Richard Marazono

Convinced that they are the last survivors of the human race, Ian and his friends have decided to go in search of the command centre controlling the machines that hunt them so mercilessly. Their only ray of hope is that SAM, their robot ally, is once again with them, but even with his help, they are painfully aware that their attempt to reach the place where everything ended for mankind is little more than a suicide mission

Winter blankets the wreckage of the world. In the snow-covered ruins, four children scavenge for supplies to feed their dwindling group of survivors. Four, because Ian is gone - captured or killed by the mechanical death squads that hunt them all. SAM, his robotic guardian angel, has left as well. And without Ian, without his optimism, the survivors are losing hope. Until, one day, they recover the electronic device that their friend had built to communicate with SAM...

In the grim future of our world, Earth has been ravaged by sentient machines, the human race all but exterminated. Only scattered groups of children have survived by hiding in tunnels to escape the murderous robots that still scour the surface. One day, a scavenging party for one such group happens upon a massive humanoid robot bearing the letters SAM on its armour. Caught by surprise, young Ian is about to be vaporised - but the machine doesn't shoot -