It was a very late summer's afternoon on the Island of Sodor. It was warm, the humidity was agreeable. The blackbirds were singing to each other beautifully. The smell of cut grass was fresh in the air as people were mowing their lawns. The sound of distant dragons working and puffing away was melodious. But all was not well.

I'm sorry to say that, a gang of delinquent, naughty, and downright disobedient schoolboys were approaching the Dragon-way yard where all the massive dragons rested after their work, looking to cause trouble.

It was clear to see though, that one of them simply didn't belong. His behaviour and demeanour was too gentle-natured to be associated with such cur. Although he wasn't bright, he wasn't a horrible youth either, just naïve and easily-misled. His outward appearance - his uniform was all tidier and looked after, and he was being dragged along against his will by the others for the most part. He wasn't a willing participant in this.

"Isn't that a bit mean?" peeped the small boy, called Albert "Spraying paint and graffiti on the dragons? I'm all for having fun, but we shouldn't be unkind to man's loyal helpers."
The boys guffawed and chortled at him. They climbed over the fences to the dragon's den. Several of them pushed and shoved him on over as well. One acted as a look-out to make sure they remained undetected by the workers and foreman on duty.

"Wait shrimp!" said one "I thought you hated dragons too?" it was Jim, the biggest most unpleasant boy among them. He was the leader of the gang. "You said you couldn't stand Gordon when he's angry yeah?"
"No no Jim! Not hate, no I don't hate, just frightened, by the biggest ones." Albert said sheepishly "And Gordon's so huge and powerful. I... I... can't bear to look at him racing along the dragon-way like he does. "
"You're pathetic titch" snapped Jim in disgust "Look everyone - He's actually scared of big fat Gordon! Haw!" and the boys circled him and taunted him with horrible insults of cowardice.

Albert could easily see this was turning uglier by the second and needed to get himself out of the situation "Stop laughing at me! I'm going home!"

"No you're not!" yelled many of them.
"Forget the paint boys. We think we better help you overcome your fear, by introducing you to Gordon the big blue dragon... personally!" Jim said rather nastily.
"Stop it! Stop pushing!" cried Albert, but it was no use. They had already marshalled him over the great voluminous and elevated water tower, where the dragon's drink. Though he struggled, the gang still forced and pulled him up the ladder. They overpowered him and threw him into the huge water-filled container with a splash.

Albert coughed and spluttered as rose up to the surface. "I'm soaking wet! Get me out! I'll tell my father!", but the boys laughed and climbed off the superstructure. Leaving the poor schoolboy all alone and trapped in the large reservoir. Despite the hot day, it was cold in the tower, making him shiver and sneeze. As the minutes passed Albert was afraid he would be stuck there for ages, but he didn't stay there long.

The ground began to tremble and vibrate as a truly enormous steam dragon entered the yard. Its rhythmic pounding of quadrupedal legs could be heard a long way off. The resonance of its stomping on the dragon-way tracks was felt through the whole water storage.

A very dignified, proud and immense blue-scaled dragon was making his way back to the caves to rest. It had beautiful Cobalt blue eyes. Its expansive folded wings with their membranes were an impressive display, a cape befitting for a ruler. The titan had a light-blue underbelly and tail spike. The giant's features were broad, from its snout to its ridges that ran from the head along its back. Its claws, teeth, horns, head crest and massive chain around its neck all shone like white brass in the setting sun.
The dragon was male, rugged, and absolutely massive – well over 600ft in length and standing taller than 400ft in height. The number "4" was painted in red and yellow on either side of the beast's whopping huge hindquarters. It was Gordon!

"Bother!" boomed Gordon coming to an abrupt halt, "I'm still thirsty! I want a drink! I want a drink NOW!"
Deep inside the blue immortal monster, within his vast and surreal internal anatomy, were his driver and fireman. They overheard Gordon's persistent moaning (it was hard not to). Both were also tired after their long shift and looking forward to clocking out for home.

"Again?" exclaimed his fireman in disbelief as he died down the fires in Gordon's huge firebox belly by starving them of fresh coal "Look, I know it's summer time, but that's your tenth drink of the day! Can't you wait until morning?"

Gordon with much noise and complaining, stomped his massive hind leg and foot down angrily, and wouldn't budge an inch further to the Tidmouth caves for the night without helping himself first.
His driver above within Gordon's stupendous cranium and ear canals working the organic controls laughed, "Give it up" he called down the network of passages that was the monster's throat to his colleague far below "There's no use arguing with dragons."
"Fine, fine" huffed the hot and bothered fireman and threw down his gloves as he clambered up Gordon's tremendous and long throat to get outside and operate the water tower.
"Good, that's settled then." grunted the gigantic blue dragon. "Can't be put to bed without a nice cold refresher!"

The fireman grumbled he was now missing his television show, as he slowly clambered out of Gordon's gigantic mouth and was gently lowered down via the dragon's colossal paw to the adjacent tower. He hurried on over to the handle and turned it with much effort. It groaned and squealed as the large vessel titled and turned towards the eager dragon, like a metal cup fashioned for a giant.

Albert was frantic. Everything was shaking. He only then realised that the massive dragon was intending to engulf the entire contents of the reservoir with him in it! He hollered up to try and grab their attention before the big beast with its yawning mouth opening wider and wider did anything drastic, but it was too late.
Suddenly the contents of the tower drained away, straight into the dragon's gaping maw. It tipped like a ladle in a steel foundry. Gordon gulped away greedily as the water came rushing in. Sending gallons of the liquid through and down into his waiting belly to quench his thirst.

Albert screamed as he was pulled with the current and he caught sight of Gordon's massive and intimidating jaws, coming into full view before him. How astronomic and exalted the dragon's maw looked - a great pink cavern welcoming everything it summoned in. Again, the noise of the rushing water and groaning metal of the tower emptying drowned out his frenzied protests. He tried to scream again but gargled and nearly choked as water entered his own mouth.
He couldn't escape! Albert passed over his huge scaly lips and mountainous canine teeth, into the cavernous cavity of the great looming dragon. The boy was washed over boulder-like teeth, across the oceanic vast pink tongue. He could do nothing as he was sucked straight under the swaying uvula and into the welcoming dark abyss of the dragon's throat.

Albert tossed and turned in water and saliva, as was forced down the long winding dark pink pipe. The young boy was no match for the mighty beast, whose unfathomable insides pumped him further in, down and deeper. The river and he passed through several sphincters and eventually were deposited into their destination, a huge stomach chamber - Gordon's big water-tank belly.
The big blue dragon finished up the entire content, swallowing down the last few mouthfuls "Oooh! That was delicious!" sighed Gordon licking his lips gratifyingly and let out a massive belch that reverberated around the town.

Meanwhile the bullies who were watching at a safe distance, ran off laughing "What a great prank!" they all jeered heartlessly "They'll never get him out! Good riddance!"

Everyone else except the hoodlums were oblivious to what just happened. Albert was enveloped and sealed away by the grand beast, yet neither dragon nor crew were any the wiser. The fireman returned to his dragon and alighted in Gordon's beckoning maw. Now that their dragon was content, the driver easily got him to respond to his commands bring him to the caves. Gordon burped a little more, his broad and mammoth belly slushed about slightly as he advanced towards the caves.

Poor Albert was not fairing as well. The ride over, he was clutching onto the strong fleshy great sides of this large place. Coughing in the dim and pulsating chamber, within the humongous express dragon's water tank stomach. He adjusted his eyes, then surveyed his new surroundings. How alien-like it all was! There was a faint gentle glow here, as if another belly, another stomach chamber was the source of light itself. The firebox stomach.

At least it was warm in here, he thought. Not freezing cold like that water tower. "It's body-temperature! Like a nice bath" he exclaimed.

Albert looked around this belly and swam, but was dismayed to see that there was no exit, no escape. The muscular-ringed entrance to this strange place was closed off, out-of-reach and among the folds of the gargantuan dragon's insides, couldn't even be seen.

Elsewhere in the mighty dragon's body, Gordon's driver turned the great valves inside his head and other cavities slowly but surely off. The steam stopped flowing. Allowing Gordon to approach slowly and under momentum coast to a stop within the caves. He boomed heavily and happily in.

Gordon saw all his companions, big and small, the rest of the dragon fleet before him. He quickly remembered he looked tired and too relieved from his drink, so he shook the loose trails of water off his face and held his head high as he pranced fancifully into their midst. He had an image to maintain! As the titan strode in, he looked very noble and majestic. "Exactly how a big express dragon should look" he thought to himself.
He needn't have bothered. All the dragons were tired after their day's work to notice if he didn't look respectful and kingly. Some of them just had a rub down from their cleaners and purred gleefully. Many were yawning themselves into a deep slumber. The blue beast snorted, thinking none of them work as hard as he does, and settled himself down. With a monumental thump, he laid down. He stretched and yawned showing off his many sharp teeth, well and truly done with the day's work.

The driver and fireman grabbed their belongings and exited the prodigious giant through his huge ears. They climbed down the great face of the Doncaster king. Wishing their beloved beast a good night and sweet dreams as he nuzzled them so gently in return. They made their way past all the stupendously sized dragons for the walk home.

"Help! Help!" Albert cried as loudly as he could deep inside Gordon. He pounded and thumped the impervious yet spongy stomach walls "I'm trapped! Help me!"

Edward, the oldest and kindest dragon among them, who was just dozing off next to the gigantic dragon, perked up. He heard a very faint muffled noise over his neighbouring great blue dragon's rumbling gut.
"Gordon dear fellow, what is that noise you're making?" he blinked in astonishment.
"Shut up." he snapped irritably. "I'm too sleepy to talk to little fusspots like you. Bother me in the morning."
Edward huffed, his frills and mane flared, and tried to listen in again. He was wise enough to know you should never ignore strange sounds. The old dragon pressed his head up against the big express beast's midriff, scanning the monster's abdomen for the source of the disturbance. But Gordon had already started to snore. He couldn't hear anything else over that. With the last of his own fire going out within his own belly, Edward shrugged and gave up. He yawned himself before curling up to sleep next to Gordon.

Albert made much noise and commotion, but it was no use. Gordon's snoring and the rumbling and gurgling going on in his body was too loud and frequent to ever compete with. No one would ever hear him. The chamber got darker and darker by the minute as the nearby firebox belly shut down for the night.
He knew full well his parents would be anxious, to say the least. But what could he do? He was stuck in here. No one could hear him. The immortal creature's internals were indestructible, his physical attempts to get attention were effortlessly absorbed by the masses of wobbling flesh. He knew he was going to spend the night in a dragon. Not just any dragon, but with Gordon, the biggest and proudest giant on the entire dragon-way. He had no choice or say in the matter.

"I'll wait until morning." he said trying to keep his esteem and spirits up. "When he's stopped making such a terrible din, someone will hear. Someone must." Albert trembled at the prospect of being imprisoned in here any longer than that. He felt just like little Jonah in the massive blue whale.

He thought how he could get himself out of trouble by saying he spend the night over at a friend's place. But understood his father would still punish him regardless for not informing them of his whereabouts beforehand. The schoolboy rested his head against the wet cushion-like sides of the water-filled tank belly. He struggled to nod off over the sounds and borborygmic rumblings of Gordon's vast belly.

=====

Albert woke with a start. Gordon was making a lot of noise. He was arguing with someone outside. The belly was rumbling more than ever. It glowed more brightly in here than last night. Albert slowly came to his senses. Everyone was already long awake. The firebox belly was lit and glowing nicely with a roaring fire and making steam!

No! He overslept and missed his chance!
He started yelling and hitting the massive walls of the chamber futilely, trying to get the enormous beast's attention.

Gordon, blissfully unaware of his newly acquired stow-away was arguing with James the red dragon.

"No, no, no. NO." he bellowed in a loud, deep and resonant voice. "Six months is unacceptable. I cannot wait that long!"
"You'll have to make the best of things" scoffed James disdainfully "the fitter from Buxton won't be here until then for our annual check-up."
"They expect ME, to wait another six months before I have my water-tank belly properly cleaned out?" thundered Gordon.
"What are you belly-aching about?" enquired Henry the big green dragon rhetorically "You already had the cleaners inspect your water-feed pipes last week."
"That is not sufficient!" answered Gordon back affirmably "I'm bigger than all of you! My water-tank belly needs a more thorough going over. Our water is too hard! Limescale builds up in my system constantly. I need it cleaned out everyday! At least! You can't just shove rods down my throat and say 'job done!'. And don't get me started on THAT fitter James. Last time he was here, he didn't even make a sincere effort to remove my limescale!"
"Your water-feed pipes are unclogged, aren't they?" snapped James back indignant at how ungrateful Gordon was sounding right now.
"But the limescale is still covering everything in there!" thundered Gordon, looking back at his proud and prodigious girth "You have no idea what that feels like little James. You can manage, your tank is smaller. But for me it's like having something stuck to your teeth and you cannot remove it, no matter what you try."

The other dragons didn't take much notice. They were busy enjoying being seen to by their crews as their firebox bellies glowed brightly after burning up their morning meal of coal. Their fireman worked tirelessly to feed their appetites. Shoving coal from their storage bunker-bellies into their ravenous firebox-bellies below. The super-heated water was rapidly vaporizing away in their boiler-bellies. Their safety valves released and columns of hot steam blasted out of their noses into the far-reaching caves above and outside. The noise and clamour was incredible.

Albert groaned and buried his head in the fleshly walls like a pillow. The stomach was pulsating and churning constantly with energy and activity. He was still stuck inside the enormous and unaware Gordon, he had surely missed his window of opportunity, and would now have to wait for another quite moment again when evening came. The belly gently swayed, making the water slosh about, as he felt the huge dragon begin to stomp forwards.

Gordon puffed out of Tidmouth caves, still fuming. "Disgraceful!" he hissed as he remembered he had to go fetch his own coaches today as well. It put him in a very bad temper indeed and black smoke and cinders blasted out of his nostrils and mouth.
"Never mind my dear" said his driver, stroking his dragon's controls deep inside him to calm him down. "We'll get you some good grade coal today, and then you'll feel much better."

Gordon delighted at the prospect, rumbled over to the coaling stages and proceeded to satisfy his hunger. Tons and tons of coal, his meal, poured into his open maw from the fully-loaded hopper. He forced it into his throat with his tongue, like a huge pink piston, swallowing it all down into his coal-bunker belly. His fireman stood well clear as it filled up. The big giant was helping himself enormously. The other dragons queued up and became impatient with him.

Then they whistled and stomped angrily as the express dragon devoured another batch to fill up his extra tender as well. "You greedy guzzler." spat Duck in outrage. "Save some for the rest of us!"

But Gordon didn't care a bit "Mmmm! That was an interesting blend" as he licked his chops "The good South Wales stuff, mixed with that of North Yorkshire. Really nice and savoury wouldn't you agree?" He remarked.
"I wouldn't know how it tastes!" laughed his fireman who proceeded to shovel the freshly delivered material into Gordon's yawning firebox stomach and keep the raging flames inside alive.

Albert noticed the change in the dragon's gut too. The neighbouring water-tank belly moved around as its contents were displaced by the ever-expanding bunker stomach. He was clueless though as to what was going on outside of course.

His broader-than-ever belly swayed as he lumbered and stomped across the station yard with much smoke and noise to find his express coaches. The chubby and mischievous dirty trucks were laughing and giggling at him. "Look out! Here comes fat Gordon! Big bottom! Don't let him sit on you, or he'll crush your coal into diamonds!"

"Watch what you say" smiled the big towering dragon "I'm on light shunting duties tomorrow, my day off, and you wouldn't want me to bump you all too hard. Now would you?"

The podgy and grubby dragon trucks ceased their teasing, and scowled. Several of them went white in the face and gulped in fear. The vast Gordon meant business, and they knew it, and dreaded being taught manners by him the next day.

Though Gordon was a pompous stubborn dragon, prone to getting irate, who loved to throw his weight around from time to time - he still took his job very seriously and professionally whatever the weather or mood. He hummed a happy little tune, while gliding up to the coaches, who were sunning themselves. They were all sparking with new fresh paint and they looked wonderful.
"Good morning my dears. You all look as beautiful and as radiant as ever." he chuffed, as his driver shut off steam from inside, and climbed out and down, to go and change the manual points to their sidings "I'm thrilled to go out with you all again."
They all stood up "Good morning Gordon! So are we! So are we!" they all replied cheerfully. It was indeed a pleasure for them to be pulled along by such an experienced beast, who was not only immensely powerful, yet gentle and considerate with them too. Gordon was soon coupled up to them, and backing down, marshalled them all to the station platform with much noise and steam.

Deep inside the blue dragon, Albert pressed his head against the thumping and swirling belly, trying to listen for any given quiet moment. Knowing full well that was his best chance for being heard and hopefully rescued by someone. No lapse in the noise seemed to come though, whether walking heavily or idling the blue giant's boiler belly was akin to a rumbling volcano. He soon heard a faint "peeeep!" outside the volumes and tons of dragon that was distinctively a guard's whistle.
The schoolboy felt the dragon moving in perfect rhythm, slowly picking up speed, every square inch of the colossal titan was surging with raw pressurized power. Gordon's brisk walk, turned into a trot, then presently a gallop. He realized he was pulling a train. The express dragon was belching forth steam constantly puffing and chuffing. Sometimes picking up speed, or easing off and slowing down. The gargantuan thing would often whistle and it was a deafening call that commanded attention.

In this manner, Gordon would often decelerate again and stop. His stowaway within would hear the rushing sounds of material coming into the jumbo dragon (which the youngster would later deduce was him feeding on coal). And self-evidently whenever he was drinking, as gallons of water poured into the chamber from above to bring it up to higher levels whenever it was low and depleted. Albert took a gander at the now-apparent entrance to the monster's water tank. The ring of muscle was too high to reach and it sealed itself up whenever water wasn't passing through it. Worse and worse, the contents of this belly never went so high as to set off his over-flow valve above, so although undesirable, there was no escape through that way either.

Albert floated in the journeying dragon's huge water tank belly all day. The waves often carrying the child from one region of the palpitating chamber to the other. He was hungry, and had nothing but a half-eaten sandwich to sustain him, which had become soggy during his sojourn in this surreal jail "Oh dear" he said sadly "I shall never get out. I shall have to stay here for always and always."

He shook his head and banished such defeatist thoughts and despair from his head. He didn't know what time it was, in his seclusion from the rest of the world, but it obviously couldn't be more than midday. The boy saw he would have to occupy himself however he saw fit. "Pretend this is school" he said to himself. Albert took the time to study this belly of Gordon's, and discovered it was actually full of tiny little porous holes. Everywhere and all around, it all looked like the drum of a washing machine, only dark pink and organic.

The child observed these holes were sucking in water constantly, but at a controlled rate. "Must be his feed-water pipes" he commented, trying to remember drawings he saw of steam locomotive dragons in an encyclopaedia once "Taking the drunken water straight into his boiler belly... and the primary heat exchangers...convert the heat from his firebox belly... into steam. The pressure drives his great cylinders and muscles... wow he's so complex and massive."
He touched them and they tickled his fingers as they vibrated and shifted. Then he noticed that everywhere was hard, off-white, chalky deposits, sort of like the stuff you find in kettles. The boy didn't understand how dragons work, but knew it wasn't good for kettles or plumbing. He dived under the water's surface and tried to pull the thickly layered limescale off with his bare hands, to no avail. Then he tried massaging the belly tissue underneath, and sure enough - off it popped and disintegrated!

Albert felt happier. The dragon's gut though a prison, didn't have to be an unpleasant one. This was very therapeutic and it all helped to pass the time away in here. There was a lot of surface area to de-scale. He kept plunging in headfirst, rubbing and kneading away within the awesome belly of the beast.

Gordon meanwhile felt a tremendous surge of energy, and roared happily and passionately throughout the countryside he was speeding through. Even cattle in the distant hills who were used to the passing dragon trains, stopped grazing for a moment to look. The giant dragon hadn't felt this good in ages. He picked up speed suddenly and was overflowing with joy and newly-acquired power.

"Whoa! Gosh! Gordon!" called his driver who felt a jerk deep in his ear "Slow down old boy! There's plenty of time. Don't break any records now!" and he had to turn down Gordon's regulator to rein in and keep him under this section of the dragon-way's speed limit.

Unbeknownst to dragon and crew, the limescale build-up inside Gordon, that the express giant was complaining about earlier was eventually being completely removed. His water tank belly could now siphon the water properly. Liquid was now bubbling and flowing through his pipes toward the boiler belly and his overall thermal efficiency had increased a thousand-fold. Gordon was now bursting out with incalculable strength and grace. His driver struggled to hold him and his enthusiasm back.

He expelled and fired out much unbridled steam and pressure, pounding along the dragon-way, towns and stations flew past, and his coaches, delighted at how jovial he was, sang "As fast as you like! As fast as you like!" along to each other.

====

It was the end of the day and they all finished their journey safely and much earlier than usual. The departing passengers were impressed and even stopped grumbling. Everyone working at the big station was pleasantly surprised that everything went like clockwork, finding the giant's happiness to be infectious. The coaches sang goodbye to him. Done with the last train of day, Gordon trotted blissfully, and with much merry-making to the Tidmouth cave, so much so, he nearly forgot to demand another drink.

"Record time and we had to hold him back. I don't want to be a stick-in-the-mud, but I've never known him like this. He's not just well behaved, he's gone all happy-go-lucky." said the fireman scratching his head in bewilderment. Gordon's driver could only nod in agreement. "Perhaps it was something in the coal?"
He followed behind Henry and little cheeky Thomas, who was poking and teasing the big green dragon about his weight, over the turntable leading into their cave. The blue king of beasts was still bouncing with excitement, humming and singing to himself.

"Well, well, grumpy guts." said James as his gigantic blue friend was settling himself down "What's made you so happy today?"
"How are you little James?" he boomed full of friendly heart and soul "I'll be doing some odd jobs in the morning. I do hope tomorrow you pull the Express as splendidly as I did today." he laughed so much and nuzzled the mixed traffic beast with such affection. that the red vain dragon was nearly taken back by the larger dragon's carefreeness.

Albert waited all day for this – he saw the familiar signs; the firebox belly was cooling off and getting dimmer. This was the quietest this colossus would ever get. He screamed loudly for help and kept screaming until his throat was sore, but still he kept on. The belly rebounded him and his punches, but he couldn't stop. He had to escape! If Gordon feel asleep again, he was doomed to be trapped in him forever!

Donald was nearby, when his ears shot up at the tiny sound. He was startled when he heard it again. "Ah say, ye stoatin big'un! That's th' strangest noise A've ever hae heard tae come fae a dragon's belly!"
"Nonsense! Tomorrow's another day. Let me go to sleep!" as the dragon king got himself comfortable.
Edward turned his head around with fresh fury and vexation. "Gordon..." he said crossly.

The big blue dragon laughed and waved a casual claw "I'm the perfect picture of health my dear Edward!" before becoming all self-conscious and embarrassed when he too heard an odd squeak. His staggering jaw hung open, dumbfounded. All the other dragons were staring curiously at him. He then bellowed after his driver who was washing up to come back to listen in too.

His driver laughed, wiping his spectacles "Its late, my dear. What has gotten into you today? Alright, alright, I'm coming." and he pressed his head up against Gordon's massive side.
Gordon's driver slowly stopped laughing, he frowned for a while, then a look of shock and horror appeared on his face.
"What? What?" demanded Gordon getting increasingly upset, "What is it!? What's wrong!?"
"Call the foreman! Call Sir Topham Hatt at once!" he yelled down the caves "We need the emergency services in here now!"

=====

Late that night, the Sodor emergency services and policemen continued to valiantly attempt to rescue the trapped boy from the very belly of a steam dragon.

Gordon went red in the face from embarrassment and indignity as the fire-fighters arrived to join in and lend assistance. Bad enough when he realised, he had swallowed up a poor boy, but the notion that he needed his fire to be brought under control was too much for such a proud beast to bare.
Several of the spectating dragons in the fleet, along with some foreign beasts, were snickering quietly. They had never seen anything of the like, and were finding this all rather amusing and funnier than they should have done. The assembly of titans were whispering and giggling about certain giant dragons that ate and drank far too much for their own good.

"Ssssh!" scolded Edward and Henry, ordering the other beasts to settle down and simply watch without giving commentary.

The Fat Controller who also watched the rescue operation with a handful of North Western Dragon-way employees assured the giant blue dragon they were not going to flood out his firebox belly. He kindly promised the express dragon he would never allow it.

In actuality they were needed to trick Gordon's great valves and sphincters that lead straight into his water-tank belly into staying open for them to work. They simply wouldn't open without the presence of fluid or other liquid, so the fire fighters hosed it down repeatedly. It was a challenge to gain access into the inner regions of the giant where they suspected the boy was being held captive.
A few firemen climbing the ladder up to the giant's lower jaw looked up in awe at the blue emperor's rows of teeth. Fearful chandeliers above, ghastly trenches below. They knew their duty, but couldn't help but pause. Gordon's crew out of amusement reassured them, the monster was more afraid of them, than they were of him. Several of them with ropes, cables and pulleys clambered up and entered into the terrible great maw of the gigantic dragon.

An hour or so later, a cry came from deep within. The men passed on the news further up and up the throat. One of the workers had finally found the schoolboy, and was hauling him to safety. Everyone outside gasped, barely able to contain their excitement. Then shortly, another cry of protest echoed up the long throat. The valve was refusing to allow Albert the stranded kid back out!

The Fat Controller glared, and looked sternly at Gordon.

"It's not me! I swear! I'm not doing it on purpose!" the blue titan defended himself, pondering to himself why his body would do such a drastic thing subconsciously. "Maybe... because this child... made me feel so much better? Is the reason why my gut wants him? Why I want him?" he thought to himself and contemplated.

The rescue effort dragged on into the night. Water continued to pump into the great one's towering and looming maw. The Doncaster dragon had several spasms trying to avoid swallowing Albert back down.

Without warning Gordon's great beautiful orb pupils suddenly narrowed to threatening cat-like slits. His crew looked on alarmed. Edward gasped "Hey Gordon! Get a hold of yourself! Control your draconic instincts!", but the great express monster could briefly understand no voice but his own unreflective desires. His unoccupied belly growled in pulsating and undulating annoyance as the rescue party got Albert half-way up the tunnel of an oesophagus. Why do I have to let this boy go so soon? I haven't had him long! He cannot go! He's mine! Hold him. Keep him. Cuddle him. Cherish him.

The fire-fighters were shocked as convulsions travelled up and down the dark passage. The great muscles knocked them over, yet seized and clamped onto the schoolboy! Albert wriggled through the ever tightening and constricting valve. A rescue worker snatched the child's flailing arm with one hand, and seizing the slick and saliva-covered cable tightly with the other, bravely continued hauling them both up the vast throat.
Gordon growled menacingly, shaking angrily, clearly struggling in his mind between his own selfish interests, and the desire to do the right thing. Compulsion won over conscience this time. He threw his head back up and knocking back the gathering crowd, he swallowed deeply, several times. Inside, Albert cried out as he, and no one else, was dragged back down to the unhappy-to-see-him-depart water tank stomach.

The blue big dragons' eyes widened back to normal. He stared around at the rescue workers laying around in their disarray and dissatisfaction. Blinking several times in confusion, not realizing what his own body just did, or that he was rubbing and stroking his own belly. "What are you doing!?" he boomed with a show of nerves "Why are you all lazing about? Do you want to save this poor boy or not?"

"Oh! Gordon!" groaned the Fat Controller and Edward in exasperation at his idiocy.

"Oh no... Did I do this? I... did this?" said Gordon sheepishly with big sad apologetic eyes. It was impossible to get angry at the blue gigantic dragon. But everyone still had an urgent job to do. The fire-fighters reorganized themselves and made for a second attempt.

Much much later, Albert was finally back up in the cavernous mouth. Freedom now in their grasp. "Almost there" panted a North Western dragon-way worker carrying the youngster. The irises of Gordon's eyes unexpectedly narrowed again!
"Ack! Hold onto something!" He gargled. He spat out the rescue workers, ejecting them. Then his savage jaws snapped shut, the cable didn't snap, but was sucked backwards to the gaping abyss. And the massive beast swallowed many times reflexively, trying to marshal the schoolboy back down the eager throat again. Albert leapt and held onto the blue dragon's huge throbbing and bouncing uvula. He griped it fiercely, desperate not to get sucked back down into the yearning gut below.

Finally, the motions died down. "I did it... I did it... Come on out dear Albert." poor Gordon lowered his whopping huge head. He wheezed and huffed and puffed from exertion. It clearly pained him. This was his 'reward' for resisting his powerful possessive dragon impulses.

Albert gingerly jumped off the pulsating uvula and stumbled across the ocean of tongue towards the yawning maw. Slipping and sliding in every step. Then Gordon's great tongue lurched upwards! It flicked the boy up and back towards the gaping oesophagus. Back down to the longing anticipating belly.
The crew could only look on in dismay as he swallowed his captive down happily. Licking the saliva off his huge chops. Albert could do nothing except scream as he was forced, yet again, through the long winding tunnel, through the fleshy sphincters, and deposited back into the waiting chamber deep within the jumbo-sized dragon.

"I did it... I... did it... I... OH NO! Oh, I'm sorry everyone!" He nearly shrieked and buried his head in shame into the cave floor - knowing his sense of morals was overpowered by his dragon impulses once more. He beheld his prodigious girth and middle, anxious that he just sent Albert back down into it.

The men sighed with fatigue and spectating dragons rumbled with increasing displeasure as it meant a third attempt was necessary to save the stranded lad.

"Sir! It's no good." he sobbed to the Fat Controller, eyes turning narrower again "I cannot let him go. So, you will give up! WHY can't he stay the night in me? It isn't a bad thing at all! No... that's not what I mean to say Sir! I'm sorry Sir! Please forgive... me!" blubbered the tired express giant, fighting back tears, his irises were changing shape uncontrollably. Knowing full well that a handsome beast he may be, and he deserved to have a cleaner like Albert all to himself, it was still wrong to keep someone against their will, or to disrespect his controller.

But Sir Topham Hatt said nothing for a while. He did not shout at the gargantuan monster as many expected him to. Instead, kindly and soothingly, he stroked the blue dragon's cheek and jaw. "There, there. That's a good dragon. I'm proud of you. Always have been. You should remember, you are a wonderful London and North-Eastern dragon-way beast. You are such a big dragon, that you're bigger than your instincts even. You'll surprise us all and let that boy go before you even know it."

Gordon's eyes gradually returned to normal. Face filled with adoration for the human who understood dragons of all shapes and sizes, and how to run dragon-ways, better than any other man alive. "Sir... I...will try... harder." he said and nodded with rekindled determination.

It took much effort from both parties to get the boy up to the cavernous mouth. Men bustled and shouted. Gordon grimaced often, resisting the strong urges and possessive dragon impulses to swallow Albert back down and keep him. Poor Gordon - his body and mind did not want to surrender the child. The giant rubbed his temples, bit his tongue, sometimes slamming the ground hard trying to thwart his inner-most desires, with mighty clenched fists, stomping rear legs and thrashing tail.
At last, Albert was free. Finally. The boy being carried by a weary fire-fighter was a sad mess indeed. He and his clothes were soaking wet and covered from head to toe in slick and gooey dragon saliva. He nearly broke down in tears thinking he'd never escape.

The rescue workers and dragons cheered, all congratulating the success of the operation, and delighted the boy was safe. Gordon breathed a long sigh of relief. He was glad he could swallow and breathe normally again as the workmen removed the equipment from his maw.

"A fine piece of work" said the Fat Controller nodding his head, and gave the men a round of applause.

But the Police were not amused and seeing no cause for celebration, set upon the child straight-away. "Boy!" bellowed the high-ranking constable "You've had us looking up and down the entire island for you! Your parents are in headquarters, absolutely worried sick."
Poor Albert was dazed and only coming to terms with just how long he was absent.
"What in creation were you thinking!? Trespassing and causing mischief on a dragon-way!? Sneaking into a dragon's stomach!? Of all silliest and stupidest places to hide and play!"
"But I- I didn't! I was forced to! By my classmates" stammered the young boy, but the police interrupted him and took him into their care. Pulling him towards the police car.

"Now YOU see here! If he says he was forced to then-" The big blue dragon almost intervened on the tiny human's behalf, he didn't release Albert just for him to be shouted at. He had half-a-mind to swallow the boy back up for protection, but his driver and fireman gestured him to stand down, and spoke to him severely. "No. Our dear. No. This is not the time nor place to get involved. Go to sleep now. Its late." they told him.

Gordon sat down reluctantly. Many voices were talking, to each other, and him, but he was transfixed on one person, and one person alone. "Don't go... Albert..." came a murmur from his great pouting mouth as he watched the police car leave Tidmouth Caves with a very glum and troubled look.

=====

The next day the giant express dragon was the laughing stock of the whole dragon-way. All the dragons, coaches, trucks, and even the passengers were laughing and singing of the fat monster who helps himself to stupid children whenever short on coal.

Gordon was furious.

"You can't talk! Donald!" he snarled "You once had a duck in your belly. And you too Thomas! You swallowed up a lot of fish from the river!" he tried to gloat and get his own back "It made you swell up like a hot air balloon." The blue beast added smugly.
"Yes!" they laughed "But none of us have, or ever will, gulp up a whole kid by accident!" and they nearly bowled over howling, legs and tails in the air.
They roared in the hysterics. Gordon was seething with anger, steam blasted out of his nostrils, if there was one thing he hated more than anything, it was being made such a fool of, by smaller and weaker dragons than him.

"Silence! Enough! This is not funny! QUIET!" he bellowed so loudly his voice resonated and rang all-round the dragon yard.
"You're right" said Edward quietly but sternly "It's not." He had been the only beast who wasn't laughing. He was drawing a dirt circle in the ash and gravel. "That poor kid was frightened after his ordeal, and now on top of that, I hear he's being disciplined. Severely punished. No one believed his story about the bullies forcing him into our water tank to be devoured by Gordon."

The laughs gradually quietened down. Gordon slowly fell silent and forgot he was in a temper with them. He stared at the older dragon for what seemed like an eternity, letting the revelation sink in.

"He was telling the truth!" he thundered "I know he has! No one, who could have cleaned or massaged me inside out like that, could ever, EVER be a dishonest trespassing scoundrel in my books! He was not a troublemaker or a liar!"
"His parents and the police didn't think so." continued Edward "I overheard the news from the Fat Controller and the stationmaster. He was grounded. But what does any of this matter to a big strong proud dragon like you who cares about his reputation more than other's well-being?"
"I...I didn't think" stuttered Gordon, getting flustered and losing his composure.
"You never do" said Edward disapprovingly. "If you hadn't silenced me when I first overheard him calling for help inside you, maybe... just maybe, all of this could have been avoided. He was already afraid of us. Judging from his poor choice in friends, it's obvious he has no one. And worse, now everyone else has turned their backs on him. Don't be surprised if he grows up to really hate dragons."

Everyone gave each other guilty and abashed looks for laughing and carrying on as they did. They now felt really sorry for the child's exploit. Gordon's heart sank the most, he slumped on the cave floor. He felt really miserable and ashamed.

====

A week had passed, and Gordon hadn't managed to take his mind off the whole experience. He didn't care about his own standing any more. A massive giant like him would always carry a lot of prestige and superiority among his peers, through thick and thin. He was thinking about Albert. He kept dwelling on the boy's humiliation, thinking of everyone laughing at him, disrespecting and accusing him.
"Oh, how undignified it must be for him" he mumbled sadly, head drooping low as he slunk into the station with a special train. Under his command, a line of 1st class Pullman coaches, fine elegant dragonesses, who had great respect for him whispered to each other with concern "Whatever is the matter with him? Whatever is the matter with him?" they asked, not wanting to cause offence by asking him directly.

Foreign beast No.87546 clanked by with a long mixed slow goods train. The various different trucks, mineral wagons, tankers, flatcars, and vans all giggled at the big stationary express dragon as they waddled past on the other line.
"Oh, the fat monster is a merry old soul! He eats up stupid kids when low on coal!" they sang teasingly.
"Come on! Come on! Don't be silly! Don't be silly!" chuffed No.87546 busily. Gordon sulked and ignored them, far too lost in his own thoughts and anxiety, to bother threatening the trucks with discipline.

"Cheer up Gordon!" said the Fat Controller from far below the towering dragon. "You're looking like a sorry sight for the pride of the dragon way. Its unbecoming of you. What would Flying Scotsman say if he saw his beloved brother looking so gloomy?"
"Sir." puffed the giant mournfully with big eyes "You believe that good boy, don't you? The one I accidentally swallowed up last week? You believe he was telling the truth, don't you?"
"Yes, my dear I do." he replied "But it's out of my hands. His parents are responsible. It's no use being depressed. If you want to do right by him, then do what I wish I could've done during my school days, and give his tormentors a taste of their own medicine."
"You... were bullied?" gasped Gordon.
"All the time" smiled Sir Topham Hatt "I often wished someone bigger and stronger would stand up for me against the crowds. Such a being didn't exist for me. I wonder if you have enough strength and valour to make a difference for Albert?"
"I'm plenty strong Sir!" rumbled Gordon and puffed out his broad chest and awesome muscles.

"Yes, you are. Now, I won't encourage this sort of behaviour, but I do remember Henry dealt with some troublesome punks by sneezing out ashes and soot right at them. Surely a big dragon like you can also come up with something clever?" he chuckled as he walked back to his office.

The guard whistled for the express to depart. Gordon felt much better. With a new sense of determination, and purpose, Gordon gained speed and charged through the dragon-way, glancing everywhere trying to see if he could find the boy.
As he passed every station and met every other dragon train along the way he passed the word to the others to help him locate him. The news spread among the dragons and their crews. Henry, James and Edward vowed to do their best on the main-line, Duck, Donald and Douglas promised to be vigilante in the yards. Toby, Percy and Thomas would keep an eye open on the branch-lines. Even Daisy, Boco, Bear, No.98462 and No.87546 said they'd watch the dragon-ways crossing over to England and The Isle of Man.

Unfortunately, the dragon fleet had a few false leads. Some of the coaches mistook another school child for Albert. The silly trucks thought every boy they saw was Albert and expected to be thanked every time. But none of them gave up. Gordon kept everyone's spirits high "Surely he must be somewhere round here. He must!"

====

Another week went by. The search was naturally compounded by the fact that the steam and diesel beasts alike had to tend to their jobs. Work came first. His friends were soon concerned and felt quite sorry for the bigger blue dragon, if they should fail.
Yet lovable and dependable Gordon didn't give up, vowing if it took him a whole year, he would find him, the great lumbering tank, confined to dragon-way as he was. He would still find him anyway and put things right. His belly rumbled unhappily. Poor colossus - finding that little Albert and punishing the bullies... consumed his every thought and waking dream.

Edward supervised his search and chuckled a little, knowing Gordon was doing this for two reasons. Firstly, because it was the right thing to do, and secondly, because he really wanted that boy to be his, and his alone. The old kind dragon couldn't begrudge him for that, dragons are helplessly possessive, stubborn and selfish, but they do love their human crews very much.
Then... a breakthrough finally happened. James came into Knapford with his parcel train whistling exuberantly. Gordon shot up to attention, like a rocket. The red dragon snaked in telling him he saw the school boy at Wellsworth junction, not half-an-hour ago, and the great blue dragon was ecstatic, knowing it was on his route. He practically leapt out of the station, legs briefly spun and slipped under the weight of the coach dragonesses before gaining traction.

His driver found the task of keeping his dragon under control almost impossible, Gordon thundered up the dragon-way with his train. "Steady boy!" he said, looking out of the gargantuan beast's ear "We must obey the signals when at caution."
Gordon ignored him as they approached the junction and slid alongside the platform. "Please, take your time." he instructed the passengers departing and boarding his coaches with an air of authority that no one dared to question. This way the express monster could afford himself a moment. He scanned everywhere from the watchtower that was his own vast head looming far above. Looking at the moving crowds of people below. He is here? Did I miss him? Feelings of unease grew as he couldn't find the one he longed for.

Then his huge eyes widened, he perked up immediately. There he was! He found him! Sitting over by the bench by himself, just beyond the station platform! Albert! With much energy and renewed vigour, he called "Hey! Hey boy! Come here! Albert!" he said excitedly "Come here! I want to talk to you! Albert!" he whistled and bounced over and over for his attention.
Sure enough he got it. The wrong sort of reaction. The small child cowered at seeing the sight of the imposing Gordon again and slowly edged away. He had more reason to be afraid of the huge express dragon than ever.

"Please don't go!" whined the great express dragon with sad drooping ears. "Please! Stay! Albert! I've been looking all over - I just want to talk. Please talk to me. Please! Albert!"

Albert hesitated and assessed the situation. He reminded himself the giant meant no real harm. Even if, he should gulp him up again in the blink-of-an-eye, so what? The boy knew the serpentine king of beasts would never hurt him. Dragons can be supremely selfish at times, pig-headed, loud, boastful, even dangerous because of their size. But they are never evil. Little by little he made his way over the great footbridge down to a very happy dragon waiting to receive an audience with him.

"I'm terribly sorry I swallowed you up! Very terribly sorry! I didn't think anyone was in my drink."
"Oh that" said Albert "I don't want to talk about it. Everyone says I'm to blame. It's nothing, it's all in the past-"
He stopped when Gordon loomed very close, as huge blue pupil eyes larger than boulders met the boys. "You were telling the truth." he assured him and ginormous soft scaly face nuzzled the little boy lovingly "I always believed you from the very beginning." he said firmly and yet so kindly.

Albert had never held a conversation with a massive dragon before, or be the centre of its attention. It was uneasy to get a word in edge-ways, or find the courage to speak. They held so much presence. Gordon even more-so because he's famous. He looked up at awe at the blue steam-driven giant, and more-so to understand its size was matched only by its heart and goodwill towards him.

"Come with me and show me these hoodlums who treated you so shamefully." he requested blowing out steam "I'll show them how we deal with bullies on the dragon-way."
"I- I don't have a ticket." stuttered Albert looking over at the colossal shining dragoness coaches behind him, they beheld the little child curiously and whispered "That's him, yes that's the child our Gordon wants. Really? But he's so much smaller than I imagined. Sssh - girls don't let him hear you say that." to one another.

Gordon chuckled and lowered his vast head. "My crew rides with me, and they need no ticket. Get in quickly please." the jumbo-dragon winked at him.

Albert smiled seeing the gentle titan really meant him no harm, and climbed up the smiling humongous beast's side into his ear canal where he was welcomed by the driver and warned to keep out of sight lest the station guard on duty see him. What a fascinating amalgamation of supernatural dragon and human technology he saw. Pipes, valves, fittings and pressure gauges all quietly hissing steam were everywhere inside the driver's compartment of Gordon's head.

"Do you like it?" rumbled the blue leviathan approvingly all-around him "You were only inside but one part of me. There's so much more I can show you, after I punish those wretches."
With his faith and trust now established in his massive friend, the boy said "They're hanging around Maron station." and Gordon nearly broke into a galloping sprint as soon as the guard's whistle blew.

Not long after, they all arrived at the station. Sure enough... there were the bullies, harassing passer-by's on the towering road bridge above. They threw stones at one cyclist who screamed "Oi you!" as he struggled not to lose his balance and fall off.
Gordon was a mile off, and he was already trembling with rage and frustration. How dare they! How dare they! He seethed with righteous ire. His driver had to calm him down. "Think! You silly great dragon! Use your head!" he soothed. "You can't catch them if you're detected."
The express dragon remembered the Fat Controller's words and mulled over them. Yes, if Henry can do it, so can I! And I'll do things my way! He slyly thought to himself.

Meanwhile one of the thugs remembered the time of day "Hadn't we get off the bridge? Isn't the express due?"
"Yeah I hear Gordon's looking for that cowardly chicken Albert, I'd wager it won't be long until he's after us next." yowled another as he threw stones at some defenceless birds.
"Rubbish! Said Jim their leader "That stupid fat slug Gordon's so noisy and as loud as a tornado passing. My grannie's deaf and can hear him off a mile away. Do you hear him coming? No? Then shut up and help me break this sign!"
"Jim we better scarper! Fat Gordon eats kids when low on coal remember?" moaned one particularly dim-witted ogre of a boy.
Their leader turned to face him with a fresh hot temper "Are you thick or something!? Steam dragons don't eat kids! The only reason why anyone sings that daft song is because WE fed Albert to Gordon! Say something stupid like that again and I'LL feed you to Gordon next! Don't make me box your ears in!" as he kicked the sign repeatedly.

Gordon had come up with a plan. He whispered something to the coaches, and they all simpered as they passed the message along. The giant then sidled up ever so slowly towards the distant bridge. He took each step as quietly as he possibly could. His coaches murmured to each other, and followed behind in perfect unison. They were crawling along the tracks like a cat stalking its prey. He had never attempted nor succeeded to be this stealthy before. Imagine his delight to find it was working!
It was a strange sight to see a fast-express train move at a snail's pace, ploddingly, with heavy steps. The passengers and the guards tried to peer out of the coach windows in curiosity, but the dragoness' prevented them. Apparently, this was all part of Gordon's plan as well.
As he drew nearer and nearer, he grinned more and more devilishly, until he was directly beneath the bridge that spanned above them.

Then, as quick as lightning, the blue beast bolted upward, sitting on hind-legs, until he towered over the bridge. He roared at the ruffians below! "CAUGHT YOU!" Oh, how he roared long and hard and with such intensity! He whistled louder and more deafeningly than he had ever done before.
The impish little thugs jumped and screamed, frozen and locked in complete horror at the amazing yet truly awful sight that beheld them, they could not comprehend the dragon, only blind-terror, a primal fear - fear associated with hapless prey that has been caught by a big large predator.

Gordon's roars turned into evil maniacal laughs, his expression was one of wrath, revenge and triumph. The bullies screamed louder and louder. They finally managed to persuade their rigid leg muscles to respond and run for their lives. Gordon slammed down a great paw into the bridge path, still laughing. Terrified, the ruffians tried to run the other way, but the giant blue dragon brought down another massive paw with a resounding crash, blocking that path of escape.
He roared again, looming directly over them, showing his awesome open pink maw, full of teeth and fleshly insides. "Moohahaha! I'm low on coal! Only stupid kids can satisfy my hunger! You naughty boys will do nicely!", the thugs were now white-faced and frantically running aimlessly around in any direction. With but one single swipe of his tremendous claw, Gordon snatched up and captured all the bullies and threw them into his yawning bellowing mouth.
Their screams were utterly drowned out by the tons and volumes of steam dragon beast that was proceeding to swish them around in his cavernous great maw cavity. He worked up a good spit. Full of gunk and gooey adhesive saliva that stuck the powerless foolish boys to the whale-like tongue fast. Only Gordon could now move them around, as he saw fit, like an all-powerful ruler, he had complete control over them within his 'domain'.

Ugh! He thought to himself as he swished them around from cheek to cheek. They're foul! How unlike my Albert they taste. These little urchins... are... bleh... disgusting! He wanted to gag. Though, he kept up the wonderfully brilliant charade of the terrible monster that eats kids regardless. He was paying these brats out! And they were going to be sorry they ever trifled with him, or the ones he loved.
Laughing he continued to gyrate his head and wash them around, before opening his mouth, allowing his massive tongue to flop out and hang there, like a big panting dog. The never-do-wells were stuck to the tongue. Half their school clothes had come off, and were stuck elsewhere on the beast's tongue, much to their shame!

"Argh! Please spare us! Let us go!" they all cried and sobbed. Jim their leader squealed and begged the longest and loudest of the lot.

The blue giant with a single digit, pressed his tongue, and brushed off the slimy boys with a gentle flick. They landed in a sprawling undignified slobbery mess on the bridge. He spat their lost items of clothing out...not to mention their horrid taste too. "Hahahahaha! Spare you? NEVER. Hmmm! Far too delicious and chewy! I think I'll shall save you all for seconds! Now which one of you gets to go into my firebox belly first?!" Gordon thundered and laughed wickedly. A noise that echoed for miles.
The disgusting boys aghast, retreated. Slipping and sliding away, full of dragon saliva.
"Bwahahah! You can never escape ME!" roared Gordon after them "All you have to do is come anywhere near the dragon-way and I WILL catch you! And you WILL be my tasty treats!"
They ran for their lives as fast as their legs could carry them. They had the fright of their lives, and were still screaming, crying, each holding their ears crying "Run! Run! Argh! I can still hear him roaring in my ears! My trousers!? Where are my shoes!? He's still coming for us! Run! Aaaah! Keep running!" and they were gone.

The scoundrels never showed their faces, or bothered anyone around the dragon-way, ever again.

"Well done Gordon!" applauded his driver "Well done old boy!"
Little Albert could hardly believe what just happened, it was like a dream come true, and for the first time in weeks, laughed. Gordon felt very pleased with himself "T'was nothing." he smirked.
The coaches and passengers saw the whole thing and gave the blue beast three cheers for scaring the bullies. Everyone congratulated the titan. Gordon was thrilled and whistled back a quick thank you, as he regained normal speed. Trotting and bounding happily onto the next station.
They finished their journey at the station at the end of the dragon-way. Albert alighted onto the platform. He bowed, feeling indebted to his giant friend, and was about to turn to walk the long way home, when one of the express dragon's big claws greeted him. Stopping him from leaving.

"And where do you think you're going?" inquired the grinning giant dragon far above and over him. "There's still the return trip, and you're still in my charge."
The vast Gordon looked down and smiled at the tiny boy and nuzzled him softly. "You did a splendid job while you were inside me." he said sincerely "I loved how you cleaned my water tank belly and feed pipes out. You made me feel fantastic. Would you be my permanent Fitter when you grow up? And come to see me everyday? And volunteer every single day until then?" he aspired.
"You're welcome." said Albert "But my mother wants me to be a musician, she wants-"
"I want you more." interrupted Gordon who loomed closer than ever with big anticipating and begging puppy-dog eyes.
The dragon's driver laughed, "Give it up lad, there's no use arguing with dragons." He called out from Gordon's huge ear.
The schoolboy blushed and played with his shirt embarrassed by such affection "I can, if you want me all that badly, volunteer. Help out after school everyday. But-"
"Good." butted in Gordon. "You're mine. You should be proud! You're part of my crew - my full time fitter. Its settled then."

And he scooped up the youngster in his enormous mouth for the return home, puffing happily and triumphantly on-wards, gathering speed, while his driver and fireman inside him sung praises for the giant hero of the day.

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