This is the final part of the Duck and the Diesel Engine trilogy, and it's called A Close Shave. Enjoy!
After being framed by Diesel for telling lies about the engines to the Troublesome Trucks, Duck sadly goes to Wellsworth and tells Edward about what has happened. Edward assures Duck that everything will be alright and suggests helping out with his goods train, which cheers Duck up.
The two engines work hard during the afternoon, trying to get the trucks to run properly while taking them up Gordon's Hill. When they get to the top, Duck says goodbye to Edward and heads back to the station. As he coasts down the hill, enjoying the breeze, he suddenly hears a guard whistling. Edward's trucks have broken away and are racing towards Duck at breakneck speed, with intent to push him off the rails.
Duck hurries down the main line at his max speed in an attempt to outrun the trucks, but they suddenly catch up to him as he crosses the viaduct and begin pushing him. Just as they are starting to regain control, Duck and his driver see James on the same track, pulling a passenger train out of the next station in Crosby. Duck puts all of his weight against the trucks, knowing that a deadly accident will occur otherwise, but is unable to stop. He shuts his eyes and prepares for the worst, but gets diverted into a siding at the last second after being slowed down long enough for James to clear the platform.
At the end of the siding Duck runs onto is a small barbershop where a barber is shaving a customer. Duck, with the trucks pushing him, slides into the end of the siding and crashes right into the front of the shop, destroying the wall. The trucks pay no attention to this feeling rather pleased with themselves. As Duck stares nervously at the crowd in front of him, he tries to apologize, but the barber is furious with him for frightening his customers, and firmly lathers Duck's face with shaving foam.
While Thomas arrives to help clear the mess, the Fat Controller speaks with the barber, who is still angry. The Fat Controller explains that Duck and his crew helped to prevent a much larger accident with James, adding that it was a "very close shave". The barber quickly washes the lathering off of Duck's face and apologises for misjudging him. After the trucks have been pulled away, Thomas pulls Duck out of the wrecked barbershop, and the Fat Controller tells him he will be returning to the yard once he is washed and mended. Duck is worried by this as he believes that the engines are still angry with him. The Fat Controller, however, replies that he never believed Diesel and sent him packing; the other engines are now sorry and want Duck to come back.
A few days later, after being mended, Duck returns to the shed where the other engines welcome him back with happy whistles. Proudly taking his place among them, Duck feels happier than ever to be home with his friends.
20 окт 2024
