excerpt
…where their next meal’s coming from? How’s your repose when you
know they’re down there drinking cheap wine? How’s your repose
when you know that all they have to do is hop the next freight train
out of here after they do whatever they do. That’s not good for my
repose, and I don’t think it is for yours, either. There’s something else
you ought to think about. The bums who come in on freight trains
aren’t the only ones threatening our way of life. There are people who
come up into town from their shacks along the river.”
Engine Fred heard a soft explosion of breath and a muttered syllable
from Sam Winter.
“They forage in your garbage cans,” Torgerson said, “go onto
your property, find ways to be around your children. They don’t
have regular jobs and contribute to the community. They hang
around. Shouldn’t we protect our children from them?”
The mayor turned back to the council.
“I don’t want to take too much time here today, Ken. Members
of the council, you’re going to hear from a lot of folks about this
problem. You can use delaying tactics all you want, but you have a
responsibility to clean up this town for the decent people who live
here and work hard and want to protect their families from outsiders,
drifters and beggars.”
Torgerson took a seat in a row of chairs along the side wall of the
chamber. Ken Spear allowed the buzz from the audience to continue
for half a minute, then cut it off with his gavel. He called the
next speaker and asked him to identify himself.
“I am George Pearson,” said the man at the lectern, “the owner
of Pearson Lincoln-Mercury.”
“Are you here representing the business community, Mr.
Pearson?” Spear asked.
“Well, they didn’t elect me, but I know how the business community
thinks.”
“So, you’re representing yourself.”
“I guess so, yes.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Pearson.”
“I don’t have a speech.
Libros Libertad 