Title: Ghost Town-the alternative universe rewrite
Chapter: 9
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Rating: PG
All the rest, see chapter one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dan watched in horror as the train careened off the track and the carriages flew apart, some rolling down the slope behind the buildings at the corner of the town. Lizzie had picked up his glass beaker and placed him on the roof of one of the worksheds so he could see the train as it hurtled around the track, disappearing occasionally behind the houses, then popping into sight as it rocketed around the rails. Lizzie had stood up to get a better view, holding the train's remote control, the speed dial twisted around to its fullest. She had left the forcefield off in case she had to go and fix the train at some point in its journey but, so far, it had survived the punishing speed without fault. Until the last corner.

Dan prayed under his breath that his friends would survive. He pressed himself to the glass wall of his prison, trying to see the train as it approached the last bend. He watched in silent anguish as the engine shot around the corner, immediately wobbling and leaving the track, the carriages behind it slewing off, some carrying on straight ahead. All of them landed on their side, one or two rolling before coming to a stop. The whole train left the track, separating at the couplings and ending up scattered over the area where Steve and Dan had found the red pickup only the previous day. Dan couldn't see if the carriage containing his companions was broken or crushed, he could only see the engine and one carriage, the rest hidden behind the buildings.

Lizzie had exclaimed in annoyance when the train left the tracks, as if it was the trains fault that it wasn't able to cope with the punishing speed. She was about to go and investigate when she heard her Grandfather calling for her, his voice getting nearer as she paused to listen.

" Oh drat it, just as it was getting interesting, I'll have to hide you my pet, and you Little Man. I wouldn't want Grandfather to know what I've been up to in his absence, and you're not going to be given the chance to tell him," Lizzie chattered as she collected both glass jars, picked up the forcefield remote and turned to leave, the train remaining where it had landed beside the track. As if just remembering, Lizzie turned the forcefield remote over, adjusted a slide control on the back, then switched it on, the familiar hum frustratingly audible to Dan in the jar. He tried to keep the train in view as Lizzie carried him away, his last view being the wheels of the first carriage slowly spinning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Betty opened her eyes and stared up into the canopy of leaves above her head. She was bemused to find herself in a wood, with apparently Giant sized leaves, bigger than anything she was used to seeing in the park down the block from her apartment. For that matter, what was she doing at this time of day laying around in a park. Betty tried to think back on what she'd been doing before she'd taken this nap, but nothing seemed to be clear, as if a fog was clouding her memories. Maybe its the weekend, and I'm taking a rest from my customary jog around the block, Betty thought, slowly sitting up, her eyes closing briefly as her head swam with the change in position. After a second she opened her eyes and looked about her. On either side she saw huge trunks of trees which seemed to stretch up to the sky. " Curiouser and curiouser!" she whispered, her brain still fuzzy and uncooperative. Feeling something wet on her face, Betty put her hand to her head and brought it back down to see blood smeared on her fingers. " Oh my, I seem to have had an accident !" she remarked, still more surprised than alarmed. Looking down she took in her flight uniform, sadly in need of pressing and a wash. " This is weird, why am I out here in my uniform, I should be at the spaceport," she mused, getting to her feet slowly and brushing ineffectually at the dirt smudging her skirt. Turning carefully she surveyed her immediate surrounding, but, not seeing or hearing anything to clue her as to why she was there, Betty started to walk, albeit a trifle unsteadily, down a faint path which led her further into the underbrush and, unknown to her, further away from help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inside the carriage Fitzhugh came to, feeling as if his chest was being crushed. Something was laying on top of him and he pushed at it, panic starting to take hold. Whatever it was, the 'thing' was soft and yielding, but inert. He squirmed backwards, clearing his head and shoulders, and, in the faint light, he saw that it was Barry laying sprawled over his chest, the boys face was relaxed, eyes closed tight. Taking stock of his own limbs he was relieved to find himself in one pieces, the unnatural quiet a relief after the cacophony of the crash. Easing himself out from under the boy, Fitzhugh pulled Barry around to lay flat on the metal floor, arranging the boys limbs into a comfortable looking position. After seeing to Barry, Fitzhugh used one of the wooden benches to pull himself up, his first discovery being that part of the metal wall of the train carriage was dented inwards and formed an overhang above where Fitzhugh and Barry had been lying. Rubbing his head where it had connected with the dent, Fitzhugh looked around the remains of the interior. He spotted an arm poking out from behind a seat and made his way over to it, finding Steve lying on his side, a gash down his cheek bleeding slowly, his left leg pinned under one of the benches. Fitzhugh knelt down and gently touched Steve's cheek to see if he was still alive. At the faint touch Steve's eyes slowly opened and gazed up at the man bending over him.

" Fitzhugh....where....how...where are the others ?"

" I don't know Captain Burton, I only just came to myself, Barry was on top of me, I've only found you so far,"

Steve closed his eyes, his face creasing in pain as his injuries made themselves known.

" Captain, can I help move you ? We need to get out of this metal contraption," asked Fitzhugh, trying to see if Steve's leg was pinned or just stuck under the bench. Steve seemed to be amused by Fitzhugh's request, his pale face creasing into a smile.

" I would love for you to help me, but I think my legs broken. Get Barry out of the train, then try and find Mark or the others."

" Broken ? but Captain, you'll need a hospital, where are we going to get help, that girl tried to kill us !" Fitzhugh exclaimed, his eyes flicking to the crumpled windows that gave him a strange view of the back of buildings and another carriage lying on its side.

" Never mind Fitz, get Barry out and see if you can find Mark," Steve whispered, his eyes closing once more. Dithering for a second, Fitzhugh got to his feet and went back to where Barry still lay, his small body laying exactly the way Fitzhugh had left him. Biting his lip, Fitz turned and made his way to the door, which now hung half open, ripped off, attached only at one hinge so it seemed to be hanging by a thread. Looking out he saw something white lying on the ground between the door and the next carriage. Climbing down awkwardly, he made his way over and discovered Mark lying face down on the ground. Holding his hand to his mouth in fear of what he'd find, Fitzhugh knelt down. Putting a hand on Mark's shoulder he attempted to turn him over. As soon as he started to turn him over a low groan assured him that Mark was still breathing.

" Thank goodness, you're alive !"

" Fitzhugh...oh my head...where is everyone ?"

As Mark got himself into a sitting position, Fitzhugh told him about Barry and Steve, finishing with Steve's request to get Mark to help.

" Yeah, give me a minute, my heads ringing," said Mark, massaging a bruised and gashed shoulder, his shirt partially ripped down one arm where a livid bruise was starting to colour his upper arm.

" That looks nasty, can you move your arm ?" asked Fitzhugh, pointing to Mark's injuries. After some cautious flexing Mark pronounced the arm sore but useable. The two men then made their way back to the carriage and climbed through the ruined door.

" Fitzhugh, can you pick up Barry and hand him to me through the door, I'll carry him over there, then come back for Steve."

Between them, they managed to get Barry safely out of the carriage. The boy started to moan when Mark lay him down on the ground, so he was checked over for any broken bones. His eyes flicked open as Mark sat back on his heels, satisfied Barry had no major injuries, and Fitzhugh leant over him.

" Where's Chipper ?" Barry's first words took both men by surprise, as neither had seen the dog.

" I'll go check the carriage, Fitzhugh stay here with Barry, don't let him get up too quickly."

Making his way back to the train, Mark's thoughts were not on the whereabouts of Chipper, but where Valerie and Betty were. Climbing into the carriage he started to search in earnest. He checked the front half of the train, reaching the bench where Steve lay without any evidence of either the dog or the girls. Steve had his eyes open again, looking up at Mark as he stood over him, assessing how he could free Steve's leg.

Beyond the bench that trapped Steve, the rest of the carriage was mangled and twisted, the metal walls bent inwards and folded over. Mark couldn't see into the shadowed areas and he didn't like the thought of either women being trapped amongst the buckled structure.

" Steve, I need to get something to lever this bench up, I'll be back as quick as I can," said Mark, casting another glance at the twisted end of the carriage, " just hang on Steve."

Once more outside, Mark looked around, trying to spot anything he could use for a lever. Seeing the workshop buildings he limped over to the closest and pulled open the door. Inside he found a tool bench, scattered with various scale models of machinery and implements. Finding a length of steel, similar to a crowbar, he went back to the train and used it to prise the bench off Steve's leg. While Mark took the weight, Steve hauled himself out from underneath and dragged himself a little way over the floor before collapsing. Mark let the bench crash to the floor, then, pulling Steve up and over his uninjured shoulder, Mark got the battered and now unconscious man out of the carriage and over to where Barry sat next to a worried Fitzhugh.

Laying Steve down on the ground, Mark gave the man a quick examination, finding numerous small abrasion and cuts, similar to his own, but only one major injury, Steve's leg, which on closer inspection, appeared to be only badly bruised, not broken. It was swollen and Mark pulled off Steve's boot while the man was out, the ankle clearly inflamed.

" Keep an eye on him, Fitzhugh, I have to go back and try and find the girls,"

Without waiting for an answer, Mark walked back to the twisted carriage and climbed inside once more. The silence weighed on him, his ears straining for any sound of another person in the wreckage. Using the crowbar, Mark pushed back a piece of twisted metal and found a gap at floor level, a possible avenue to reach the other end of the carriage. Easing himself along the floor, he hadn't gone more than a couple of feet when his hand encountered someone's leg, the light too poor for him to identify the owner.

" Valerie ? Betty ? can you hear me ?"

There was no answer, so he inched forward, finding the gloomy space opening up a bit the further in he went. The body was lying on its side, enabling Mark to ease himself along behind it, bringing him closer to finding out who he'd found. His questing fingers found long tresses and he let go a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding, it was Valerie.

" Val, can you hear me, come on, you need to wake up," he said softly, his ears telling him she was still breathing, her skin warm to his touch. His eyes were becoming accustomed to the gloom of the little metal cave he found himself and Valerie in. He saw that she appeared in one piece, no obvious evidence of broken bones or blood-loss. He couldn't tell if she had internal injuries, but her steady breathing told him her chest was unpunctured. Gently turning her so she lay on her back, her head in the crook of his arm, Mark tried to rouse her again.

" Come on Val, open those eyes for me, we need to get out of here,"

Getting no reply Mark eased himself back out of the cramped space, the limp body cradled against his chest as he pulled her out of the narrow entrance and into the crumpled, but more open area where Steve had been lying. Panting from the effort and the pain in his injured shoulder, Mark rested briefly before hoisting Valerie in his arms, her head lolling against his neck. He carried the unconscious girl out of the doorway, staggering slightly as his feet touched the uneven ground below the opening. Feeling his strength waning he called to Fitzhugh to help him, then between them they deposited Valerie next to where Steve lay, passed out on the grass. Mark collapsed alongside his comatose companions, his face grey from the effort.

" Don't pass out on me, Mr. Wilson, I can't deal with all of you," said Fitzhugh nervously, taking in Mark's condition.

" I'll be fine, just give me a minute,"

" Did you find Chipper, Mr.Wilson ?" asked Barry, his bruised face anxious for news of his pet.

" I'm sorry Barry, I didn't find Chipper or Betty, maybe they got themselves out and went for help,"

" Chipper wouldn't leave me," Barry stated, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

" Of course he wouldn't," said Fitzhugh, putting an arm around the boy and hugging him carefully. " Chipper will turn up, don't you worry,"

" How are you feeling Barry ? any sharp pains, sore bumps on your head, any headaches ?"

" No, I don't think so Mr.Wilson, I feel fine."

" Good, I'm glad. I need you and Mr.Fitzhugh to search that building over there for anything I can use for light, I can't search the rest of the carriage without something to see with, can you do that ?"

" Sure," Barry scrambled slowly to his feet, then together with Fitzhugh, started towards the nearest shed.

Mark watched them go, seeing them enter the shed. He turned back and checked on his silent friends, seeing no change in their immediate condition. Putting his hand on his injured shoulder he felt fresh blood seeping out of the wound, his exertions having reopened the gash. Leaning back on a large boulder, Mark rested his head back and closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Behind where the Little People lay, Mrs. Phall was making her way to where she knew Mr. Ackman kept his model town. On reaching the cleared area beside the buildings, she stopped in surprise to see the train derailed, the carriages scattered over the ground. Stepping warily around one of the outbuildings, Mrs. Phall, looking down to place her feet carefully amongst the wreckage, had another shock. Three tiny dolls were laying on the ground, apparently the only survivors of the toy train disaster. On closer inspection she realised that the 'dolls' were the Little People her employer had built the town for. Kneeling down she reached out and scooped up each small body and put them into a pocket of her apron. She had seen what looked like blood on both of the men and the women had been limp and unresponsive. Standing up, Mrs. Phall looked around the area, just in case she'd missed anything or anyone else, then turned and retraced her steps back to the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Betty had wandered for some time, her thoughts scattered and unformed, only the need to keep walking making her put one foot in front of the other. At one point she found a low rock and sat down, her gaze sweeping the seemingly never-ending view of endless huge trees and monstrous shrubs.

" Damn this wood is big, maybe I got lost from a hiking party. But no, I wouldn't be wearing my uniform to go hiking," she mused, her fingers touching the wound on her scalp and finding it drying up, her fingernails coming away crusted with gore. Looking at the mess with a bemused air, Betty tried to wipe if off on her skirt, tutting when she made a bigger mess of her already grimy clothes.

A sound made her jerk her head up, the move making her wince. Out of a small bush shot a tiny dog, its excited bark at the sight of her enough to make her smile in delight.

" Now where did you spring from, hmmm ?" Chipper only wagged his tail faster, his obvious pleasure at finding someone friendly a balm on the confused girls nerves.

" Aren't you just the cutest thing ?" said Betty, reaching down to ruffle the dogs ears. Chipper pressed against her leg, his apparent familiarity with Betty's company soothing in the strange environment.

" I wish you could talk, puppy, maybe you'd be able to tell me what's going on, and where I am," said Betty, Chipper gazing up into her face with his liquid eyes as if he understood every word.

Getting no reply, Betty sighed and stood up, her eyes scanning the trees for anything, any clue as to what direction she should take. Chipper, as if sensing her indecision, started to trot off, stopping to look behind him, as if asking her to follow.

" Do you know where to go ?" Betty asked, getting a small bark in response. " Okay, well you know more than I do, so lead on."

Chipper barked again then turned and started trotting away, Betty following the little dog for want of any other choice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lizzie had hidden Dan just in time. Ackman appeared along the path leading to the town, several boxes and packages in his arms. On seeing Lizzie he stopped and put down the parcels on the steps of the control room.

" Good morning Lizzie, why didn't you answer me when I called ?"

" I was in the woods and didn't hear you right away, I came as soon as I heard you call."

" Have you seen the Earth People this morning ?" Ackman asked, his eyes sweeping casually down the Main Street. From his angle the train wreck was hidden behind the out-buildings.

" Why no, Grandfather, I haven't. Maybe they're still in bed, it was a busy day for them yesterday,"

" Maybe. I must get something organised for their meals. I asked Mrs. Phall to bring our lunch down here, so we can work on the next stage without stopping to eat. We've wasted so much time, what with the weather and your mischief." Ackman admonished, wagging a finger at the apparently chastened Lizzie.

" What do you want to do today, Grandfather ?"

" I need to run some diagnostics on the electrical systems after that flood. I think I need to better insulate the mains junction."

" What can I do ?" asked Lizzie, hoping that her Grandfather would be too busy in the control booth to keep an eye on her.

" I want you to find me as many smallish rocks as you can, we need to build a retaining wall to keep the water out of the town. We can't have it flooding and placing our guests at risk every time it rains. Can you do that ?"

" Sure I can, I'll go make a start, right away. I know where there are some rocks just the right size."

" That's a good girl, now run along, I have work to do."

Lizzie kept her face contrite until her Grandfather turned away, then she practically jumped up and down in glee. It would be some time before her indulgent parent checked up on the Little People. By then she'd have them set up to look like they'd escaped. She'd keep the little black man to amuse herself with, the other's she'd dispose of. Collecting her jars from where she'd hidden them, she skipped back to the house, confident that the survivors of the train crash, if there were any, would wait until she'd seen to her pets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~