SIMS

by F. Paul Wilson

FIVE: Thy Brother's Keeper Chapter 7

  MANHATTAN

  Tome keep head down and walk far back in bus like Mist Sulliman say do. Sit seat and wait. Other sim come, say, "My seat, my seat. "

  Tome stand wait for bus move, then find other seat.

  "Who you?" say she-sim next Tome. "You not shop sim. "

  Tome remember what Mist Sulliman tell him say. "Yes, not shop sim. Just old sim looking for friend. "

  "Who friend?"

  "Meerm. "

  Tome know not true, but Mist Sulliman tell say this.

  She-sim say loud, "Beece! Beece! Come see old sim!"

  Tome look and see he-sim come down aisle. This Beece big. Look down Tome.

  "Why here old sim?"

  "I am Tome. Look for Meerm. She friend. "

  Beece get mad face. "You lie! Bad mans send! You want hurt Meerm!"

  "No! Good mans send. Friend all sim. Best friend sim have. Try to make sim union. Try - "

  "What yooyun?"

  Tome try tell but Beece not understand. So Tome tell Beece bout how Mist Sulliman hurt by bad mans, house burned by bad mans who hate sim.

  Beece eyes ver wide. "House burn? Because help sims?"

  All other sim who hear turn round, look Tome.

  Tome say, "Yes! Good man! Best man. Now want help Meerm. Save her from bad mans. Also Meerm ver sick. "

  All sim nod. Yes, some say. Meerm ver sick.

  "Good man help make better. Where Tome find Meerm?"

  Beece not speak.

  She-sim next Tome say, "Beece not know. No sim know. "

  No sim speak long time. Tome ver sad. Want help Mist Sulliman but fail. Touch phone in pocket. Must call and tell.

  Then Beece say, "Beece know. Not know exact, but can help. " Beece look hard Tome. "Must tell true. Must help Meerm. "

  "Tome help Meerm. " So ver happy now. "Tome help good. "