"Simon R. Green - Hawk and Fisher 2 - Winner Takes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

wearing chain mail approached them, carrying a bludgeon in one hand and a
collecting tin in the other. He took one look at their faces, thought better of it, and
hurried after the parade. The crowd, meantime, showed its traditional appreciation
of free speech by pelting the singers with rotten fruit and horse droppings. Hawk
watched the banner holders disappear down the street with fixed smiles and
gritted teeth, and wondered where the Conservatives had found enough idiots and
would-be suicides to enter the Northside in the first place.

Nice banners, though.

"I'll be glad when this election nonsense is over," said Fisher as they started on
their way again. "I haven't worked this hard in years. I don't think I've ever seen
so many drunks and fights and street-corner rabble-rousers in my life. Or so many
rigged games of chance, for that matter."

"Anyone in this city stupid enough to play Find the Lady with a perfect stranger
deserves everything that happens to him," said Hawk unfeelingly. "And when you
get right down to it, things aren't that bad, actually. You're bound to get some
fights during an election, but there's hardly anyone here wearing a sword or a
knife. You know, Isobel, I'm almost enjoying myself. It's all so fascinating. I'd
heard all the stories about past elections, but I never really believed them till now.

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This is democracy in action. The people deciding their own future."

Fisher sniffed disdainfully. "It'll all end in tears. The people can vote till they're
blue in the face, but at the end of the day the same old faces will still be in power,
and things will go on just as they always have done. Nothing ever really changes,
Hawk. You should know that."

"It's different here," said Hawk stubbornly. "The Reform Cause has never been
stronger. There's a real chance they could end up dominating the Haven Council
this time, if they can just swing a few marginal Seats."

Fisher looked at him. "You've been studying up on this, haven't you?"

"Of course; it's important."

"No, it isn't. Not to us. Come tomorrow, the same thieves and pimps and loan
sharks will still be doing business as usual in the Northside, no matter who wins
your precious election. There'll still be sweatshops and protection rackets and
back-alley murders. This is Haven's dumping ground, where the lowest of the low
end up because they can't sink any further. Let the Council have its election.
They'll still need us to clean up the mess afterwards."

Hawk looked at her. "You sound tired, lass."