Чума
Part II
Partlybecausehewastired,histhroatfeltdry.
"Let’shaveadrink."
Inthethick,reddishatmosphereofthelittlecafethattheyentered,litbyasinglelampabovethecounter,peopleweretalkinginlowvoices,fornoobviousreason.ToRieux’ssurprise,whentheygottothecounterGrandorderedaglassofbrandywhichhedrankinasinglegulp,sayingthatitwasstrong.Thenhewantedtoleave.OutsideitseemedtoRieuxthatthenightwasfullofsighingandmoaning.Somewhereintheblackskyabovethestreetlightsadullwhistleremindedhimoftheinvisiblescourgeendlesslystirringinthewarmair.
"Luckily,luckily…,"Grandsaid.
Rieuxwonderedwhathemeant.
"Luckily,"theothermansaid,"Ihavemywork."
"Yes,"saidRieux."Itdoeshelp."
And,decidingnottolistentothewhistlingsound,heaskedGrandifhewassatisfiedwithhiswork.
"Well,IthinkI’montherighttrack."
"Willittakeyoumuchlonger?"
Grandseemedtobecomeexcitedandthewarmthofthealcoholpassedintohisvoice.
"Idon’tknow.Butthat’snotthequestion,doctor,that’snotthequestion.No."
Inthedarkness,Rieuxguessedthathewaswavinghisarms.Heseemedtobegettingreadytosaysomethingthatcameabruptlyandinarush.
