Hero of the rails (My version)

Chapter 4: Thomas meets Hiro

Thomas looked around. After the racing and rattling, it was very quiet.

Thomas: Spencer will be back at the shunting yards now. He'll be puffing with pride because he won the contest. And my best friend Percy will be wondering where I am.

Everything was very quiet. Thomas and the Irelanders don't know what to do. Then, they heard a voice.

Male voice: Hello?

Thomas looked around. There was no one there. He waited, hardly daring to puff.

Male voice: Hello?

Thomas: The voice seems to be coming from the bushes.

Very slowly, Thomas chuffed forward into the bushes. The branches crackled and crunched. Then Thomas gasps. His eyes pop wide with wonder. There on the other side of the bushes was a very old engine. It was broken and rusty. Thomas felt scared. He didn't dare speak. Then the old engine smiled at them. It was a little frighten smile but it made the old engine look kind and gentle and it made Thomas feel less scared.

Old engine: Hello. To bad your brakes failed. Doesn't that always happen when you're on a hill?

The old engine smiled again. Thomas wanted to smile too but he was scared. He didn't know whether to speak, toot for help or race backwards as fast as he could chuff. But Thomas didn't move. He couldn't take his eyes off this extraordinarily engine.

Thomas: Hello. My name is Thomas.

Old engine: (sighs) My name is Hiro.

 Thomas wasn't sure what to say next. He had never met an engine as old and strange as Hiro.

Thomas: Why are you here? Where have you been?

Hiro: (sighs) That's a very long story. Do you like stories, Thomas?

Thomas: Yes. The little engines in the hills tell me stories all the time.

Hiro: Then, I hope you like mine. I came here a long, long time ago from another island. I was one of the first steam engines to arrive on Sodor.

Thomas was amazed.

Thomas: Where is your island?

[A flashback to when Hiro worked in Japan]

Hiro: My island is a long, long way away.  There are mountains and snow and sea. There are a lot of railways. I was the strongest engine at home. I was called Master of the Railway. 

Thomas: How did you get here to Sodor?

Hiro: I came in a very big ship. The journey lasted many days and we sailed many seas.

[It changes to a black and white camera footage of Hiro being unloaded]

Hiro: When I arrived at the docks, it didn't look at all like home. 

Thomas: What was Sodor like back then?

Hiro: It was very quiet. I was the only engine on Sodor. They called me Master of the Railway here too. I was very happy.

Thomas:  But then what happened?

Hiro: (sighs sadly) I started to break down. The mechanics didn't have parts for me. So, I was put in a siding. I had to wait for parts from my island. I waited and waited. And now, I'm sure the parts will never come.  

Thomas' eyes were wide with wonder.

Thomas: Do you miss your home?

Hiro: Yes, I do. I miss being Master of the Railway.

Thomas looked at his sad new friend. He felt sorry for Hiro.

Thomas: I know! I'll go and get Sir Topham Hatt! Sir Topham Hatt runs our railway now. He will know how to help you.

Hiro: No! No! Please, don't do that. You must not tell Sir Topham Hatt.

Thomas was surprised.

Thomas: Why?

Hiro: I'm an old engine that cannot be repaired. I know what happens to old engines that cannot be really useful. They are scrapped, and sent to the Smelter's Yard!

Thomas: That's not fair. That's not right! That can't happen to you!

But Thomas could see that his new friend, who was once Master of the Railway, was now old, alone, and scared. So Thomas made a decision.

Thomas: I will look after you, Hiro. I won't tell Sir Topham Hatt until you are fixed! You are safe with me. I'm sure I can find the parts to fix you. I promise, I will make you a really useful engine once more! I will make you Master of the Railway again!

Hiro smiled the biggest smile he had smiled in a long, long, time.

Hiro: Thank you, Thomas. Thank you for looking after me!

Thomas puffed with pride!