MrB&MrsT

=Chapter 1 - Prospero Arrives=

My writing targets for this chapter:


 * to provide an interesting description of the time machine
 * to describe Prospero's actions and show how he is feeling
 * to vary my sentence structure by using connectives, compound and complex sentences
 * to write in the 3rd person and the past tense (throughout the story)

Prospero sat slumped in his chair. His limp arms swung gently by his side. Above his seat warning lights were flashing, but he saw nothing. His sleep was deep and his dreams were vivid and filled with colour. A familiar sound broke into his slumber. Slowly his right eye opened, then his left. He sat motionless, unsure of his surroundings and groggy from sleep. Suddenly his body tightened. He tried to stand but he could not. His hands fumbled around his waist and finally released the buckle holding him in place. He sprang out of his seat and bounded over to the control panel. He grasped a large bronze lever and pulled. The siren which had woken him ceased. He dashed around the cockpit, flicking switches and twisting knobs, until each flashing light was extinguished. He paused, breathed deeply, and fell back into his chair. He had arrived. But where was he? And equally importantly, when was he?

Above his head Prospero could hear the steady pitter-patter of raindrops falling onto the glass roof of his time machine. He stood and peered out of a small circular window which was located above the control panel. He saw lush green fields, wet with rain and dotted with sheep. In the distance were gentle rolling hills, and beyond them the sea. He wasn't sure where he was, but he was certain he was no longer in Egypt! Relieved, he sat back down. He swivelled his chair to the right and began studying a small, dim screen. He pulled his sleeve over the palm of his hand and rubbed the screen using a circular motion. The thick layer of dust which had obscured his view was transferred to his sleeve. He looked around the time machine and saw that the same thick dust coated every surface. The control panel, with its array of black plastic switches and metal dials, and the golden levers which jutted out from the floor beside his seat, were completely covered. Even his brown leather case, in which he stored his most important historical artefacts, was now more grey than brown. The whole vehicle, no bigger than a small garden shed, was covered in a carpet of dust.

But spring cleaning could wait. Prospero turned his attention back to the screen. A click of the mouse and the image on the screen changed, the map zoomed out. Another click, then another. The map became clearer. He zoomed out again. Now he knew. He recognised the shape of the coast. He knew that river. He was home. He was in England.

Excitedly he spun around in his chair. His eyes settled on a series of large metallic discs. He took a deep breath and blew the dust off the first two discs. The numbers '1' and '5' were revealed. The colour drained from his face. His heart shook violently in his chest. Could it be? He gulped down another lungful of air. He blew. '88'. 1588! He was in the England in the year 1588! He gasped. He would finally meet her. The woman in his dreams. Elizabeth!

** Chapter 2 – Prospero Explores **

Prospero took a deep breath and stepped out of his time machine. It was early evening and the sun was setting. The air was crisp and cool after the rain. Above him storm clouds gathered. Prospero looked out across the fields which were a patchwork of greens and yellows. His eye was drawn to a movement on top of the hill. He swallowed deeply. He dropped to the ground, watching. Crawling, he spotted a thorn bush and dived desperately for protection. But it was too late. He had been spotted

** Chapter 3 – Prospero's Problem **

"Well, well, well what have we here?" boomed a voice from behind a large oak tree.

"Looks like a spy to me Arthur," replied another voice. Prospero lay trembling in his hiding place. He gulped deeply and tried to swallow his fear. He felt footsteps approaching. His heart pounded. Suddenly he felt two large hands around his waist. He was hoisted into the air.

"Looks like a spy to me Arthur, " stated a man with a bushy ginger beard.

"No doubt a Spaniard Will, lets take him to the Queen," the other man grinned foolishly.

=**My self-assessment**=

My writing targets for this chapter:


 * to provide an interesting description of the time machine
 * to describe Prospero's actions and show how he is feeling
 * to vary my sentence structure by using connectives, compound and complex sentences
 * to write in the 3rd person and the past tense (throughout the story)

Prospero sat slumped in his chair. His limp arms swung gently by his side. Above his seat warning lights were flashing, but he saw nothing. His sleep was deep and his dreams were vivid and filled with colour. A familiar sound broke into his slumber. Slowly his right eye opened, then his left. He sat motionless, unsure of his surroundings and groggy from sleep. Suddenly his body tightened. He tried to stand but he could not. His hands fumbled around his waist and finally released the buckle holding him in place. He sprang out of his seat and bounded over to the control panel. He grasped a large bronze lever and pulled. The siren which had woken him ceased. He dashed around the cockpit, flicking switches and twisting knobs, until each flashing light was extinguished. He paused, breathed deeply, and fell back into his chair. He had arrived. But where was he? And equally importantly, when was he?

Above his head Prospero could hear the steady pitter-patter of raindrops falling onto the glass roof of his time machine. He stood and peered out of a small circular window which was located above the control panel. He saw lush green fields, wet with rain and dotted with sheep. In the distance were gentle rolling hills, and beyond them the sea. He wasn't sure where he was, but he was certain he was no longer in Egypt! Relieved, he sat back down. He swivelled his chair to the right and began studying a small, dim screen. He pulled his sleeve over the palm of his hand and rubbed the screen using a circular motion. The thick layer of dust which had obscured his view was transferred to his sleeve. He looked around the time machine and saw that the same thick dust coated every surface. The control panel, with its array of black plastic switches and metal dials, and the golden levers which jutted out from the floor beside his seat, were completely covered. Even his brown leather case, in which he stored his most important historical artefacts, was now more grey than brown. The whole vehicle, no bigger than a small garden shed, was covered in a carpet of dust.

But spring cleaning could wait. Prospero turned his attention back to the screen. A click of the mouse and the image on the screen changed, the map zoomed out. Another click, then another. The map became clearer. He zoomed out again. Now he knew. He recognised the shape of the coast. He knew that river. He was home. He was in England.

Excitedly he spun around in his chair. His eyes settled on a series of large metallic discs. He took a deep breath and blew the dust off the first two discs. The numbers '1' and '5' were revealed. The colour drained from his face. His heart shook violently in his chest. Could it be? He gulped down another lungful of air. He blew. '88'. 1588! He was in the England in the year 1588! He gasped. He would finally meet her. The woman in his dreams. Elizabeth!