A suspected plague threatens the boys' mission. Will runs into trouble.
Will and Beanpole miss their ship to the Games after a Black Guard pursues them.
Will and Beanpole have been helped by Zerlina and Papagena to escape the evil clutches of Kommandant Goetz and must now reach the stadium before the Annual Games commence.
In the year 2090 AD, the Earth has for over a century been under the rule of the Tripods - large machine-like alien beings.
Will and Beanpole are travelling with Ali Pasha's circus disguised as clowns. They must reach the White Mountains before winter with vital information about the Masters' plans.
As winners of the games, Will and Fritz are taken to the City of Gold.
Will is fortunate to have been chosen to serve one of the 'Masters' - alien creatures who created the Tripods to carry them about. Fritz is caught sneaking into the control room.
Will finds out more about the Masters' plans for the earth and discovers Eloise in the Hall of Beauty.
Will and Fritz are learning more and more about the Masters' future plans for earth.
Coggy decides to leave, which causes a power crisis in the city. Will's Master accuses Will of driving the Cognosc away and in order to save himself he kills his Master.
Evading the Black Guards, Will and Fritz manage to escape to the White Mountains.
Will and Beanpole are reunited serendipitously. They return to the White Mountains.