Rev. W. Awdry - Tale of the Brave (Thomas & Freinds)

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W Awdry.
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ISBN 978-0-385-37916-8 (trade)
ISBN 978-0-375-98229-3 (ebook)
Random House Childrens Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read. v3.1 I t was a busy day at the clay pits on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was there helping out. That afternoon, dark clouds filled the sky, and cold rain started to fall.

As Thomas rolled down some slippery tracks, the clay wall next to him began to drip and ooze. Thomas saw strange marks under the falling mud. They looked like giant footprints! Later, at Brendam Docks, Thomas told Percy about the footprints. I dont know what could have made them. They were bigger than any animal on Sodor. Do you mean they are from a monster? Percy wheeshed.

Dont be silly, Percy. Theres no such things as monsters. Percy couldnt stop thinking about monsters. As he came to the top of a hill, he saw a strange shape in the distance. Whats that? Percy puffed. I hope its not a MONSTER! I dont usually get mistaken for a monster, the big engine tooted.

But they do call me Gator. It seems folks think I look like an alligator. Everywhere Percy went that night, he thought he saw strange creatures. Trees and haystacks became monsters. Laundry on a clothesline looked like ghosts. The next day, Percy saw James. The next day, Percy saw James.

Hello, scaredy-engine, James puffed. Seen any monsters lately? You can tease if you want, Percy peeped. But Thomas saw giant footprints at the pits. There might be monsters on Sodor. James was busy thinking about monsters when he turned the corner into the scrap yardand came face to face with jagged teeth and crooked claws! Noo! James peeped. Down at the docks, Percy saw Gator. Down at the docks, Percy saw Gator.

Im heading across the sea soon, Gator puffed. I wish I were as brave as you, Percy peeped. Being brave is not the same as not feeling scared, Percy. Being brave is what you do even when you feel scared. Percy decided to be brave and pull the mail trucks that night. His boiler bubbled boldly as he chugged across the countryside.

Nothing scared him. Gator is right, he tooted. I can be brave! Meanwhile, grumpy James was not as happy. He needed to haul a trainful of fresh fish. As he rounded a bend, he saw a large, shadowy shape. He didnt realize it was only Gator.

James raced away. He was so frightened that he jumped off the rails into a pond! James had to be hoisted out of the pond by Rocky. When the other engines saw him, they had a good laugh. You were meant to deliver the fish, Henry puffed, not throw them back in the water! James didnt like these jokes one bit. Hed show everyone that Percy was the real scaredy-engine, not him. That night, Percy saw something unusualsomething big.

This wasnt a haystack or a funny-looking engine. It groaned and flashed its big teeth in the moonlight. Percy didnt want to be brave anymore. He dropped his mail trucks and raced back to the sheds. The next day, Thomas saw James with a truckful of scrap, right where Percy had seen the monster! James! Thomas tooted. You made a monster out of scrap metal to give Percy a fright.

You need to find him and apologize. The two engines split up to find Percy. Percy found Gator on his ship. Im going far away, Percy puffed. Ill show everyone how brave I can be! Gator thought for a moment.