"Simon R. Green - Haven 05 - Guard Against Dishonor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

past his prime, but few people ever stopped at a first glance. There was something about Hawk,
something cold and unyielding that gave even the most belligerent hardcase pause to think twice. On
his right hip, Hawk carried a short-handled axe instead of a sword. He was very good with an axe.
He'd had lots of practice.

Captain Isobel Fisher walked confidently at his side, echoing her partner's stance and pace with the
naturalness of long companionship. She was tall, easily six feet in height, and her long blond hair fell
to her waist in a single thick plait, weighted at the tip with a polished steel ball. She wore a battered
and almost shapeless fur hat, pulled down low to protect her ears from the bitter cold. There was a
rawboned harshness to her face, barely softened by her deep blue eyes and generous mouth. She was
handsome rather than pretty, her gaze was cool and direct, and she didn't smile much. Sometime,
somewhere in the past, something had scoured all the human weaknesses out of her, and it showed.
She wore the same furs and cloak as Hawk, though with rather more grace and style. She wore a sword
on her hip, and her skill with it was legendary, in a city not easily impressed by legends.

Hawk and Fisher, feared and respected by one and all as the toughest and most honest Guards in
Haven. They had a lot of enemies, both inside and outside the Guard.

Their prisoner was a short, scrawny, harmless-looking man, wrapped in a long fur coat, topped off
with a pair of fluffy earmuffs. His thinning black hair was plastered to his head with rather more grease
than necessary, and he had a permanent scowl. Benny the Weasel was not a happy man.

"You're making a terrible mistake," he repeated for the tenth time, in what he imagined was an
ingratiating tone. "Let's be reasonable about this."

"Sorry," said Hawk, without looking round. "I'm only reasonable at weekends. And Fisher doesn't
believe in being reasonable. Says it's bad for her image."

"Right," said Fisher, glaring horribly at a nun who hadn't got out of her way fast enough.

"This is all a misunderstanding," said Benny doggedly. "I am a legitimate businessman."

Hawk snorted derisively. "Benny, you are a small-time villain who makes most of his money running a
nasty little protection racket, advising local shopkeepers of all the awful things that might happen to
them or their premises if they don't keep up the payments. Only this time you were dumb enough to do
it in person, in front of Fisher and me. What's the matter, both your leg-breakers down with the flu?"

Benny sniffed. "You can't get good help these days. Look, I am an important figure in the community.
I know my rights. I pay my taxes. Technically, you work for me."

"Then you should be pleased to be getting such value for your money," said Fisher. "We witnessed a
crime and arrested the criminal on the spot. What more do you want?"

"You won't get away with this!" said Benny desperately. "I have friends. I have influence. You won't
be able to make this charge stick. I'll be out on the streets again before you can blink!"

Hawk looked at him. "You know, Benny, you're starting to get on my nerves. Now, be a good fellow
and shut your face or I'll have Fisher take you into the nearest dark alley and reason with you for a
while."