Sellum

Sellum is the secondary antagonist of Chris Heimerdinger's novel Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites. He is the cousin of the Nephite military leader Teancum and a secret member of the Kingmen.

Role In The Story
Sellum is among Teancum and his kinsmen when they rescue Jim Hawkins and Garth Plimpton from the Lamanite territory. After Jim and Garth tell them about how they are from the future, Teancum decides to bring them back to the Nephite city.

In the city, Sellum is assigned to watch over Jim and Garth. While guiding them through the city, Sellum abuses his soldier's privileges by stealing various items from merchants.

Later, Jim and Garth follow a suspicious-looking man to a secret Kingmen meeting, at which Sellum is present. Every assassin gathered makes a vow to murder one of the Nephite officials, with Sellum promising to kill Teancum. Garth and Jim escape and warn Teancum of the Kingmen.

Rumors spread of the assassins living among the Nephites, much to Sellum's frustration. He had had doubts about whether he would be able to bring himself to kill Teancum, which he had believed would help his cause if he were to be put on trial. But, since Jim and Garth had spread the word of Sellum's oath, that had put pressure on him to actually kill Teancum.

In retailiation, Sellum seeks out Jim and holds him at knifepoint. Teancsum, along with his kinsmen, arrive on the scene. Sellum reveals his feelings of loneliness and abandonment, bourne of his distrust in the Nephite cause and the lies that the Kingmen had fed him. After Jim is freed from Sellum's grasp, Sellum is sent to prison with the other conspirators.