Чума

           Othon,theexaminingmagistrate,holdinghislittleboybythehand.Thedoctoraskedifhewasgoingsomewhere.M.Othon,tallanddark,half-resemblingwhatusedoncetobecalleda"manoftheworld",andhalfanundertaker,repliedinafriendly,butbriskmanner:

           "I’mwaitingforMadameOthonwhohasbeenawaypayingherrespectstomyfamily."

           Theenginewhistled.

           "Rats…,"saidthejudge.

           Rieuxmadeamovementtowardsthetrain,thenturnedtoleavetheplatform.

           "Yes,"hesaid."It’snothing."

           Theonlythingherecordedinthatmomentwasastationguardwalkingpastwithapacking-casefullofdeadratsunderhisarm.

           Ontheafternoonofthesameday,ashewasstartinghissurgery,Rieuxhadavisitfromayoungman,ajournalistwho,hewastold,hadcalledalreadytoseehimthatmorning.HisnamewasRaymondRambert.Short,withstockyshoulders,adeterminedfaceandclear,intelligenteyes,Rambertworesportyclothesandseemedateasewiththeworld.Hecamestraighttothepoint.HewasdoinganinvestigationforalargeParisiannewspaperaboutthelivingconditionsoftheArabsandwantedinformationabouttheirstateofhealth.Rieuxtoldhimthattheirhealthwasnotgood;butbeforegoingfurther,hewantedtoknowifthejournalistcouldtellthetruth.

           "Certainly,"theothermansaid.