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Image - Ramses is in the water © Damien Hazell
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The Time Travellers - Ancient Egypt
By Sue Clarke
Steve, Katie, Lauren and Boff are four friends. One day Steve's dog, Benjie, disappears into a hole in a field. The children follow, and find themselves in a time tunnel. They have travelled back to ancient Egypt, and have just met a boy – Ramses. Ramses is showing the children his home and his village.
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'My father is a farmer,' said Ramses, 'but now the water is rising and the flood is coming so he is helping to carry stones for the Pyramid.'

Near the river there were lots of ducks making a noise. The children laughed and went closer to the river. It was hot and the sun was high in the sky.
'Let's swim!' said Ramses.
They all splashed around in the river having fun. The water was cooling and they jumped off the river bank just to make a splash. Ramses was a good swimmer and swam out into the middle of the river.

While they were watching him, they suddenly heard him yell 'Aaagh!' and then he disappeared under the water. Steve was standing on the bank of the river. He looked at the water and saw the dark shape of a fish. It was huge and seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Then they saw Ramses' head above the water and the mouth of a huge fish with sharp teeth.
'Help!' shouted Ramses. 'A puffer fish!'

Steve picked up a sharp stick and threw it at the water. It speared the fish, which then sank in the water. Ramses climbed back to the river bank.
'You saved my life!' he said. Puffer fish are very dangerous – they are poisonous and kill you if they bite.

They returned to the house and Ramses told his mother and father what had happened. They kissed Steve and thanked him again and again for saving their son.

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