Nicobobinus Chapter 1

• Nicobobinus is the main character, an extraordinary child living in Venice a long time ago.
• Only his best friend, Rosie, knows he can do anything.

Words to Know

• Daft: Silly.
• Jerkin: A sleeveless jacket, typically made of leather.
• Roller: A heavy, cylindrical stone used to flatten grass.
• Shutters: Wooden window covers.
• Squirm: To wriggle or twist the body from side to side.
• Weed: Pull up wild plants growing in unwanted places.
• Sprinting: To run a short distance very fast.
• Hinges: A piece of metal or plastic on which a door moves freely.
• Creaked: To emit a squeaking, groaning sound.

Chapter 1

• Rosie suggests pulling up all the weeds on their doorstep.
• When Nicobobinus declines, Rosie suggests discovering the Land of Dragons.
• Rosie believes Nicobobinus can do anything.
• Rosie throws pebbles at Nicobobinus's shutters early in the morning to wake him up.
• Rosie has buns and lemonade for supplies.
• When asked where they were going, Rosie whispers that they are going to the Land of Dragons.
• Nicobobinus thought Rosie forgot about going to the Land of Dragons.
• They meet a Nightwatchman in the early morning.
• The Nightwatchman questions where they are going at that hour.
• Nicobobinus tells the Nightwatchman they are looking for the Land of Dragons.
• The Nightwatchman tries to stop them, but they sprint away.
• They run across three bridges and trip over a sleeping dog.
• Rosie's lemonade bottle smashes against the wall.
• The dog barks and then eats the buns that rolled into the gutter.
• Rosie is not happy that they lost their supplies.
• Nicobobinus sees an apple tree over a garden wall.
• Rosie suggests Nicobobinus stands on her shoulders to pick apples.
• Nicobobinus climbs onto the wall using Rosie's shoulders.
• He falls into a magnificent garden.
• Nicobobinus cannot climb back over the high wall.

Chapter 2

• Nicobobinus yells wondering what to do.
• Rosie yells back telling him he will think of something.
• Someone grabs Nicobobinus from behind after he runs into a tree.
• The voice says he has been waiting for Nicobobinus.
• Nicobobinus doubles himself up and knocks the man's legs out from under him.
• The man lands in a pile of leaves.
• The man threatens them.
• Nicobobinus runs into a little shed bolting the door.
• A man cries for him to open up.
• The hinges creaked and the door shook.
• Nicobobinus props a large stone roller against the door.
• Nicobobinus ignores the man, discovering a trap-door under the roller.
• The man says he will break the door down, then adds he will have to repair the door himself.
• Nicobobinus disappears through the trap-door.
• He runs down stone steps that are slippery with slime smelling of graveyards.
• Nicobobinus runs deeper into the ground until it becomes pitch black.
• Nicobobinus blames Rosie.
• He hears his heart pounding and steps echoing along the rock passageway.
• He realizes that he is falling.
• Several thoughts flash through his mind: Bother, unkind thought about friend, and suppose its a well?
• He discovers it was not a well.
• He falls and lands very painfully.
• A stone hits him on the head.
• He hears footsteps.
• The Man cries that he will beat every bone in Nicobobinus's body.
• The Man utters a strange, unfamiliar word.
• Nicobobinus moves out of the way.
• Crash.
• The man asks if he is alright.
• There was silence.
• Nicobobinus finds the man, who is still but breathing.
• Nicobobinus decides to get help.
• He finds a narrow gap near the floor.
• Nicobobinus hears Rosie’s voice saying he can do it.
• Nicobobinus realizes no one is there.
• He worries that the gap might lead nowhere, and he might get stuck.
• He wriggles through the gap in the pitch black for a long time.
• The tunnel gets narrower.
• He decides to go back, but he keeps wriggling and squirming.
• He suddenly finds he can stand up.
• He falls over stone steps leading up.
• He says, "Ow!" but means "Thank goodness!".
• He begins to climb.
• Nicobobinus believes it must be a tower or the grandest house in Venice.
• He stretches out his hand, touching a catch which makes a panel slide open.
• Nicobobinus steps through into the most amazing room he'd ever seen.

About the Author

• These are the first chapters from Nicobobinus by Terry Jones.
• The book contains humour and adventure.
• Terry Jones was a comedian, screenwriter, actor, director, and historian.