Strange Treatment

"Strange Treatment" is part 3 of the miniseries "Lady and the Steelworks."

Story
Months had sped by like a shooting star; Lady was proving herself to be really useful, and Lexi and Merlin were impressed. But not Frankie and Hurricane. "Lexi and Merlin like her more than us," thumped Hurricane. "Worse still, the Foreman just told me that Theo is coming back today!" "Ugh! As if things could get any better." "Or can they?" said Frankie. "You've got a plan don't you? Let's hear it; at least one of us can make devious plans." While the duo were plotting against Theo the Steelworks Foreman and Mr. Conductor were having a confrontation in the office. "I was wondering-" "You'd like us to join the Steelworks crew?" "Of course...let me guess, Topham told you." Mr. Conductor nodded. "And Junior and I, along with Lady, would like to accept the invitation." "Excellent! Then that house I've given to you is permanently yours! Welcome to team." As Mr. Conductor and the Foreman continued making arrangements in terms of the ownership of the house, and many other things like transportation, which Mr. Conductor said; "we can use our gold dust," work outside continued as usual. "Oh, Theo, it's great to see you back!" "Thanks Frankie." "Come now, we have a new job for you." Frankie and Theo went to the Scrap Heap section of the Steelworks. "You're new job; get flatbeds loaded with scrap. Other engines will take the flatbeds to the furnace. "Me?! But...I think I'd-" "What, stay in the shed and not help us?!" "...Alright Frankie. I'll do it." "That's very kind of you," said Frankie with a little squeak as she left Theo on his own.

Meanwhile Lexi and Lady were shunting flatbeds from the conveyer belts in which pipes, girders, and rails were produced. The overhanging hands of the magnet cranes here lifted them and quickly placed them on lay quietly as they loaded the next batch onto the next flatbed in line. "It's so surprising that the magnets can load the flatbeds so quickly..." "Indeed it is. The convayerbelts are magicians. They play tricks on us...Speaking of tricks," said Lexi, her voice going back to normal, "where's Theo? He should have returned today according to the Foreman." "What exactly does Theo look like just in case I run into him on my way to Barrow?" "He's a traction engine." "LIke Trevor?" "Um...yeah, sure." Lady puffed away with a delivery of new rails. Along the way out of the Steelworks she'd be passing the Scrap Heap area. The workmen, who were also in on the plan, pulled rail-thin levers. "Whoa...I don't get it! Am I going the right way?" "Don't know," said Junior, "we should be going the right way according to the map, right Chris?" "Right mate." "Gee, hope Coz gets back from the meeting soon. I'm starting to get chills about this place. Maybe what he said last night was true..." He shrugged this mental note aside for the moment; it'd be put in the drawer of memory until he was reunited with his cousin. "PEEP! PIP! PIP! Hey Lady, seen Theo anywhere?" "Sorry Merlin. I haven't seen a traction engine anywhere so far today." "Merlin, Lexi and Lady are all nervous," whispered Hurricane, who was taking slag to be emptied down the right path so the slag would reach its destination to be really useful. "Better have the workmen and shunters be on their guard...can't let them find him! We need Lady's help to keep things running smoothly."