F Paul Wilson - Sims 04 by Zero (v5.0) Page A

course. And how better to turn the
public against SimGen than to find its dirty laundry
and wave it in the air for all to see?”
                 “You
have no idea what you’re getting into, the forces you’ll be setting in
motion…they’ll crush you.”
                 “They
have to find us first.”
                 “Zero,
leave it alone, I beg you. You’re making progress on so many other fronts. You
don’t need—”
                 “Progress? What progress? SimGen is opening more natal centers all the time!”
                 “We
may soon have to rethink that with the tide of public opinion turning.
Manufacturers, one or two of them major, are starting to advertise their
products, their clothes, toys, appliances, and so on, as ‘ sim -free.’
Mutual funds specializing in sim -free companies are
springing up. The Beacon Ridge poisoning—it’s awful to look at it as anything
but an atrocity, but something good did come out of it because it’s accelerated
the process.” Ellis leaned forward, his expression intense, alive with hope.
“We’re winning , Zero. Leave Manassas Ventures and the
rest alone.”
                 We’renot winning, damn it, Zero thought, his frustration a fire in his gut.
                 “What
we’ve been doing until now is like trying to tame a killer carnivore by
removing its food supply. Can’t be done. Or if it can,
it’ll take a lifetime. But that was all we had, the only way we knew to deal
with it. Until now. Now we may have found a weapon,
one that can strike at the heart of the beast. And that changes everything.”
                 “But
you’re forgetting that there’s a pregnant sim somewhere out there. Find her and prove that the father of her child is human
and our war is won!”
                 “If we find her. That’s a very, very big ‘if,’ Ellis. And if
we don’t, and if we neglect this ‘surge’ lead while we hunt for her, then we
may miss a crucial opportunity.”
                 “I
know you’re chafing to end this crusade, but you have no idea what you’re
getting into.”
                 “They’ve
already tried to kill Romy and Patrick. What can be
worse?
                 “They
can succeed . And they will. Keep pushing this and
some of your people will die.”
                 The
words jolted Zero. He’d realized that when Romy and
Patrick had been run off the highway, but hearing it said aloud…
                 Ellis
leaned back and closed his eyes. “You want to strike at the beast. I understand
that. But I’ve been living in the belly of that beast for decades and believe
me, Zero, it’s dark in there. It’s full of things that should never see the
light of day.”
                 “What
sort of things?”
                 “Painful things. Things that will hurt me
personally, and devastate other, more innocent, parties. Things that no
one will want to hear. And don’t think you’ll come through unscathed, either.”
                 Zero
swallowed. “What do you mean?” He couldn’t suppress a mocking tone. “Or is it
‘too sensitive’ again?”
                 Ellis
looked away and shook his head. “Some of it is sensitive. And some of it
is…unspeakable.”
                 The
last word lingered in the air between them. Zero’s mouth felt dry, his tongue
like old leather. He couldn’t bear the thought of one of the most decent, moral
men he had ever known connected to something unspeakable.
                 What
had Ellis got himself into?
                 “So,”
Ellis said finally. “Do we understand each other? Will you concentrate on
finding Meerm and back away from Manassas ?”
                 Shaking
his head was the hardest thing Zero had ever done in his life.
                 How
could he turn down