Feeling abandoned by the NZ Military and hunkered down in Hell, tensions are simmering within the group. Unlike before the war, “Imagination and memory” had become Ellie’s enemy.

Not knowing what happened to the kiwi military unit is also preying on their minds. Sitting around after the time spent needing to heal physically and in part – mentally, they decide to set off again to cause more trouble. Kevin is upset at this decision but on thinking on what happened to Chris when left alone in Hell, he decides to join them.

On a scouting mission, they are caught out by guards and are forced to hide in trucks. These trucks take them right where they need to be to complete the mission they and the NZ military unit had failed on. Their biggest attack on the enemy yet, they leave the area in a scorched, battered, bullet holed garbage truck, with a multi million dollar trail of carnage behind them.

The enemy are hot on their heels and quick thinking by Ellie has them diving for the river to escape. Floating on the river’s current is the easiest way to travel yet, but they are now far from Hell and safety.

Ending up in Stratton, starving and super paranoid they head to a house Ellie knows. They find they aren’t the only ones hiding out and instead of allies they find feral children. Not sure whether to feel sorry for them or angry at their attacks, they work together to find food in a town that has been looted to the floorboards. Can they stay hidden? Will the kiwis come and get them as promised? Where is Lee disappearing to every night? What Ellie discovers is shocking. Too shocking to tell the others.

The most action-packed episode yet! These teens are growing up fast after seeing and doing things they’d never imagined in any nightmare.

Their wits and courage scrape them through again. Ellie is struggling with her own self esteem – What she has done and how she acts around the others. Even 5 episodes into this series, the story is compelling, sometimes heartbreaking and always making me want more.

Author – John Marsden

Age – 15+

Read the rest of the series

(1997, Pan MacMillan, Australia, Series, Classic, Friendships, Danger, War, Relationships, Family, Growing up, Street kids, Ambush, Self Esteem, Self Doubt, Action)