He claims this is his only experience of the war and constantly tries to neutralize Hoke from the propaganda. It is later revealed that Stern was a German spy during the war. His plane crashed in 1944, but he managed to escape the blaze. Cissie is a poor girl of Cockney descent who befriended Muriel in a medical research hospital after the V-2 missiles struck. After many of the doctors fell dead of the Blood Death and hope of a cure faded, Cissie ran away with Muriel. Cissie is described as slightly rounder than Muriel but more Hoke's taste. However, her foul language shocks Hoke on more than one occasion. Muriel Drake is a rich girl who contrasts with Cissie in background but share a strong bond from when they met. She is described as more beautiful than Cissie and claims to feel spiritual presence several times suggesting that she has medium properties in her. It later transpires that she has been allied with the Blackshirts all along, due to a friendship between Hubble and her deceased father. Albert Potter, an old air raid warden who has been carrying on his duties even after the Blood Death and seems to not realize the war is over. He is described as slightly insane but harmless and loves to talk of himself and his achievements proudly. Lord Hubble, a victim of the Slow Death and tries desperately to capture Hoke, believing the pilot is the only Blood Death survivor, so that he can perform a foolish blood transfusion in hope that he can live on, free of the Slow Death. He is the leader of the Blackshirts, all who seem intent on following him to the grave. Hubble is also said to have ties with Hitler during the war. See also Axis victory in World War II References External links 1996 British novels 1996 science fiction novels Novels by James Herbert American alternate history novels British post-apocalyptic novels Novels about World War II alternate histories HarperCollins books