Autumn: The Human Condition (44 page)

SHERI NEWTON

The shopping mall where Sheri Newton works is the mall which is looted by Nathan Holmes and Bernard Heath in THE CITY. Sheri joins the group of survivors in the university and leaves with them to find the military base (although she is not mentioned by name). She also stays with the group when they travel to the airfield and, subsequently, Cormansey. Michael mentions her arrival when he is searching for Emma.

SONYA FARLEY

Eventually reaches the survivors in the university in THE CITY. The birth, and subsequent death of her baby is a tragic and significant event. The baby's death from the infection brings the group to the harsh realization that the human race now has very little chance of survival.

HARRY STAYT

Plays a major part in PURIFICATION. Another one of the first group of six survivors to arrive on Cormansey, his physical strength, confidence and enthusiasm make him perfect when it comes to clearing the island of bodies and preparing the place for the arrival of the survivors from the mainland. He is also mentioned in `The Last Flight' � further evidence that he remains an important member of the island community.

JACOB FLYNN

It's not clear at what stage Flynn joins the survivors at the airfield in PURIFICATION. He shows his true (unpleasant) colours when he is unable to get on the plane and leave the mainland when the fence is brought down by the dead.

BRIGID CULTHORPE

A strong, confident and determined character, Brigid soon takes charge of Cormansey when she arrives with the first group of survivors in PURIFICATION.

PETER GUEST

Guest is one of the group of survivors from the university in THE CITY. The office where he used to work is, in fact, less than a mile away from the university campus. Guest struggles more than most with the loss of his family, so much so that he is not mentioned by name until the group flee from the military base at the beginning of PURIFICATION. Although a nervous and irritating individual, he plays an increasingly important role in getting the survivors to the airfield and, later, in making Cormansey habitable.

JACKIE SOAMES

A loud and colourful character, Jackie is one of the driving forces behind the group of survivors gathered at the airfield in PURIFICATION.

GARY `TUGGIE' KEELE

A lazy coward who's confidence was shattered when his wife left him for another man. Keele now struggles to take any responsibility, and the prospect of flying the survivors to Cormansey in PURIFICATION terrifies him.

JULIET APPLEBY

Has spent much of the first thirty-nine years of her life trying to blend into the background. She lives and works in Rowley and made her way to the airfield at an early stage. Given her demeanour and lack of confidence, it is hardly surprising that she is left behind when the survivors attempt to leave the airfield in PURIFICATION.

KAREN CHASE Is a member of the group of survivors based at the airfield in PURIFICATION. A woman who has had a difficult last few years, the catastrophe presents her with an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and be stronger and more positive.

PHILIP EVANS

Philip is discovered at the end of AUTUMN by Michael and Emma. A sad and lonely bachelor, all he knows is the house he shares with his elderly mother and the small village community nearby. His naivety distorts his understanding of what has happened to the rest of the world.

DEAN MCFARLANE

Is perhaps the youngest survivor. He joins the group in the university in the early part of THE CITY and is referred to in a conversation between two survivors; `You see that young lad who came in this morning?' Yvonne asked Sunita. `Poor little bugger. Could only have been six or seven years old. One of the others spotted him running down the ring road. Said his mum had died and he'd come into town to try and find his dad. Wouldn't be told that he was probably dead too...' Looked after by the group, we later hear that Dean has survived when, towards the end of PURIFICATION, he makes it onto the plane to Cormansey.

PENELOPE STREET

Does not appear in any of the novels. The tragic irony of her situation is that the furniture store where she is trapped is half-way down the road from the `Lamb and Lion' pub where Jackie Soames is the licensee. Penelope says `help might be just around the corner...'. She does not know how true that is...

KATE JAMES

Is a primary school teacher who appears in AUTUMN. Initially strong and positive, the pressure of events take their toll on Kate and although she wishes she could leave the Whitchurch Community Centre with Michael, Carl and Emma, her nerves give out and she stays. Kate's story also makes reference to STUART JEFFRIES and RALPH, two other characters from the first book.

KILGORE

Plays a major part in PURIFICATION after leaving the bunker with the survivors who flee as the military attempt to clear the bodies.

ANNIE NELSON

Is a survivor who escapes from the Whitchurch Community Centre in AUTUMN. Both Annie and her friend JESSICA SHORT (who Annie mentions here) are briefly spoken to by Michael in the original novel; "Clearly from opposite ends of the social spectrum, they seemed to be drawn to each other for no other reason than their similar ages. Money, position, possessions, friends and connections didn't count for anything anymore."

JOHN CARLTON

A young, frightened soldier trapped in the underground military shelter, Carlton's story includes references to `the battle'. This is the misguided attempt by the military to clear away the thousands of bodies that have gathered above the bunker in PURIFICATION. "`Some of the boys who went out last time,' he explained, `told the bosses that they managed to get rid of hundreds of those things up there. Rumour has it,' he continued, `that they're looking at trying to organise one massive push. Rumour has it we're all going above ground to torch the whole fucking lot of them.'"

JACK BAXTER, DONNA YORKE & CLARE SMITH Are characters who first meet in THE CITY and subsequently make it through to the island of Cormansey at the end of PURIFICATION. Jack is a widower who finds Clare wandering through the city after her father has been killed by the infection. They remain close throughout the story. Donna Yorke also gravitates towards Clare, becoming something of a big sister to her.

FOLLOW THE COMPLETE AUTUMN

STORY IN THE BEST-SELLING NOVELS

AUTUMN

AUTUMN: THE CITY

AUTUMN: PURIFICATION

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM

DAVID MOODY

STRAIGHT TO YOU

and TRUST

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Table of Contents

AUTUMN: