July 5, 2089 is capping day in a small English village. Jack has come of age and will be drawn up by the Masters into one of the Tripods for capping. His head is shaved bare for the event. At the stroke of noon, a giant Tripod appears and an arm with gripping claws descends to grab him. A short time later, he is set back down with a brassy metal grill embedded in the top of his head. This marks the end of his childhood. He will now work for the Masters who provide everything the humans need. But after capping, young adults lose their sense of wonder and their imaginations. Will Parker, son of the mill owner, is one year from capping and is not looking forward to it. This is observed by Ozymandias, a man who appears to be a Vagrant who did not successfully cap. But Ozymandias is not a dullard like the other Vagrants in Will's experience. He wears a false cap to fool the Masters. At an isolated tomb he encourages Will to join a group of men who are plotting to overthrow the Masters. They have a community in the distant White Mountain, only reachable by a long, dangerous journey. Ozymandias gives Will his precious, chiming pocket watch as a sign of trust and instructs him to meet at the crossroads the next morning between 5 and 7 a.m. Will arises in the dim, predawn light to pack some food for the journey to come. His cousin Henry knows he is up to something and rises, too. He talks Will into letting him come along. Together, the two boys head toward the crossroads.
—Garon Smith