02x21 - The Diseasel

[bunniefuu]

Bill and Ben are twins with four wheels,

a chimney and dome and a cab.

Their trucks are filled with china clay
used for pottery and paint.

The twins pull trucks
for engines on the main line

and for ships in the harbour.

One morning, they went away
for more trucks.

They returned to find them gone.
They were surprised.

The drivers examined some oil.
"A diesel."

“A whatel?”

“A diseasal.
There's a notice in our shed."

“Coughs spread diseasals."
“You had a cough. It's your fault."

“Isn't.”
"Is."

“Stop arguing.
Let's go and rescue our trucks.”

They said,
“The diseasal will magic us away.”

“He won't magic us. We'll magic him.
He doesn't know you're twins.

“We'll take away your names
and this is what we'll do."

The twins set off to find the diesel.

They looked forward
to playing tricks on him.

They found the diesel on a siding
with the trucks.

Ben hid behind, but Bill went alongside.

The diesel said, "Do you mind?"

“Yes, I do. I want my trucks, please.”

“These are mine. Go away.”

Bill pretended to be frightened.
"You're a bully.”

He ran back and hid behind the trucks.

Ben came forward.

“Truck stealer.” He ran away.

Bill took his place.

This went on till the diesel’s eyes
nearly popped out.

“Stop. I'm giddy." The engines gazed
at him. "Are there two of you?"

“Yes, we're twins.”

“I might have known it."

Edward bustled up.

“Why are you playing here?”

“We're not playing.”

“We're rescuing our trucks. Even you
don't take them without asking.”

“Don't be rude," said Edward.

“This is a Metropolitan-Vickers
Diesel Electric Type ."

The twins were abashed. "We're sorry.”

“Never mind. Call me Boco.
I didn't understand about the trucks.”

“All right," said Edward. “Off you go,
Bill and Ben. Fetch Boco's trucks.

“There's no harm in them,
but they can be maddening.”

Boco chuckled.
“Maddening is the word."