Chapter 1
One blazing sunny day the blinding bright sun shone into Mr Maker’s cold, rickety workshop. As he was rocking in his cosy chair dreaming up his next invention, the floorboards creaked like a mouse squeaking loudly. The workshop looked like it had been shaken viciously by an earthquake as slabs of rotten wood had fallen from the roof and laid carelessly around. Everyone thought the unloved, lonely building had been abandoned, but this was where Mr Maker spent all of his precious time.
Although Mr Maker was no ordinary old man, he was magical. He made the impossible happen, but no one would ever have thought that to look at him. Mr Maker was easily recognisable from the way his eyes flashed out from his double thick lensed glasses making his eyes appear the size of a 2 pound coin. Also, his white hair stood up tall in a bunch at each side of his head, while a large circular shiny bald patch filled the middle. It looked like he had been electrocuted over and over again.
Suddenly he yelled excitedly, “At last I’ve got the best idea ever! I’m going to make a time travelling machine.” Mr Maker catapulted out of his chair as his heart pounded like a bouncing ball. But little did he know that two children were lurking suspiciously outside…
Chapter 2
Charlie and Ellie were curious 10 years old and always sought adventure and mystery, so when they happened upon the crazy inventor and the trashed, dusty and derelict abode, their bodies tingled with delight. They were on cloud nine!
Maturely, they decide to wait for the mad inventor to create his interesting invention before they reveal themselves, which would be too risky if they wanted to find out about his creation.
From outside the door, they watched intently as his creation grew and grew.
Sparks were flying like fireworks on bonfire night and the children’s ears were filled with bangs and clangs, whizzes and whooshes, which were as loud as a fierce lion’s roar. Smouldering metal filled the air which choked the curious kids who could not cough for fear of being exposed.
At that moment, wise and normally obedient Ellie, checked her watch and to her surprise, she was ten minutes late for her curfew. She nudged Charlie to signal to him it was time to go so that they would not get in trouble. Stubborn Charlie was reluctant to leave this powerful, creepy and brilliant find! But he knew, he would return tomorrow to spy on the creation that was unfolding before him.
So they returned the following day and more of the same happened.
After 4 days of the same routine, which seemed like an eternity, the children could not believe what lay before their eyes. When they opened the creaky door that led to the amazing inventing room, they were astonished and dumbfounded.
Chapter 3
Charlie and Ellie cautiously tiptoed though the slightly open door but they did not see what they expected to see. Mr Maker was not there. Before them lay a wonderful machine with green sparks flying from the back and lots of buttons that had been placed carefully on the front control panel. On closer inspection they saw that there appeared to be dates painted onto the buttons. It was at that point that they realised it was a time machine!
Ellie’s heart was beating very quickly. It was the best and most magical machine she ever saw. Charlie felt his heart beating too, but even faster than Ellie’s. Their curious nature drove them to start pressing as many buttons as they could. Suddenly, they felt themselves shaking and being pulled towards the pod inside the machine. It was at that point that Mr Maker, who was having a nap, awoke to the commotion and rushed towards the machine to stop what was happening, but it was too late. Events were in motion and there was no way to stop them. There was no time for Mr Maker to explain why. He grabbed Ellie and Charlie and pulled them into the pod. The pod began to shake and shudder. Ellie was scared.
As they were transporting, My Maker seemed angry.
“What were you doing in my workshop?” he said angrily.
“We just wanted to take a look,” whimpered Ellie. Charlie was too petrified to speak.
“The machine wasn’t finished!” yelled Mr Maker. “Do you realise what you kids have done? The machine needs one last part in order for the time controls to work. I was having difficulty finding it as it’s not so easy to buy a ruby in the shops these days! What did you press on the control panel?”
“We don’t know,” said Charlie as he began to cry.
This was bad. They had no way of knowing where they would arrive and they would not be able to get back to the right time unless they found a ruby. Suddenly, there was a jolt and everything went silent.
As they opened the door to the time machine they were hit with a tremendous heat. They were in the desert. Carefully they stepped through the door and out into the hot sand. Things didn’t look right. The buildings looked different and people were walking around in strange clothes. Some of the people were wearing strange makeup and, by the looks of their clothes, they seemed rich. Ellie was deep in thought as if she was trying to work something out. All of a sudden, something that Ellie had learnt at school just came to mind.
“I think we are in Ancient Egypt,” she whispered…
Chapter 4
In the distance they saw lots of sandy coloured pyramids. At first, Charlie thought it looked like a poor country. However, Ellie hoped there would be riches in Egypt, then they might find the ruby they so desperately needed. This got her thinking. They needed help.
Immediately they found the nearest person so they could ask for information. Mr Maker politely enquired, “Excuse me, do you know where we can find a ruby?”
“Oh yes. You will find it in the tallest pyramid. Follow me,” the wise, wrinkled man replied. As it was so far to travel, they borrowed some fat, short tempered, old camels to ride on. While they were riding, time zoomed by.
Eventually, they arrived at the colossal pyramid. Unfortunately, the camel collapsed because he was so exhausted. Cautiously they entered the pyramid. The door slammed shut! Thankfully, they had some matches and lit them. Carefully they tiptoed through the dark creepy pyramid. It was as dark as the night sky. Despite being scared, they took a step forward but Ellie shouted, “Stop! I think I see a booby trap here!” Mr Maker halted so quickly that he lost his balance and dropped into a snake infested pit. Hiss! He was bitten! He squealed in pain, “Help me!” Ellie and Charlie were so shocked that they fell back onto a secret button that catapulted Mr Maker to safety.
Ahead of them, they spotted two tunnels with hieroglyphics above the entrances. While they were deciding which way to go, Charlie caught a glimpse of a shiny, sparkling red light coming from the left tunnel. “Let’s go this way,” he whispered excitedly. Nervously, they crawled to the end of the miniscule tunnel and entered a giant treasure chamber. Instantly they went silent because they saw two terrifying mummies guarding the precious ruby. Bravely, they pushed the mummies aside, grabbed the ruby and sprinted towards the exit.
As soon as they reached the final tunnel, the pyramid started to shake. “This ruby must be cursed,” bellowed Mr Maker. Trembling he fell to the ground. “Oh no! The snakes poison must be starting to take effect,” cried Ellie nervously. Just at that moment, the wise, wrinkled man appeared and helped to drag Mr Maker back onto one of the remaining camels. In a flash they were back to where the time machine had been.
However, it had disappeared…
Chapter 5
Charlie suddenly felt the ruby vibrating in his hand, when he looked down it was glowing. “Look the ruby. It’s glowing!” whispered Ellie.
Suddenly they felt the sand moving beneath their feet. Small whirlwinds whisked the sand around uncovering some mysterious stone steps in front of them. Scarab beetles scuttled out from cracks everywhere. The wise old man stepped back and shivered. Slowly he said “Don’t go down there, it might be a trap.”
But the ruby was drawing them down and before they realised it they were helping Mr Maker down the sandy steps towards a huge carved doorway. Scared but strong they crept down the stairs whilst the scarab beetles chased each other around. “Yikes, this place gives me the creeps!” shivered Ellie “What do you think we’ll find in here?”
“Don’t worry, the ruby will guide us,” said Charlie trying to sound brave.
In front of them they saw a dusty door covered in hieroglyphics, a huge Horus eye was in the middle with a dark hole in the centre. Charlie lifted the ruby and placed it gently into the eye. With a loud creak the door slowly opened revealing a tomb full of treasure. As they looked around they saw wooden chariots, golden statues and a huge sarcophagus. “Wow, this is amazing!” cried Ellie.
“Fantastic!” admired Mr Maker “But we need to find the time machine, it could be in here.”
Beneath the dusty wood was a faint light that was flickering on and off. Charlie cautiously bent down and blew the sand away. It was one of the buttons from the time machine. Ellie gasped “The time machine, it must be nearby! Hang on Mr Maker we’ll be going home soon”
As they started to carefully move the Egyptian relics to one side they heard a scrapping sound, someone let out a long, low sigh and behind them they saw the lid of the sarcophagus move!
They all turned and gasped “Quick work together now! We’ve woken the mummies!”
They moved faster until the great time machine stood before them. It looked so modern amongst the old objects.
“Everyone inside!” urged Charlie as he pulled open the door and started fumbling for the ruby. One look at the mummy who was beginning to creak his way towards them and they all ran into the time machine and shut the door behind them.
Leaning on Ellie’s shoulder Mr Maker pressed the ruby into the machine and carefully put in the date to return home. As they were being transported the children held on tight to one another crossing both their fingers. The machine shuddered and spun as it whisked them back home.
“What an adventure Ellie, I can’t wait to tell my teacher about it!”
by Year 3 pupils from Stanley, Heathfield Junior, Lowther, St Edmund’s and The Russell primary schools