There once was a boy called Fred who lived in a small house on Cotton Way. Fred loved adventure stories and dreamed of exciting discoveries, but his family were very poor and could rarely afford expensive gifts. 

As Fred's thirteenth birthday approached, he hoped that this year he might finally receive the latest smartphone. On the morning of his birthday, he rushed downstairs with excitement. Waiting for him was a neatly wrapped present. Fred eagerly tore away the paper, but his smile quickly faded. Inside was an old-looking book. 

"A book?" he sighed.

His father smiled warmly. "This isn't just any book, Fred. It's very special. Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoy it."

Fred thanked his parents, but deep down he felt disappointed. 

That night, Fred placed the book on his bedside table and climbed into bed. 

"Why couldn't I have got something useful?" he muttered. 

Soon he switched off the light and closed his eyes. Just as sleep began to take hold, a strange glow filled his room. 

Fred sat bolt upright. 

"My night light?" he whispered. 

But the night light was dark. 

The glow was coming from the book. 

Its pages fluttered open by themselves. A brilliant white light burst from within, growing brighter and brighter until Fred had to shield his eyes. 

Suddenly everything went black. 

With a heavy thud, Fred landed on hard ground. 

He scrambled to his feet and looked around. 

This wasn't his bedroom. 

Towering heaps of twisted metal stretched into the darkness. Rusted machinery glimmered beneath the moonlight, and a cold wind whistled through the scrapyard. Somewhere in the distance, metal clanged loudly. 

Fred's heart pounded. 

Slowly, he began walking along a narrow path between the scrap piles. 

Then he heard it. 

THUD. 

THUD. 

THUD. 

The ground trembled beneath his feet. 

Before Fred could react, a gigantic metal claw crashed down in front of him. 

He froze. 

The claw wrapped around him and lifted him high into the air. 

Fred gasped as he found himself staring into a giant metallic face. Bright blue eyes shone from the enormous head. 

A deep booming voice echoed across the scrapyard. 

"Who are you?" 

Fred swallowed nervously. "Who are YOU?" 

The giant tilted his head.