It was night, and Pippa struggled not to trip on the junk-strewn ground. She and the other girls were headed for the Junk Tower. Naomi was armed with an old, sharpened kitchen knife, and Pippa and Frances each had a stick.
Finally, they reached the foot of the Junk Tower. "This is a very bad idea," Pippa muttered as they began to climb the steep hill.
The Tower was so tall that it took ages to get even close to halfway.
"This reminds me of that one part of Prisoner of Zenda," Frances said.
"You read Prisoner of Zenda?" Pippa asked.
"Sure, it was on my stepdad's bookcase," Frances said, "Nobody paid attention to me, so I could read anything I wanted."
"Quiet!" Naomi whispered. "We're almost there. You remember the plan?"
"Yes," Pippa and Frances chorused quietly.
"Good. It's go time."