SIMS

by F. Paul Wilson

THREE: Meerm Chapter 17

  HARLEM

  DECEMBER 14

  Beece work ver hard today. Many cloth to cut. Boss say, Faster, faster! Beece cut fast as can. Still boss yell.

  Beece ver hot. Thirsty. Go sink for drink. Drink quick 'cause sink next boss office. Too long drink boss yell.

  Boss door open. New man walk through. Red-hair man. Show boss papers. Beece hear talk.

  "I'm from the city Animal Control Center, Mr. Lachter. "

  "Hey, I treat my sims good. "

  "No, Mr. Lachter, that would fall under the auspices of the ASPCA. We have a different mandate, and at the moment we're looking for a lost sim. "

  Beece almost leave sink, now stay. Lost sim? Could be Meerm? Listen more.

  "I got all mine. I count 'em every morning. None missing, no extras. "

  "Good. But from past experience we know that lost sims tend to seek out other sims, so we'd greatly appreciate it if you'd keep your eye out for any sim that might wander in. "

  Boss laugh. "He does, I'll put him to work!"

  "It's a female and if she shows up you should isolate her immediately. "

  "Why's that?"

  "She may be sick. Nothing contagious to humans, but she might infect other sims. "

  Infect? Beece think. What mean infect?

  "I don't need none of that. I can barely make production quotas now. "

  "If she shows she may look a little different than the average sim and - "

  "Different? What is she, a new breed?"

  "No. Same as the rest, but she might look a little heavier. . . perhaps 'bloated' is a better term. She's sick and we can take care of her, but we have to find her first. "

  Meerm! Man talk about Meerm! Meerm sick but fraid doctor. Beece feel sorry Meerm. City Man want help Meerm. No hurt Meerm.

  Beece fraid talk Boss. Boss yell all time. But Meerm Beece friend. Must help Meerm.

  Beece step in office. "'Scuse, please, boss. "

  Boss face go mad. "What the hell you doing here! Get back to work, you lazy - "

  "No, wait," red-hair city man say. He look Beece. "Do you know something?"

  "Sick sim come home. "

  "Home? Where's home?"

  "I crib them in Newark overnight," Boss say.

  "Newark? Why so far?"

  "Because it's tons cheaper to bus them back and forth than rent space for them around here. Sorry if that's out of your jurisdiction, pal, but - "

  "Oh, don't you worry about that. Just give me the address of this place. I'll take it from there. "

  Beece happy. Red-hair city man nice. Help Meerm. Make Meerm better.