2.50pm.

This was it. Benjamin had found the train times and discovered that if it took 1 hour to organise everyone and get on the track, we only had one chance to do this stunt.

We needed to be on the line after the 4 o'clock train and be off it before 5.20 pm.

Or we'd face head-on collision with the Lexan afternoon train.

This was it.

We were gathered round a table inside Alice's airship, discussing among ourselves. The lights were off but the room was full of summer light, as it was an unusually warm and sunny April day in Chelare. The table was actually two dining tables pushed together, which Alice had then draped a white lace-edged tablecloth over.

The steam-horses were outside our airship, the lead one stuck to the airships' electro-magnet. This is so no one could pinch the horses while we were inside. The other horses would viciously attack any intruder who tried to take them - they were made to only go if their disk-bearer and lead horse was present.

I entrusted the lever which controlled the electro-magnet to Angie's apprentice, who wouldn't let anyone touch it, not even Angie.

I borrowed Alice's teaspoon and rapped it on my crystal glass, filling the room with a sharp, ringing sound.

When the conversations lessened to an attentive hush, I began:

"Right everyone, we need to get ourselves organised. Angie, Alice, Benjamin, Georgina, (Angie's apprentice) drive the airship.
Do not let yourselves be distracted and do not leave unless you run out of fuel and are about to crash. Anyone I have not mentioned is to join me on the train. I have been trained to drive it."

There was some chatter but then I finished:

"Gentlemen, Ladies. Let's work together. We will succeed!"

To this there were shouts of approval before Gareth, the other stokers and I left the airship. Angie's apprentice, Georgina, turned off the electro-magnet and handed the switch back to me. She still looked very shy and anxious, so I whispered in her ear,

"Thank you. And don't worry. You'll be fine up in the air. It's me who's taking the risk!"

Before leaving the airship with the switch.

I ran round the back of the airship to it's side, where the electro-magnet was and leaped onto the lead steam-horse. As I kicked the steam-horse into a jolting trot, Gareth and the stokers legged it to the train track ahead which led to Welhae station.

The stokers had been busy yesterday afternoon, creating an artificial rail to move the train onto the tracks. The artificial rail leading up to the main track was 3 times the length of the train and was donated to us from Mr Olton's supply of railway parts. The stokers had made a switch in the rail to get the train onto the tracks and fixed the rail it together yesterday. It had been hard work but they had done it.

The steam horses arrived at the start of the artificial track and I stopped them. They breathed a cloud of steam, almost sighing in relief. I dismounted the lead horse and unchained the train from the horses.
I led them over to an oak tree and chained the lead horse there.

Just before I entered the drivers cabinet of the Royal Clockwork train, I heard a purr...

Behind me, Alice's airship was ascending up into the sky gracefully.

I jumped in the train and pulled the whistle. It made a shrill, whistling noise.
Gareth and the stokers in the stokers carriage cheered to let me know they were there.

I activated the levers, valves and dials I had learned about and the train slowly began to move, puffing like an old gentleman's cigar. There was a cacophonous CLANG! As the train jolted onto the track but I moved the reverser again and the train sped onwards.

I felt a wave of energy surge through me, that adrenaline rush that tells you what you are doing is quite possibly crazy, dangerous but utterly exciting.

"Let's do this." I smiled, before blowing the whistle once again out of pure joy and exhilaration.

But then there was a rap on the metal behind me.

I whipped round and Benjamin revealed himself, being behind me all the time!

"Benjamin! What are you doing?!" I said.

But I was delighted too, because he was my best friend. I hadn't liked putting him on the airship but I thought I'd best be without distractions.

Benjamin smirked.
"You're smarter now, but not smart enough to spot me."

I laughed at his cheeky smile and couldn't face telling him off.

"I can't exactly remove you from here... So I'll let you stay. Just don't distract me while driving!" I finally told him.

******

More to come soon! Thanks also to @Enokithedryphon for being such a great reader :) You're awesome!

See you sometime soon.