Chapter 4. Stop the Train!
The next day, the children woke up early. They wanted to know more about the strange man. ‘Mother, what happened to him?' asked Phyllis.
‘Yes, please tell us,' asked Bobbie.
So Mother told them.
‘Well, you know he's a writer. He wrote a beautiful book about poor people – and how to help them. In Russia he went to prison for it. Sometimes people go to prison for the wrong reason. He was in prison for three years. When he left, he wanted to find his family, but he couldn't find them. He left Russia and now he's looking for his family here.'
‘Oh, that's very sad,' said Bobbie.
‘Yes, it is,' said Mother. ‘Just think. He wasn't guilty of anything.'
The next day, the Russian man was better. The children stayed at home for three days. They wanted to help him. After three days, they also wanted something else. They really wanted
to go to the railway again.
‘We can go and find some fruit for him. That will be a nice surprise,' said Bobbie.
‘Yes,' said Peter. ‘There's lots of fruit near the tunnel.'
They went down the hill. When they were near the tunnel, Peter was very happy.
‘We can watch the trains and we can work at the same time,' he said. Then the children heard a noise. It was a very big tree.
‘Look! Look at that tree! It's falling,' said Bobbie. Then the tree fell on the track. ‘Oh no!' said Bobbie. ‘This is very dangerous. A train is coming soon and the tree is on the track.'
‘What can we do?' asked Peter. ‘The 11.29 train is arriving soon. We have to go to the station to tell somebody.'
‘There's no time,' said Bobbie. ‘It's 11.00.'
‘We need something red,' said Peter. ‘Then we can use it to wave at the train before it arrives here. Phyllis, Bobbie, our coats are red. We can use them.'
‘Good idea!' said Bobbie and Phyllis.
The children waited at the other end of the tunnel. Soon they heard a noise. ‘It's coming! It's coming,' said Peter.
The children waved their coats at the train.
‘The driver can't see us,' said Bobbie. The train was near and it was fast. ‘It's not stopping,' said Bobbie. ‘I'm going on the track. Then the driver can see me.'
‘No, Bobbie! It's too dangerous,' said Phyllis. But it was too late. Bobbie was on the track.
‘Stop, stop, stop!' said Bobbie. The train was very close now. Then the train slowly stopped just in front of poor Bobbie. The driver got off the train. Peter and Phyllis ran to the driver to tell him about the tree.
‘There's a tree…on the track at the other end of the tunnel,' said Peter.
‘Well, if it's true, you three children are heroes,' said the driver. ‘But what about the girl on the track?' Bobbie was still there. She was very frightened. ‘We have to take her home, poor girl!'
Soon everybody knew about the tree on the track. The children went back to the station. Everybody smiled and waved at them. They were not just the Railway Children now. They were the heroes from “Three Chimneys.” A few days later, a letter arrived.
Dear Sir and Ladies,
We want to thank you and the people on that train want to thank you. You children are heroes. We're having a party for you at three o' clock on the 30th of this month.
The children wrote a letter.
Thank you very much. We were very happy to
help. It's very nice of you to have a party for us.
See you there!
The children washed their best clothes and they waited for the day.
‘I'm very excited,' said Peter.
‘Me too,' said Phyllis.
The day arrived and they went to the party. It was at the station. There were flowers, a lot of food and a lot of people. Lots of people came to thank the children.
‘I was on that train,' said one man. ‘Thank you!'
‘You are heroes,' said another man. The children looked for one special person. There he was - the old gentleman from the 9.15 train. He stood in front of the people, then he started to speak.
‘I'd like to give something to these special children.' he said. ‘They did a great thing. Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, you're the heroes from “Three Chimneys” and we're all very happy to know you.' Then he gave each of the children a watch – a beautiful gold watch.
‘Peter, say something,' said Bobbie.
‘Er … You're very kind,' said Peter. ‘It was nothing really. It was very exciting. Well, what I want to say is … er … Thank you very much.'
It was a great party. The children enjoyed every minute of this special day. They
were ready to go home. Then Bobbie had an idea. She spoke to the old gentleman.
‘I want to ask you something,' she said. Then Bobbie told him about the Russian man. ‘Where are his wife and children? He's very sad. Maybe you can find some information to help him. You're so clever.'
‘What's his name?' asked the old gentleman. Bobbie wrote the name on a piece of paper.
S-Z-E-Z-C-P-A-N-S-K-Y
The old gentleman looked at the name. I know one of his books,' he said. ‘I read it two or three years ago. I'm very happy you asked me about him. I know a lot of Russians in London. Every Russian knows his name. I can try to get some information. Now tell me about you.' So Bobbie told the old gentleman about London and about “Three Chimneys”, and about many other things.
Ten days later the children heard a knock at the door. It was the old gentleman.
‘Hello,' he said. ‘I have some good news. I know where the Russian man's wife and children are. Can I speak to him?'
‘Yes, yes, that's wonderful. I'm so happy,' said Bobbie.
The children were very curious. They waited and watched. They watched the old gentleman speaking to the Russian. Then they saw the Russian man put his hands on his face. At first he cried, but then he smiled. He smiled for a long time.
‘Well,' said Bobbie, ‘I'm so happy that his story has a happy ending.'
