Scarabs and Ushabti
Orin Story

Scarabs and Ushabti
Orin Story

By

Jan Skarzynski

Version 1. March 2008


Andrew and James were kicking a ball around in the garden. Since Andrew was the eldest he was the self appointed centre forward and penalty taker. Poor James was in goal.
“Another goal,” shouted Andrew doing a little dance and pumping his hands in the air.
“Don’t kick it so hard Andy. I’m fed up fetching it. It’s my turn now to shoot.”
“OK James but you get the ball,” shouted Andrew as he flopped on the grass watching James scurry off for the ball.
“Can’t find it!” shouted back James, “You’ll have to come and help Andrew.”
“OK then,” replied Andrew getting up slowly. “It’s probably behind the compost heap again. I’m coming.” They climbed onto the heap and jumped down to search in the bushes.



A bit like this but without the silly hat


“Will you get your big fat size ten off my foot!” shouted a squeaky voice from the bush as they both jumped back in amazement. “What are you two stupid boys staring at?” shouted a dwarf like wizened old man appearing from under the bushes hopping on one leg.
“Sorry,” said Andrew, “didn’t mean to hurt you, didn’t see you there.”
“What are you gaping at?” said the little fellow, as James closed his mouth quickly from amazement.
“Who are you? Have you seen our ball?” asked James still amazed.
“I’m Orin,” replied the little man. “I’m using your ball to sit on to repair my travel machine. I hope you don’t want it back just now,” he added rather grumpily.
“But we can’t see your travel thing. Where is it?
“Of course you can’t see it you stupid boys, it’s invisible.”
“If it’s invisible, how can you see it and where is it?”
“Now you are being really silly and stupid. Of course I can see it. It’s just invisible to anybody else.”
“What are you doing here? Why are you here?”
“Now you are getting really annoying and disturbing me in my work. I’m trying to get home but this infernal machine has lost the co-ordinates and so I’m trying to calibrate it.”




Could it look like this?


“What does all that mean? You sound like our teacher in science, all gobbly-de-gook,” said Andrew.
“Well you must have a stupid teacher then!” Orin exclaimed, “It’s quite simple really. Let me explain, I have fixed the position of where I am now in time and space so I can get back here easily. I’m now looking for a second position to fix on another planet and a different time plane. Now, I know I’m on your world near a stinking heap of rotting vegetation.”
“That’s our dad’s compost heap,” said James.
“I know that James!”
“How do you know my name?” asked James.
“Well, I heard you two shouting a lot and disturbing me. I couldn’t help but overhear. Now where was I? Yes, I was talking about position that I have fixed here, now tell me what year it is so I can fix the time correctly.”
“It’s April the tenth, 2016,” said James.
“No, No! that’s not good enough for me you silly boy. I need to check the exact number of years from the beginning of this world. From the time it was formed,” said Orin.
“That’s easy,” replied Andrew. “Dad usually says its four thousand and five hundred million years, seven days and twenty seven minutes, give a minute or two on either side.”
“Well, you have a clever dad,” said Orin. “I’d go along with the millions of years, but I’m a bit sceptical about the days and minutes.”
“That’s just a joke Orin. Dad always does that with big numbers,” said James.
“Right, where was I? Yes, now I’m trying to fix another position or coordinate on another planet and when I get that, I shall have two fixed points. All I then have to do is set the correct bearing from each coordinate and Bingo, I can get an accurate fix on home.”



“What’s the problem then?” asked Andrew.
“What’s the problem? What’s the problem?” spluttered an irate Orin. “The problem, stupid boy is that I can’t get to the second coordinate twice so that I can check it. That’s the problem!”
“Can we help?” asked James.
“What? You help? What nonsense! Wait a moment, that’s not a bad idea. I need to set up six direction finders at once and I only have two arms. Yes, you boys can help me. You’re not as daft and silly as I thought,” remarked Orin.
“But how do we get into your space craft?” asked James, “When we can’t see it.”





“Easy. Now Andrew, just stand here and put your arm out. That’s it. You will feel some resistance, like a rubber sheet. That’s it, just push against it with some force and you will push through to the other side. Now, don’t touch anything in there will you. I don’t want you disappearing into space without us.” Andrew yelled as he fell into the bush and disappeared from sight.
“Where are you Andy?” shouted James looking under the bush and spreading the branches.
“He’s already inside,” said Orin and gave James a push that toppled him into the bush.

Well it wasn’t the bush. They were inside a control room with lots of dials and buttons and Orin was shouting at them not to touch anything.
“Orin, can we touch the walls,” asked James.
“Don’t be silly James,” said Orin. “Now you stand there Andrew and I’ll tell you what to do. James, you stand here and just hold these two red handles and watch these two dials. I want you to keep the two needles pointing at the red spot by moving the handles. That’s it, that’s good.”
“Oh, I can do that too,” said Andrew and grabbed the two handles in front of him.
“No! Don’t do that! Too late,” yelled Orin.
“What have I done,” asked Andrew. “I only got hold of the handles like James.”
“Yes Andrew, but those are the drive and start handles. You’ve set us off on a journey to I don’t know where. At least I know I can get you back home.”

There was a shake and a bump and they were all thrown forward slightly.
“Well we have landed somewhere. You two sit down there on the bench and don’t move. I will look out and see where we are,” said Orin, pointing them to the bench. He pushed his head through the wall and reappeared again saying, “We are still on your world but I think we have arrived in some dusty hot place, probably some four or five thousand years earlier, give a day or two of course.”
“Can we have a look outside?” asked Andrew.
“Will you be able to get us back home?” asked James.
“Yes to both,” said Orin. “I need to take some readings. Here, take your ball and go and play with the kids out there. I’ll come and fetch you when I’m ready to take you back. Oh! I forgot. Just take these necklaces and put them on. They will enable you to speak and understand the local language.”




Andrew and James pushed their way through the rubber like wall and were suddenly blasted by the hot sun and a dusty wind. They found themselves surrounded by low white buildings with flat roofs and very small windows. When their eyes got adjusted to the bright glare they noticed some children wearing long smocks staring at them. James went over to them and asked, “Would you like to play football with me and my brother?”
“What’s football?” asked one of the boys.
“You just kick a ball around like this,” said Andrew, “And we can have proper teams.” Soon they organised themselves into the usual playground gaggle of kids chasing and trying to get a kick at the ball. Fortunately the walls of the houses formed a boundary and barrier so they couldn’t kick the ball too far. Their shouts brought out a few adults who soon were shouting encouragement and even joining in when the ball got near. It was too hot to play for long and Andrew and James sat on the sidelines in the shade and encouraged the others.





She looks nice and friendly

A woman in a black smock came up to them and invited them inside the house for a drink. She gave them a clay cup of water and led them out to sit at the back in the shade where her husband was working. They sat and watched the man carving a figure in stone.
“What are you doing?” asked James.

This is a pretty sculpture isn’t it?

“I’m carving ushabti for the Pharaoh’s funeral,” said the man handing one over to Andrew to hold. They will go into the Pharaoh’s tomb when the time comes and will go with him into the next world.”
“We must be in Egypt,” said Andrew.
“Yes,” said the man. “We are in the village of Medina, at the mouth of the Valley of the Kings. We are the masons and builders of the Pharaoh’s tombs. We are not allowed to move out of our village. We do go up on the hill there in the evenings sometimes and look down on the green strip of land on either side of the Blue Nile. You can also see the temples and palaces of the Pharaohs and the priests from there.”

Is this a scarab? Looks like a beetle to me


“What are these?” asked James, holding out a green stone, shaped like a beetle.
“Ah, these are lucky scarabs. They also go into the tombs but we also keep them with us as lucky charms. That one you have there is made of special green malachite stone. You can keep it, as a present for playing so nicely with our children.”
“Thank you, thank you very much. Are you sure I can keep it?” asked James.
“Of course you can. It will be a lucky charm for you. Have you seen the tomb that we are currently preparing for our pharaoh? You should go and see it.”
“Oh, I’d love to see that, but we need to get back home to our Mum soon,” said James as Orin poked his head around the door and shouted, “Come on you two. We need to be off and get you back home to your mother.”
“Orin, this kind man says we can visit the new tomb that they are preparing for the current Pharaoh,” said Andrew, asking the man, “How long will it take us to visit this place?”
“I can arrange some camels and donkeys to take you there, but it will take quite some time. You can visit the other tombs also. The anti chambers are all open for viewing. The pharaohs, priests and other dignitaries often go and visit these tombs to pay their respects to the dead Pharaohs who have departed to their new life in the other Kingdom,” said the man.


Have you seen pictures like these in books on Egypt?


“Well,” said Orin, “I’ll check on my PC to see if it’s worth it.”
“But Orin, our Mum will be worried if we are away too long,” said James.
“We’ll be grounded and get into a heap of bother if we are late.” added Andrew.
“Don’t worry about that,” said Orin, “I can get you back home at what ever time you specify, so don’t worry. My PC tells me we are in the times of Akhenaten.”
“That’s right,” said the man, “I’ll go and arrange transport for you and show you around.”
“Akhenaten’s the Pharaoh with the thick lips, isn’t he,” said James.
“Thick lips! Don’t be silly James,” said Orin, checking his hand held computer. “Oops, sorry James. You are correct. He did have thick and pronounced lips, at least as portrayed on his statues,” added Orin rather apologetically. “He also was a heretic so we are in troubled times here.”
“They burn heretics don’t they?” asked Andrew.
“Don’t be stupid boy. They don’t burn Pharaohs here!” shouted Orin.
“They may not burn them here, but they used to burn and torture heretics in Europe” answered Andrew.
“Let me see. ‘Heretic, Europe’ Oh dear, you’re right again boy. They did nasty things to them in your part of the world.”
“What does heretic mean around here then?” asked James.
“Good question James,” said Orin as he checked his PC, “Akhenaten was a sun worshiper. He believed only in the one God, the Aten, which means sun. Previously the Pharaohs worshiped lots of gods and he discarded them all for one, the sun god.”
“Wasn’t Ahkenaten married to the beautiful Nerfertiti,” added Andrew.
“Let me check,” said Orin. “You are right again Andrew. What’s the expression you use? Ah yes, I remember, not as green as you are cabbage looking, are you Andrew? According to my PC, Nefertiti had lots of daughters but no boys to take over the rule of Egypt when the Pharaoh dies.”



Taxi!!!

“Your transport is ready gentlemen,” said the man and they filed out into the bright sunshine and came across a string of camels and donkeys. Some were laden with goods but the man brought four camels to them and got them to kneel. They climbed on the rough saddle and the camels lurched up in a frightening way.
“What tombs are we going to see?” asked James
“I will show you the new tomb which we are preparing for Akhenaten. The tomb for his successor has just been started but nothing much to see there,” said their guide.
“Now according to my PC the successor was the young man who married one of Ahkenaten’s lovely daughters. He’s called Tutankhamun.”





I bet you have seen this picture before

“He’s the one whose Gold mask we saw in the British Museum in London,” answered Andrew.
“What are you on about Andrew,” asked Orin in a rather irritated tone.
“They found his tomb and it hadn’t been robbed Orin,” answered James. “They found the whole mummy and his head was covered by this huge golden mask.”
“Hang on a minute,” said Orin. “Correct again James. You seem to know a lot young man.”
“Does Akhenaten live in the palace over in that town of Luxor that we can see,” asked Andrew of his guide.
“We call the town Thebes and you can see the obelisks there with their shining tops covered with bright electron,” said their guide adding, “He’s moved the capital further down river towards Memphis.”
“Elvis comes from Memphis,” said James.
“Who is Elvis?” asked Orin.



Is this Elvis?

“Elvis Presley is a pop star and Dad’s favourite,” said Andrew. “We often play ‘Jail House Rock’ on Dads’ old gramophone. Our Dad’s been to Memphis in America.”
“Hang on boys, you’ve got me confused now. Let me check my PC. Ah yes, he was the king of Rock and Roll, what ever that is,” said Orin. “Now what is ‘Electron’?”
“It’s a mixture of gold and silver,” shouted James as his camel wobbled over some rough ground.
“Correct again James. You boys seem to be brighter that you look,” quipped Orin as the camels came to a standstill and knelt down almost tipping the boys off onto the rough ground.

The guide took them to the new tomb, giving each visitor a small clay oil lamp to light up their way. They climbed down a steep staircase and entered a large chamber which the guide told them was the main meeting place for the priests. This anti chamber was painted all over with scenes which the guide explained to them. The ceiling was painted as a sun disc in the centre with its rays radiating out to reach all the paintings on the wall. It was magnificent especially when Orin lit a very bright light which lit up the whole chamber. They were then shown the other chambers leading down to the main tomb. Painters and masons were still busy at work and the place was quite dusty and strewn with loose rock, equipment and tools. They finally reached a small cave and in the middle of which was a huge block of stone and three masons were chiselling away at it.







This is the Mummy inside the sarcophagus

“That’s the sarcophagus,” said James.
“That’s correct,” said their guide adding, “It’s a block of red granite from Giza.”
“What’s a sarcophagus?” asked Orin.
“It’s a kind if outer coffin. Other coffins made of decorated wood are placed inside. The inner coffin will hold the mummy of the Pharaoh,” said Andrew.
“I might as well throw my PC away,” quipped Orin. “You two seem to have all the answers.”
They watched the masons carve a sort of inscription on the end of the sarcophagus.



This is a modern sarcophagus

“OK you wise men. Tell me what the inscription means then?” said Orin looking quizzically at the boys and then fiddling with his PC.
“That’s easy,” said James.
“It’s a cartouche,” interjected Andrew.
“It’s like a shield, it describes who is buried there in the sarcophagus, doesn’t it Andrew?”
“OK, OK, you two know alls. I’ve had enough of this, you knowing everything. Have you also got a hidden computer there with all the answers?” asked Orin scratching his head in amazement.









That’s not mum and dad!!

“Mum and Dad visited Egypt on a Nile cruise and Dad told us all about the things they had seen and showed us his video,” answered James.
“Yes, we saw Mum and Dad all dressed up in long smocks like our guide is wearing. They did look funny,” added Andrew.
“Those smocks are called galabayas,” said James.
“I’ve had enough of this,” said Orin. “Let’s get you back to your Mum. The travel machine is just here. Before you ask, I will tell you it follows me about when I need it to. Now just push against that cave wall and don’t touch anything when you get inside. Andrew! Did you hear that?”
“Can we say goodbye to our guide?” asked Andrew
“We haven’t time for that! I’ve given the guide a generous tip and he’s quite happy. Quick now, off you go.”
Andrew and James sat on the bench at the side as Orin twiddled some knobs and peered at some dials. “What time do you need to get home by?”
“We have our tea at five thirty and then Dad gets home about six if he’s not away,” answered Andrew.
“Arrival at your Dad’s smelly compost heap is set at five, twenty nine precisely. Now hang on!” shouted Orin as they felt the whole chamber drop as if they were in a fast lift.







What a nice Mum !!!


“Oh, there you are! I shouted out for you some time ago. Where have you two been? You both look very hot and red.”
“We’ve been to Egypt Mum and played football with lots of Egyptian kids,” shouted James in excitement.
“What James is trying to tell you Mum is that we have been to Egypt in the Pharaoh times, thousands of years ago. We were in the village of Medina at the mouth of the Valley of the Kings, Mum,” said Andrew seriously.
“If you had been in that village they wouldn’t have let you out. Now, what do you want to drink boys?”
“Not thirsty Mum. We had a drink of water and juice in Egypt,” said James.
“Shouldn’t drink local water in Egypt. Only bottled if you want to escape the Pharaohs tummy ache,” replied mother jokingly. “Now, we have alphabetti spaghetti on toast for tea. I hope you’re hungry.”
“Yes please Mum, yummy,” said James. “We did really go to Egypt Mum, honest. We spoke to a stone mason carving ushabti and scarabs for the Pharaohs’ funeral. Andy held one in this hand.”
“My, my, these are big words you are using today. I hope you can spell them. I’m not sure I can. Now here you are. Maybe you can find the letters in the meal to spell them out. Eat up now.”
“Mum, Mum, we really did go there and we went in an invisible space craft and learned about ‘coordinates and position fixes,” said Andrew.
“Andrew pushed the wrong button and off we went on a trip to Egypt,” said James.
“No I didn’t!”
“Yes you did. Orin told you not touch anything.”
“I was only copying you,” shouted Andrew, sticking his tongue out at James.
“Now boys don’t argue, you might upset the fairy at the bottom of the garden that takes you on lovely trips.”
“Muum! It’s true Mum,” said Andrew, “we taught them how to play football and my team scored three goals. Oh dear! I think we left the ball behind in Egypt.”
“Does that mean I now have to go to see nice Mr Brown next door and retrieve your football for you? So that’s what all this is about. Come on eat up. I thought you would be starving. I’ll go later and get your ball back.”
“You don’t believe us do you Mum?” said Andrew.
“I thought you did Egypt in Miss Alison’s class next year James?”
“Yes Mum, James will do Egypt next year but I missed out on that because Miss Alison was away,” remarked Andrew.
“Mum, we also visited the tomb of Akhenaten as it was being built. You know the one with the thick lips,” said James.
“I didn’t know they had found his tomb yet. I suppose he could still be buried somewhere in the Valley of the Kings.”
“Yes Mum, I’d wish you believed us, it was really super,” said James as he pulled the stone malachite scarab out of his pocket and showed it to Andrew, under the table, as proof of their visit.

They finished their tea and waited for Dad to come home. Maybe he might believe them. Doubt it, do you?


We didn’t visit
The Sphinx or the pyramids of Giza but we would like to. We will have to ask Orin.