Edward Shackleton is a Cambridge graduate and world-class runner who challenges Heinz von Zoeller, a talented yet arrogant German runner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. A few years later, with the onslaught of World War II, Edward, now a Squadron Leader, takes a sudden hit and crashes his plane in enemy territory. By a cruel twist of fate, Edward finds himself in the "research" department of an SS facility run by his former adversary, now a military doctor, whose bitterness and cruelty extends to his brutal tactics in human trials. The war comes to an end and Edward is eventually reunited with his wife and 8-year old son, Harry, but the horrific experiments have left Edward in a weakened, ravaged state. Young Harry grows up, suppressing the memories of his father's stories of torture, but it is not until he reaches adulthood that the shock returns and Harry vows that, no matter how long it takes or what he must do, vengeance must be claimed. Richard Mowbray grew up in the seaside resort of Blackpool, England. He is a retired construction engineer and also owned a family business with his older son. Richard and his wife happily reside in Mill Valley, California and have two sons who live close by with their families. He is currently working on the next installment of his exciting postwar epic.