, pushing the crane into place. Rogue just had a sudden thought. Those engines on the other line looked very unhappy, and as if they wanted to be out of their misery. "You have mistaken me for that main-line engine." said rogue, feeling very unhappy with himself...
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Proteus
Passenger Engine
Not everything needs a concrete answer.
Posts: 630
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Post by Proteus on Jul 4, 2012 9:02:01 GMT
The diesel’s driver looked like a wrestling champion. “I could take him!” insisted the fireman, raising his fists. “You don’t wanna try taking me down,” sneered the diesel’s driver. “’Sides, if you kick up a barney, word might get to your manager about this little runaway.” Nancy and the crew knew the large man was right. They’d barely started their journey to York and already the worst was yet to happen. With the diesel’s driver watching them like a hawk, they could only watch helplessly as men prepared ‘Rogue’ for the crane. ‘I had a chance,’ thought the old engine as the hook lowered. Nancy and the crew tried to think of something, but no ideas would come to them. The loading of ‘Rogue’ onto the flatbed was painful for them. “You three can just run along back home,” smirked the diesel’s driver in a very taunting manner. The diesel slowly rolled forward, taking the crane and ‘Rogue’ with him. Neither he nor his driver saw his three companions scramble onto the footplate. “Come to join me for my final moments?” ‘Rogue’ said quietly. “’Course not,” said the driver. “We’re gonna try and get you out of this.” “There is a bright side,” said Nancy. “If we manage to save you, we’ll be closer to York than further. ‘Rogue’ knew that was a pretty big “if”.
Dark, depressing, foul, noisy, even ugly… that was the sort of place ‘Rogue’ found himself in miles beyond where he stayed. A smoke-laden siding was where the Diesel took him. “Nothing personal,” said the diesel’s driver as the little engine was taken off the flatbed. “How can it be? I’ve brought countless steam engines here. Never knew one for more than an hour.” The stowaways tried to keep out of sight as they were swung around in the cab, but unfortunately, the driver lost his grip on the brake lever and fell out. The diesel’s driver sniffed. “You wanna know what the boys here did to the last crewman who came here with his engine?” The driver, leg injured from the piece of rust-encrusted metal he’d landed on, moved quickly out of the way as ‘Rogue’ was lowered to the rough, gritty ground beside the tracks. Nancy and the fireman got out to help him up. “Eh, guess I better not tell ya,” said the diesel’s driver. “There’s a lady present.” A man with a sledgehammer walked up. “This one next?” “Yep,” replied the diesel’s driver getting back to his engine. “And he’s got mourners here with him.” The sledgehammer man looked at Nancy and the crew as the Diesel left. “Won’t be like the last one we finished off,” he said, causing the crew the cringe. “Awfully pathetic, he was. Calling, wailing for his driver and fireman. Like a kid calling for his mother and father.” He swung his tool over his shoulder. “Got some work to do over there. The guys’ll be here shortly.”
‘Rogue’ just closed his eyes. He was ready to admit defeat. But his companions weren’t. The fireman made a promising discovery. “Look,” he said, lifting the rusted piece of metal the driver had landed on. “There are tracks under here.” The driver and Nancy moved some more scrap metal. “More tracks,” said Nancy, face brightening up. “They must lead out that way where we came from,” said the driver, pointing to the track the diesel brought them here on. The fireman moved some metal around ‘Rogue’, who’s expression hadn’t changed. His wheels weren’t on the rails, but they weren’t too far off. “If we can clear away the rest of this scrap and lever ‘Rogue’ back on the rails,” the fireman began… They said no more and set to work. The crew moved the metal – the driver doing so with a slight limp – while Nancy looked around for poles they could use to rerail the engine. ‘Rogue’ wasn’t as enthusiastic about this plan as they were. ‘You’ll never stoke my fire before they come to… send me to “Heaven”’…
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Post by matt1239841 on Aug 23, 2012 2:40:50 GMT
And then, out of nowhere the sound of an engine could be heard. "What was that?" asked Rouges driver? "Sounds like another engine." Said Nancy And before they could say anything else a steam engine pulled up to them. 'HELLO!" it yelled. "MY NAME IS HENRY!" they all looked at the engine. He had a grin the size of a building and had his touge in his nose. "what are you doing with that tongue?" Asked Rouge. "PICKING OUT MY FAVORITE boogers!" He then imminently toke his tongue out reveling.. unspeakable things on the end...then he ate them. "Oh i gotta run, Bye wridos!" He then ran away. "Okay that was weird. "Said Rouge. "BURP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" "CROMWELL!" "Sorry sir he ate a bunch of beans. Then a diesel pulled up with a man inside. "Whoa re you asked rouge. "I, am sir wyott fonts."
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Proteus
Passenger Engine
Not everything needs a concrete answer.
Posts: 630
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Post by Proteus on Sept 18, 2012 8:13:43 GMT
Wear’s my ciggies? Demanded the thin Git as Diesel sang something about modern british railway trains…
“Rogue?...” Rogue opened one eye. “You’re mumbling under your breath,” said Rogue’s Driver. “What was that about Henry and boogers and tongues?” Rogue blushed with embarrassment. “Remember two years ago when the railway held that gala to try and boost revenue?” “Yeah.” “One of the visitors told me a bunch of stories like that,” Rogue finished. “And… well, given that we’d fallen on hard times and I was only on static display for the event, his weird stories made me laugh. They were just so odd and random… they gave me a sort of guilty pleasure.” “Is this the time to be remembering nonsensical stories?” asked the Driver. “Thought I’d go out smiling,” said Rogue, the slight happiness in his face disappearing. “Oh, thanks,” said the Fireman. “You’ve got real confidence in us.” Then, Rogue realized that the track was clear, he was on the rails… and he was in steam!
“How did you do that so quickly?!” he exclaimed. Nancy and the crew hushed him, looking frantically at the place where the scrap workers were expected to show up from. “I found a bin full of used oil rags,” said the Driver. “There was also an old rusty tender over there that still had some coal in it.” “You’re boiling up nicely,” said the Fireman. “We’ll be gone before those people come to do their dirty deeds.” “But what if they follow us with their diesels?” asked Rogue. Before the crew could reply, they were startled by a loud, high pitched horn. Then a large tractor with a huge steal grapple rake zoomed around a corner. “You’re turn, little guy!” he shouted, blasting his horn and charging Rogue. “Get in the cab!” shouted the Driver, quickly ushering Nancy and the Fireman aboard Rogue. Rogue’s boiler pressure was just right. The Driver practically shoved the regulator open. There was a tremendous noise and a massive cloud of smoke shot into the air as Rogue’s wheels spun forward. He didn’t move. The rails he was sitting on were caked in oil and grease.
The grappling tractor was startled by the noise Rogue made. Even Nancy and the crew held their ears. Suddenly, all three were shoved into the back of the cab as Rogue charged down the track like a mad bull! The grappling tractor had lost his concentration because of the noise and the sight of his next victim darting off. His front wheels hit a piece of scrap metal lying on the ground. He lost control, slipping on the same oil that had delayed Rogue’s retreat. With a nasty thud, he fell on his side, ears ringing and maniacal smile now a bewildered gap.
Nancy looked back. She could swear the grappling tractor had uncovered more track just now. “Look out!” cried Rogue. The Driver shut the regulator and pulled the reverser as Nancy turned to see what was happening. There was a light on the line ahead. They were on a collision course with another engine! “We have to go back! We have to go back!” shouted Rogue, beginning to panic. Rogue’s wheels, still carrying access oil with them, screeched horribly as they came nearer and nearer to a diesel shunter. Not the same one that brought them there. This one had a very dark look on his face. He smiled fiendishly as Rogue, managing to stop just before impact, came face to face with him. “This is the last place you’ll ever run away from, No1!” Rogue’s reverser kicked in, but the Diesel Shunter advanced on him. He was coupled to a line of trucks, which gave Rogue an ever so slight advantage. But now everyone in the scrapyard was aware of his attempts to escape. Shouting could be heard behind him. Nancy and the crew looked back to see men running towards the spot where they’d rocketed away from the grappling tractor, who was still on his side not near the rails. “What now?!” groaned the Driver as he watched the diesel shunter gain on them. “Fireman!” said Nancy. “When I say ‘now’, drop the fire!” “What?!” “Wait for my signal!” Nancy insisted. The Fireman got ready, not sure what Nancy was thinking. But the Driver knew, and he plugged his ears to prepare. “Now!”
No one was chasing Rogue now. Half of his burning coals had landed on the puddle of oil. Not only were they running from the scrapyard, but also an inferno. Rogue couldn’t believe what had happened. He’d been going so fast, he avoided the explosion. He was free. Then sun still wasn’t up just yet. But where would this track lead them…?
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Post by SamThePannierTank on Mar 31, 2013 18:34:56 GMT
(i'm probably incredibly late to join the party but why not)
Rogue chased down the line. His fireman opened the firebox doors to find a raging firestorm inside. Rogue was still bewildered that he was free from the scrapyard, but he soon got his confidence back. Whilst the driver and fireman were doing their jobs, Nancy was doing her best to comfort Rogue. 'maybe dreams do come true' Rogue thought 'maybe we will get to York' Rogue fired through the early hours of the morning, at one point he ran out of water and had to stop at a station by the sea to take on water. "you're doing well so far" comforted his driver as they filled him up with water. Rogue felt incredibly happy and determined both at the same time. His driver completeley whacked up the power and Rogue started quickly away into the sunrise.
The manager opened the shed doors with a scrap team back in the place where Rogue had been. But was really shocked when he saw Rogue had dissapeared. He knew what had happened and was furious. "SIGNALMAN!" he shouted up to the signal box "PHONE ALL THE NEAREST SIGNAL BOXES AND TELL THEM TO RING MORE AND TO TELL THEM TO RING MORE. I WANT EVERY CORNER ON THE MAINLINE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT ENGINE!"
Rogue was enjoying himself. Nancy knew this and stopped comforting him, some people in the next town had heard about the engine running away from scrap and they flooded to the station where they waved and cheered Rogue on as he fired through the station. But suddenly he saw a signalman waving a red flag. (what happens next is up to you. YES YOU reading this)
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Post by Eden on Oct 6, 2013 19:01:57 GMT
(Well, I'm later than anyone, currently, but lets give it a twist)
Rogue stopped by the signalman, who ran up to the cab. "There's a runaway diesel heading along your track. He's got a loaded oil train, and we can't switch the points. Me' box has packed up," he panted. Rouge's boiler went cold. Nancy was also worried. "What are we meant to do?" his driver asked. "There's an inspectors train following your trail after the inferno. The points to a branch line up ahead is free, but the derailment that diesel' make when he hits those points will surly trap you." Nancy wasn't losing here.
"We can't go down the Main here, nor back. Do you have a map of the branch line?" she asked. The signal man run to his box, and found a vague map of the line. Nancy studied it carefully. "There's an abandoned mine about 4 miles up that line. We could hi there for now." "That diesel will be about 2 miles from here now," the signal man said. "You need to move. The points are 3/4 of a mile up the line. He could beat you there!" Rouges crew jumped to the . "Thanks mate," they called, before racing out of the station.
They traveled down the line. All points were jammed, but they stayed on the right track, though hadn't found the branch. Soon, they crested a hill. They saw the points heading through a tunnel up to the left. "We'll make it!" Rouge cried with delight. Suddenly, they saw the large diesel in the distance, quickly gaining speed and distance. "Get out of my way!" he cried. Nancy looked at the line on the map. "It's a miracle he had to come uphill here while we went down most of the way," she muttered, before seeing the 2 engines closing in. "Help!" cried the 2 engines. In moments, they seemed simply to be on a descent to a scrap-yard, the next, Rouge swerved off the line and into the tunnel, just brushing the buffers of the warship diesel.
"You reckless-" the was a horrific crash, and loud and long scraping screech, and a massive 'KA-BBBOOOOOOMMM!!!' A huge explosion occurred, as a smoke cloud of fire and rubble blew upwards, and through the tunnel. The 3 people, huddled in the cab, looked back tot eh mess, then noticing the oil explosion was causing the tunnel to cave in! Bricks and earth fell behind them, and they huddled back in the cab. Rouge was petrified, and shutting his eyes, he charged out of the tunnel along the line, as a huge dust cloud emerged before the tunnel mouth collapsed. Rouges crew looked back. "Well, that was dramatic," the fireman said, before they continued on to reach the mine at the end of the line...
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GeebMachine
Main Line Engine
Voice Actor fer hire; check out my reels and resume at www.manyvoicesofjoel.com! :)
Posts: 2,472
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Post by GeebMachine on Oct 15, 2013 5:01:23 GMT
The 'Rogue' Engine Part 10 - The Secret
It wasn't too long until Rogue and his crew reached the mine. When they came to a stop, just before the entrance, Nancy and his driver went to inspect it; not only did it look very old, but it also looked very dangerous. They returned with worried looks. "What do you make of it?" asked the fireman. The driver and Nancy glanced at each other. "I don't know," said the driver. "Just looking at it gives me a bad feeling." "It gives YOU a bad feeling?!" exclaimed Rogue. "I'm not going in there!" "I don't want to either," said Nancy, "but what choice do we have?" Everyone exchanged worried looks, but they all realized what needed to be done. After Nancy and the driver climbed back into the cab, they took a deep breath, and then, slowly, the driver released the brake, and they rolled into the old mine.
Rogue cringed as they entered the mine. He never liked them to begin with. For one, they were very dark, and the air always felt very stagnate. It stifled him. As for the other, every noise always made him think that it would cave-in. "For as old as it looks," he said to himself, "it's a wonder that it's still standing." But he spoke too soon. "Hey! Why's the light going out?" exclaimed Nancy. "And what's that rumbling?" The driver looked back in horror. "The entrance to the mine! It's caving-in!" he shouted. The mine rumbled as the last bit of sunshine and blue sky was blocked out by earth and rock. Everybody huddled in the cab and Rogue shut his eyes, waiting for the worse to happen.
"A job well done, mates. A job well done!" Some men, holding pickaxes, were grinning at one another as they climbed down from the top of what was once the entrance to the mine. A car drove into view. As the leader of the men approached it, the Manager climbed out. He had just returned from paying the signalman that diverted Rogue and his crew to the mine, and was now staring at the blocked entrance. An agitated sneer began creeping across his face. "What did you do?!" he growled at the leader. "Trapped 'em," said the leader with a sick grin. "No chance of them getting out." "Idiot!" yelled the Manager, landing a hard smack across the leader's face. "That's not what you were ordered!" "Oi, I thought you said you wanted them 'taken care of'!" said the leader, rubbing his jaw. "Yes, I do," the Manager growled. "But there's something that I need to retrieve from that over-grown pile of rust before they're 'taken care of'." The men began to stare at him with confusion. "Something to retrieve?" said the leader. "You never said anything about retrieving something," said one of the men. "What're you talking about?" asked another. The Manager rubbed his face and sighed out of frustration. He had been hoping to avoid this, but, as he figured, sooner or later they would find out. "It is something that every man has always wanted," he said darkly. "Something that'll make your lives easier to live..."
It was a long time, or rather, it seemed a long time, before Rogue even dared to open his eyes. When he did, he found Nancy, with a flashlight in her mouth, turning on his headlamps, while his driver and fireman were looking him over. "What happened?" asked Rogue. "The mine's entrance caved-in," said Nancy, after the headlamp was turned on. "Lucky thing the whole mine didn't collapse on us." "Lucky indeed!" snapped Rogue. "We're trapped! We might as well be buried rather than-" "Oh, stow it!" said the driver. "The main thing is that we're still alive, and we're going to get out of here." "That's if there's even a way out," Rogue muttered under his breath. Just as his driver climbed into the cab, he gave a sharp grunt and stumbled back. The fireman caught him before he fell on his back. "Are you alright?" he asked. "Stubbed my foot on something," the driver grumbled, rubbing his foot. Nancy shown her flashlight into the cab. "Hullo?" she said. "What's this?" She reached in, and picked something off the cab floor. It was a binder. No bigger than an ordinary book and just as thick, and it looked very ancient. "Where did that come from?" asked the driver. "I've never seen that before." Nancy shown her light into the cab again, and felt around. "Here," she said at last. "There's a notch right next to the cab's door. That last quake must have shaken it loose." "Odd," said the fireman, taking the binder from her. "I wonder what it is." He found a small latch on one side of it, undid it, and opened the binder. Inside it, he found a very old piece of folded parchment. By now, they had all gone to the front of Rogue, where the light was better, so they could see their discovery. The fireman carefully took the parchment out, and began to unfold it. Once he did and flattened it out, all their eyes widened with wonder. "Glory be!" exclaimed the driver. "What is it?" asked Rogue. "It's a map," replied the fireman. "A map to a cache of gold!" Nancy added in awe. "And it's in this very mine!" "And if we can retrieve that," said the fireman, "we just might be able to save Rogue, even if we get to York or not!" "Now what a minute; before we even go off on this fantasy, how will we be able to get out of here?" the driver pointed out. "All mines have another entrance in case one gets blocked," said Nancy, then she pointed to the map. "Look, there's one right over here, just on the other side of the mine." "Well what are we waiting for?" said Rogue. "Let's go!" As everyone was climbing back into the cab, Nancy noticed that the fireman was laughing. "What's got you going?" she asked. "I was just thinking how funny it is that our former employer didn't realize that he was throwing a fortune away when he was sending Rogue to be scrapped!" he chuckled. "Well you can laugh once we get out of this place," said the driver. "Now start shoveling that coal!" With spirits lifting, and a full head of steam, the four friends slowly headed into the dark depths of the mine.
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