Simon Wakes Up

Reginald eyed the cavern opening up above, as it seemed to be his only window to the outside world. He could barely see the stars peeking through the grey clouds. Reginald then looked round the cavern and found everything nearly in place, set for the ritual to begin. Earlier, he ordered Simon, who was still under his master’s hypnotic trance, to pull him to the center of the cavern as gently as possible, for Reginald didn’t want any loose parts to fall off him. Then Simon brought sleeping Liz from out of the cave and in front of Reginald. 

Reginald: Perfect… (faces Simon who was still producing colored rings in his eyes) Simon, awake! 

Simon blinked out of the trance and didn’t realize what he had been doing throughout these past hours. 

Simon: H-hu… wha?! How did-? (faces Reginald and frowns) Oh.. of course… 

Reginald: Thank you for assisting me Simon. I truly wished I could have done it myself but I… (grunts as he tried moving but his gears and metal groaned) I don’t have much strength left in me to do it. But as my special skill was the only other option, it all worked out just fine. Now Simon, as everything is settled, you may leave. 

Simon: Like… stand off on a siding or leave the cavern for you to focus?

Reginald: (stares annoying like at him) I mean… leave the mountain, for good. I told you, I won’t be needing your assistance anymore after this ritual. (scoffs) You won’t even remember all this anyway, once you wake up! 

Before Simon could reply, Reginald blinked and activated his hypnotic power within his eyes. Simon’s own eyes suddenly reflected the colored rings from Reginald’s gaze and was once more under his control. 

Reginald: (calmly to Simon) Now then… you have done me a great service little Simon... I want you to leave this mountain for good and never come back... You will return to your own railway from where you came from… When you hear the very first train whistle outside the mountain, you will finally wake up and be free from my spell… You won’t remember anything from these past few months and will continue your daily life as a diesel shunter… 

Simon: Yes… master… 

Reginald: (smiles) Excellent… Now leave us Simon… (turns to Liz) I have work to do…


A scene from Chapter 3 of Liz's Journey 2, written by , where Simon snaps out of hypnosis after being Reginald's lackey for quite some time, leaving the hypnotic engine to see to Liz. Uh-oh!

Thomas & Friends (C) The Rev. W. Awdry, The Britt Allcroft Company, HiT Entertainment, Mattel Creations

Liz, Simon, Reginald, Story excerpt (C)

Drawing (C) Me