Moorish Mosaics and Stalactites

Moorish Mosaics and Stalactites
Orin Story

By

Jan Skarzynski

Corrected Version 1, May 2008.

“Muum, we’re bored,” said Andrew gloomily.
“Yes Mum, we’re really bored. It’s cold and wet outside and we’ve nothing to do!” added James wearily.
“Look, it’s stopped raining for a moment. Go and play football in the garden. Put your wellies on though,” said their mother.
“Mum, we haven’t got a ball, we left it in Egypt.”
“Yes Andrew, you’ve told me that a few times already. Go and play with your cars then. You love that.”
“We gave our cars to a Chinese boy when we went to China, Mum.”
“So you say James. Well, why don’t you go and find your fairy and ask him to whisk you away somewhere warm then?” answered their Mother with a smile.
“Mum, Orin’s not a fairy. He’s just a nice little man who has a travel machine,” said James emphatically.
He looks nothing like this!!
“He’s a bit grumpy sometimes. Just like Grandpa,” added Andrew.
“Come on Andrew, we need to see Orin about you know what,” whispered James quietly.
“Off you go then you two and don’t forget your wellies and coats. Your hats and scarves are on the radiator so they will be nice and cosy for you, Bye!”
“OK Mum, but you never believe us when we come back from our trips,” added James gloomily.
“Be off with you and here is a chocolate biscuit each and one for your fairy. You’ll have to share that one between you,” said their mother, as she handed them three wrapped biscuits and helped them into their coats.

They ran off into the back garden towards Dad’s compost heap. “We need to find Orin and get Dad’s laser measuring device back from him. We forgot to take it back last time,” said Andrew.
“Yeah, fortunately Dad hasn’t needed it yet but when he does we will be in big, big trouble if he can’t find it,” added James.
“Orin! Orin,” shouted Andrew, “Are you here?”
“Orin, where are you? We can’t see you? Are you here?” shouted James as a little head appeared with a short brown beard and only as tall as Andrew.
“Do be quiet you two. I’m concentrating!” shouted the little fellow and the head disappeared from sight again.
“Orin, don’t be grumpy. We only need our Dad’s laser measure back,” shouted Andrew. The little head popped out again and a little hand appeared, scratching behind the left ear.
“Oh yes. I forgot about that. Come on in and I’ll find it for you. It’s been quite useful,” said Orin pleasantly and disappeared again.




It may be like this if we could see it

“What’s up with Orin?” asked James, “he’s not normally as nice as this first thing.”
“Come on Jimbo, let’s go and join him and get Dad’s thing-be-bob,” said Andrew, putting out his arms in front of him and feeling for something in the air. He found something resistant and pushed and suddenly his arms disappeared, then his whole body and lastly, his left welly boot.
“Wait for me, Andy,” shouted James as he ran forward with his arms outstretched, following his older brother. He too pushed against an invisible wall and seemed to fall forward and disappear from sight.
“Oh hello you two. James, do get off the floor,” said Orin as James got up from a fall, rubbing his elbow.
“What are you so pleased about Orin?” asked Andrew.
“Oh I’ve managed to fix another coordinate so another two more and I’ll be able to get home at last,” replied the little fellow with a broad grin.
“Does that mean you won’t come to our back garden again, ever?” asked James rather glumly.
“Oh, it will be a while before I’m ready to go home. And don’t worry James, I can pop here anytime,” answered Orin. “Now where is your Dad’s laser measure? Ah, here it is! I have made a couple of improved copies of it. One for your Father?”
“No Orin, but thanks. Dad can’t even work the DVD recorder so we don’t want to confuse him with another gadget do we James.”
“Thanks Orin. Have you got the box for it?” said James as Orin scrabbled about in a cupboard and brought out a yellow cardboard box. Andrew helped him to pack the laser measure away and put it in his own coat pocket.

“Orin, it’s freezing outside,” said James and added, “Can you take us somewhere warm and dry? It’s so boring being inside all day and Mum gets cross with us all the time. Please Orin, please take us somewhere warm!”
“OK you two, I have to check my temperature gauges It’s at freezing point here,” said Orin inspecting a dial. “I’m planning to find somewhere much hotter, so sit down there on the bench and we will be off in a jiffy.” The boys sat down and felt a slight judder as they watched Orin turning some dials whilst inspecting others.”
“When will we be there Orin?” asked James impatiently.
“We are already there, silly boy,” replied Orin as Andrew and James looked knowingly at each other.
“He’s back to normal,” whispered James in Andrew’s ear.
“What are you two whispering about? It’s rude to whisper in company, boys!” said Orin sternly looking at them. “The temperature is….. in your measurements…. Some thirty degrees higher. The temperature will be thirty degrees Centigrade or Celsius. Which one do you use?”
“Mother tends to use Centigrade and Grandpa uses something called Fahrenheit,” answered Andrew. “Thirty degrees must be close to ninety degrees Fahrenheit according to Grandpops and that’s a heat wave. Goody!”
“Where are we then Orin? Can we go out now Orin?” shouted James eagerly.
“Of course you can go out but leave your outer clothes behind or you will bake out there,” added Orin.
“Orin, what year is it?” asked Andrew, “and where are we Orin?”
“Well boys, we seem to be somewhere you would call the Iberian Peninsular, the year seems to be 1482 or thereabouts and it’s Summer,” answered Orin checking his black box screen.
“That’s Spain,” said Andrew.
“Or Portugal,” added James.
“You are correct Andrew, we are in Spain at a place that translates to Pomegranate.”
“Never heard of a place called ‘Pomegranate’,” said James.
“Well the local Moorish or Arab name is ‘Granada’,” added Orin.
“We’ve heard of Granada,” shouted James. “Our Grandpa has a holiday home on the coast near Granada and he has told us about a huge palace there called the Alhambra.”
“Yeah, Mum and Dad have visited there and we are all going to Spain during the school holiday this summer,” added Andrew.
“You are correct boys. We have landed just outside of the gates to the Alhambra Palace. I think I will come with you this time. My black box tells me it is a place of high interest so I shall have to indulge myself. Come on boys don’t dawdle. Leave those clothes behind. It’s very hot outside,” as James and Andrew removed their coats, woollies and wellies.



“Shall we take our socks off Orin?” asked James.
“I should do but the pavements will be so hot you will burn your soles. Here spray this solution on your feet, it will protect them,” said Orin. They proceeded to spray a brown rubbery solution on the soles of their feet. Fortunately they only had shorts and T-shirts on because as they popped out of the time machine the hot air hit them, as if from an oven.







They found themselves outside a huge stone coloured arched gate. Facing them were four Arab guards with shiny helmets and curved swords. Orin spoke to them and was turned away. He told the boys that they weren’t allowed in.
“What are we going to do then?” asked Andrew.
“Don’t worry boys, I will get you in.
Put these necklaces on and they will enable you to talk and understand the locals here and now also just put on this bracelet,” ordered Orin as Andrew slipped on the bracelet.




“Andy, you’ve disappeared. Take the bracelet off for a moment,” requested James, as Andrew appeared again. “That’s amazing,” said James as he slipped on his own bracelet and disappeared. All three now had on their bracelets but could see each other. Orin strode forward towards the entrance archway, with James and Andrew following.
“Are you sure the guards can’t see us?” asked James.
“Of course they can’t see us,” retorted Orin, “But they can hear us so keep your voices down.” The three travellers moved past the guards and through the huge arch.
“This is a dog-leg passage,” said Andrew.
“My black box tells me it’s to increase protection against attack. Horses can’t just gallop straight through. They have to slow down and turn at least twice to get by,” said Orin.
“And the defenders can then throw stones at them and drive them away,” added Andrew.







“Can we go up into that fortress or castle?” asked James.
“Yes, we will go there first and then to the Royal Palace,” said Orin, leading them past the guards and up the broad steps until they finally reached the top. From there they looked down at the broad valley below and onto the opposite hillside.
“Now, this fortress is called the Alcazaba and the bell tower is called the Vela. You can see the city walls stretching out below you. The town just there within the city walls is called the Medina,” announced Orin reading from his black box.
“We came across a Medina in Egypt,” said James.
“That’s correct, James. It’s an Arabic word for town.”
“Orin, what is the village on the other side of the valley?”
“That’s the Albaicin Andrew. That’s where a lot of the craftsmen live who built and now maintain the Alhambra,” answered Orin. “Come on boys, my ears are sensitive. Let’s get down to the palace over there before they start ringing the bells here.”








They climbed back down the stairs, avoiding the soldiers and workman hurrying up. Since they couldn’t be seen they had to be very careful not to be bumped and jostled on the way down. They walked across a broad square and entered the palace.
“This is called the Palacio of the Nazaries,” announced Orin, “I want to see the Patio of Comares. This way, don’t dawdle!”
“Andy, look at the lake and the green hedges. It’s like a mirror.”
“Yes Jim, look at the tower over there above the arches.”
“Now boys, that is the Tower of Comares and let’s proceed through this fantastic arch.”
“Andy look at the ceiling here. It’s like an upturned boat.”
“Yes Andrew, it’s called the Hall of Barca which probably means boat in Arabic. Come on, a quick look around here. Just look at the amazing tiling. Come on must get on, lots to see.”
“Orin, slow down please. James and I can hardly keep up. There’s so much to see. Look at all these carpets. Some of them are hanging on the walls like pictures.”






“Orin, what’s this hedging?”
“That’s a plant called Myrtle and if you brush your hand over it like this, it gives off a nice scent. Come on I want to see the Patio of the Lions.”
“Wow, Andy look at all these pillars and just look at the fountain in the middle there.”
“That’s the Fountain of the Lions,” said Orin.
“Don’t look like lions to me, Andy.”


Not quite like this


“No James, they look like a cross between a hippo and a dog. That would be my best attempt at drawing a lion in class, James!”
“Now boys, there are a lot of people about here. Let’s just slip into this side chamber and take our bracelets off, otherwise all these people will bump into us and knock us over,” said Orin.

“Who are you? Where have you appeared from?” asked a small girl looking at them in some amazement. “You’re different. Just look at your clothes and your light hair and your blue eyes. You must be Christians!”
“Oh, we are just visitors. We popped in to have a look around. What are they doing here, these men?” asked Andrew.
“Can’t you see?” questioned the girl, “They are repairing the mosaics on the wall and repainting the ceilings. I’m helping to sort out the mosaic pieces.”
“Wow! Look Andy, these small pieces just fit together to make up this complicated pattern. Can we help?”
“Look my Dad is cementing the pieces of coloured marble onto the wall and I pass him the right pieces, see?” said the girl. “You have to know the pattern like I do, so that he can do it quickly. You can have some of those reject pieces lying over there to play with if you like.”




You don’t have to wash your feet….
“Thanks. You can have a chocolate biscuit in return. I’m afraid the chocolate has all melted in the heat,” said Andrew offering the girl the wrapped biscuit.
“Just pull the paper off and eat the insides. You’ll like it,” said James pulling some paper off and urging the girl to try.
“Oh, it’s sweet like honey, never had anything like this before. Thanks, where did you get this?” asked the girl, sucking her fingers as the chocolate melted over them.
“Come on boys, we have more to see. Come on!” urged Orin.
“Bye,” shouted the girl after them.
“Orin, just look at the coloured ceiling. It’s just bits and pieces hanging down like stalactites in a cave.”
“Yes Andrew that is correct again. My black box calls them ‘Stalactite Ceilings’ too,” said Orin with a surprised look at Andrew. “Come on we are off to the Generalife to see the gardens. Put your bracelets on to avoid the guards.” Off they rushed out of the gates, over a bridge and up the hill, trying to avoid people bumping into them.

“Orin, it’s too hot here and I think I’m getting sunburn on my arms,” said James.
“Keep in the shade you boys. Don’t want you returning home red as beetroot, do we?” answered Orin. “Now look at this long pool of water and the tower there reflecting in it. Isn’t it beautiful boys?”
“Orin, we are getting hot and tired now. Can we go home and cool down,” asked Andrew.
“Yes Orin, you’ve rushed us around too quickly in this heat. Where is the travel machine?” asked James.
“Now don’t worry boys. I just wanted you and me to see the best parts. The travel machine is just up those steps. I moved it closer for us. Look sharpish now,” answered Orin.
“Look at the banisters James. They are channels for water. Look it’s all flowing down from the top there,” said Andrew pointing.




“Andy, we could have a great game here floating boats down. You can have this channel and I’ll have that one on the other side and we’ll see whose boat gets to the bottom first.”
“Orin, can we stop here for a while and play?” asked Andrew.
“No you can’t. We have to go to get you home. I have work to do. Come on!”
“Don’t be a spoil sport Orin!” answered James as they followed him into the travel machine. Since they were invisible the passing people didn’t see them push their way into the invisible machine and disappear into thin air.

“Where have you been boys?” shouted their mother. “Have you got soaked in the down pour a few minutes ago? Is that why you’ve taken your clothes off? Where are your wet clothes? Hope you haven’t just dumped them in the hall? You look terribly hot!”
“No Mum, we’ve just returned from the Alhambra and we got some sunburn,” answered Andrew.
“Yes Mum, Orin took us somewhere warm as you suggested. It was really hot and sunny.”
“What have you got on your feet? What a mess!”
“It’s only a rubber solution to stop our feet burning Mum on the hot pavements. Look, it peels off. Can we have a drink Mum, please? We are very thirsty and hot. Plenty of water in the Alhambra but only for cooling and not for drinking,” said James, pleading.
“What a mess you’re in. You’ll tell me next that you saw the Palace of Carlos the Fifth. It’s a real monstrosity compared with the other Moorish buildings.”
“No Mum, it wasn’t probably built then. Orin said we were there in 1482, when the Moors were still there,” said Andrew gulping down his drink.
“Yes Mum, we also saw the Lion Fountain although the animals didn’t look much like lions,” said James.
“My, you two are very clever. Have you been rooting through my travel books again?”
“No Mum, we really have been to Spain and the Alhambra and the pomegranate city with Orin,” said James.
“Pomegranate city? Where did you get that name from?”
“It’s just Granada, Mum,” answered Andrew. “James just used the Arabic translation, if you know what I mean.”
“We also went to the Generalife gardens Mum,” butted in James.
“What James means Mum is Generalife pronounced ‘General-leaf-hay’,” added Andrew.
“I just hope you two learn as much at school as you do rooting through those guides of mine. Now off you go and have a bath. You look as if you could do with one. Leave your clothes for the wash and empty your pockets first!”
“Mum, you don’t believe us do you?” asked James.
“Of course I believe you! Everybody has a fairy in their garden. Now off you go upstairs and supper will be later.”

Andrew and James took their bundle of clothes upstairs and started emptying their pockets.
“Look James my biscuit has all melted in the heat of Spain. I’ll have to throw it away.”
“Have you got Dad’s laser Andy?”
“Yeah, got it here, will have to put it back in the tool box tomorrow.”
“Andy have you got some mosaic bits that the nice girl gave you?”
“Yeah James, I’ve got about five bits, how many have you got?”
“Only six Andy. We’ll play with them later, yeah?”