The Dinosaur Project

The Dinosaur Project

By

Jan Skarzynski

Orin story. Version 1. June 2008


“Muum! Have you seen my Dinosaur books,” called Andrew.
“On your shelf dear,” replied Mum, “Where they are always kept, unless you’ve scattered them around.”
“No Mum, they are not there. I haven’t used them for ages. I’ve got another project to do for Mrs. Whitler on dinosaurs and it’s got to be in by tomorrow,” replied Andrew sounding somewhat dismayed.
“What! Another project on dinosaurs? I though you had finished with those dear.”








I don’t think this is your teacher, do you?


“I thought I had Mum but Mrs Whitler needs another one in tomorrow and I was going to get the information out of the books I’ve got, but I can’t find them.”
“Oh dear, you’ve left it rather late, haven’t you Andrew?”
“Well no Mum, I can knock up a quick project in no time on dinosaurs but not without my books. I’ve done plenty of them.”
“Ah! I know what’s happened to them. Alice, your cousin was here last week and she borrowed them for her own project. You won’t be able to get them back for tonight though. Why don’t you get onto the internet Andrew?”
“Yeah Mum, but it takes too much time and there is so much stuff on there. Mrs Whitler says that we have to imagine the conditions and places where dinosaurs lived and describe them.”
“Sorry Andrew, but I can’t suggest anything else. Come on, you can think of something,” answered his Mum.

Who’s this?


“Andy, Andy,” whispered James as he was building up his latest Lego model on the kitchen table. “Let’s get Orin to take us to dinosaur land and you can then see the places they live yourself.”
“That’s a good idea James. Let’s go and see if he’s there? Mum! We are just going out for a while. I’ll do my project after tea.”
“OK you two, but put on your wellies and don’t get too dirty. It’s still wet out there.”





Andrew and James slipped into their wellies, put on their anoraks and sped out into the back garden, crashing the door to with a loud bang. They went directly to their father’s compost heap where Orin was usually found.
“Orin, Orin!” shouted Andrew, “We need you urgently. Are you there Orin?”
“Stop shouting you two, I’m concentrating,” came a grumpy voice from nowhere.
“Where are you Orin? Show yourself Orin so we can see you,” called James. “Orin, Andy need your help otherwise he’ll be for it from old Whitler, his teacher.”
“I wish you wouldn’t bother me. I have some important adjustment to do to my machine and here you come disturbing me. What is it now?” said the voice with some irritation as a small figure of an old man, no bigger than Andrew appeared, rubbing his beard.
“There you are Orin. We hoped we would find you,” said Andrew in a hurry. “I have to write a project on dinosaurs tonight, for Mrs Whitler and Alice, my cousin has borrowed all of my dinosaur books. Can you help?”




“Well, what do you want me to do and what are dinosaurs? Never heard of them,” answered Orin in a more civil voice, scratching his head.
“They are creatures that lived long, long ago,” shouted out James. “Millions and millions of years ago and they were fierce.”
“Sixty million years ago Orin and not all were fierce,” said Andrew. “Look it up on your computer Orin. That will tell you.”

Is this a stegosaurus?

“Thank you James, thank you Andrew. I know what to do. Ah yes! My black box tells me that “dinosaurs” lived in the “Jurassic Period.” That’s strange, I can’t pull any pictures up for you. We don’t seem to have much information on them here. Strange. Now boys, what do you want from me?” asked Orin searching his computer and getting no more information.
“Orin, can you take us to dinosaur land so that Andy can see where they lived?” asked James kindly as Orin was rubbing his beard, staring at his little screen.
“Please Orin or I will be for it with old Mrs Whitler,” pleaded Andrew.
“OK boys, you’ve talked me into it, but only because I’ve so little information on this subject. Come on then, don’t dawdle,” answered Orin as he stepped back and disappeared as if he had stepped out of sight behind an invisible wall. Andrew followed by holding out his arms and pushing against something invisible then pushing through and he too became engulfed and disappeared from view. James’s method was different. He just ran at the place Andrew had been, seemed to stumble and fell through into a void.




Could it look like this?


“Pick yourself up James and sit next to Andrew on the bench there,” ordered Orin who asked, “Now Andrew, you want the Jurassic Period, some sixty million years ago and is it on this world or another planet?”
“It’s on this world Orin and can you set the coordinates so that we land somewhere near here. Dad says that there are Jurassic rocks deep under this garden, but make sure it’s dry land and not sea Orin,” answered Andrew as he felt a slight shudder.

“Right Andrew. Now what equipment do I need? I need to record this visit for my own information,” said Orin looking into a large metal chest and putting his equipment into a knapsack.
“Are we there yet Orin?” asked James.
“Of course we are boy,” answered Orin rather crossly. “Put these necklaces on and then you will be able to speak to the local people.”
“Orin, there are no people about in the Jurassic period. People came much, much later,” said Andrew. “Man’s only been on earth about two million years. We descended from apes,” said Andrew as James did his monkey impression.
“Is that right,” answered Orin with some curiosity in his voice for a change. “I’m pleased to see you have your rubber boots on. It’s going to be muddy out there. Come on let’s go! Follow me!”




Outside the travel machine, they were hit by a wall of hot steamy air and gasping a little, they found themselves on a gentle slope surrounded by tall frond like trees. They walked carefully forward on the squishy ground. The boys were thankful for their boots as they walked up the slope. They stopped in a clearing and looked about them.
“Look!” shouted James pointing upwards into the air. “Look, a bird like creature flying by with a fish in its beak. We must be close to the sea.”




That’s not a normal bird

“I would call that a Pterodactyl,” said Andrew, “and it must be flying to its nest high up in the rocks over there. Can we go further Orin?”
“Lead on Andrew since you have a mine of information on this place. James and I will follow,” answered Orin as Andrew led off up the hill. They came to a rise and looked down to some grass lands with scattered trees.



I think this is a diplodocus

“Look, Look!” shouted Andrew, “look, those huge creatures must be Diplodocus and look at how they use their tails to swat those smaller creatures off their bodies.”
“Look at their long necks,” shouted James in amazement. “Some of them are picking fruit out of the tops of those trees. What a height! Look, the others are nibbling at the low bushes. Look, what are those smaller animals Andrew? The ones like kangaroos with long tails. They are not jumping but walking like chickens.”
“I can see them James. Don’t know what they are. Are you recording them Orin?”
“Yes Andrew. You just concentrate on leading us,” answered Orin.















These are fish bones not dinosaur bones!!!!

“Look there James. Can you see that pile of bones up there?”
“Corrrr! It’s a huge skeleton, must have been a massive creature. Look at the size of its head and look at those teeth.”





Something like this?


“Must have been killed by something even larger,” said Orin. “Look at the huge tooth marks on its skull and bones. It must have been a meal for a much larger dinosaur.”
“James! Careful! What are you doing?” asked Andrew.
“Just trying to prise a tooth out of its jaw.”
“Careful James they look rather sharp. Here use this,” said Orin handing James some pliers out of his knapsack.
“Shush, listen! Can you hear a tapping noise? It’s coming from those rocks,” called Andrew rushing ahead.
“Slow down Andrew. We must keep together and my legs are only short,” shouted Orin as they hurried up to Andrew. What they saw was amazing. There was Andrew with a small dinosaur chick in his hands. At his feet were two more chicks with their beaks open, waiting to be fed. Nearby were four large melon sized eggs, being broken open by beaks from the inside, with a tap, tap, tapping noise.
“Andy, can I hold one?” shouted James as he ran up.
“Come on boys, hurry up before mummy dinosaur comes along and decides to feed US to her chicks!” shouted Orin.








“Don’t be a spoilsport Orin,” called James but quickly put his chick down and looked about fearfully. Andrew put his down and they hurried away from the area. A few minutes later they came to another clearing and Andrew suddenly stopped.


“Oh shucks,” whispered Andrew as James and Orin caught up. I think it’s a Tyrannosaurus. A huge towering beast faced them from the other side of the clearing, sniffing the air. It looked at them and roared fiercely.
“Oh, Oh! We have a problem here,” said Orin as Andrew and James retreated. “Now stand your ground boys. Don’t be scared.”
“I’m sacred Orin,” cried James.
“Now boys, just stand your ground and start shouting nasty things at it. It will pick up the messages through your necklaces, I hope. Go on shout at it and don’t show you’re scared.”
“Go away you horrid creature!” shouted James, without much conviction.
“I’m not scared of you, you great beast!” shouted Andrew.
“That’s it boys. Look its hesitating,” said Orin calmly, “You won’t find me very tasty you ugly creature!”
“If you eat me your head will hurt and your eyes will pop out!” shouted Andrew more convincingly.






Is this a scared T REX?

“If you eat me I’ll poison your stomach and you will be ill for ever,” yelled James as the beast lifted its head and roared in defiance but it wasn’t advancing.
“Go away you ugly creature and hunt for something else that won’t harm you,” yelled Andrew and actually stepped forward. The huge beast roared again but less aggressively, turned and sauntered off into the trees.
“OK boys, I think we have seen enough. Let’s get you two back home before Tyrano there changes his mind and decides to attack. Come on hurry! The travel machine is just here. Quickly now,” said Orin urgently, pushing the white faced boys inside. He followed, disappearing into thin air as the beast gave another roar.

“Phew, that was a close shave,” said James sitting on the bench exhausted.
“Andrew come and choose the pictures you might like for your project. I’ve recorded lots and got a huge amount of information which I’m grateful for. OK, off you go.


“Are we back home already?” asked James.
“Yes, we are back home, safe and sound.”
“Orin can I have these pictures?”
“Yes Andrew. Just stand at the printer there and collect them and follow your brother out.”
“Thanks a lot Orin. You’ve been a great help,” called Andrew as he rushed out clutching a pack of photos.
“My pleasure,” called Orin as Andrew disappeared out.

“Hello boys! Ready for tea? By! You look white as a sheet. What have you been up to? James, sit down and have a drink. You are trembling. Where have you been?” asked their mother looking very concerned.
“It’s OK Mum, Orin took us to the real Jurassic park, sixty million years ago and we were attacked by a Tyrannosaurus Rex but we frightened him off. Look at these photo’s Mum! They’re great!”
“Hey, these are marvellous pictures. Look at this one of you and James holding some chicks.”
“They are dinosaur chicks Mum and Andy let me hold one Mum. It was great.”
“Now who did these pictures for you Andrew? You haven’t been bothering Mr Brown next door, have you? I didn’t know he was so good at computer photography.”
“Mum, they are real! Orin took these photos. Just look at the one of Andrew standing in the ribcage of that huge skeleton. Nobody could fake that one.”
“Not that fairy story of yours again. You’ll have to introduce me some day. Now eat your sandwich. You’re both looking a little better now,” said their mother smiling nicely at them.
“I know you don’t believe us Mum. Never mind, I’ll help Andy with his project after tea and help him stick the pictures in.”
“You will have to show your Dad when he comes home. He’ll be very interested in those pictures. Now eat up.”
“Yes Mum,” said James then whispered to Andrew, “Do you want this tooth for your project book Andy?”
“No, you keep it James. No one will believe that you prised it out of a dinosaur’s jaw for real!”