Чума

           "Youunderstand,doctor.Atapinch,itiseasyenoughtochoosebetweenbutandand.Italreadybecomesmoredifficulttooptforandorthen.Thedifficultygrowswiththenandafterwards.Butwhatissurelyhardestofallistodecidewhetheroneshouldputandornot."

           "Yes,"Rieuxsaid."Iunderstand."

           Andhesetoffagain.Theothermanseemedconfusedandoncemorecaughtupwithhim.

           "Excuseme,"hestammered."Idon’tknowwhat’swrongwithmethisevening!"

           Rieuxtappedhimlightlyontheshoulderandsaidthathewantedtohelphim,becausehisstoryinterestedhimagooddeal.Grandseemedalittlecalmerandwhentheyarrivedathishousehesitatedforamoment,theninvitedthedoctortocomeup.Rieuxaccepted.

           Inthedining-room,Grandinvitedhimtositdownatatablespreadwithpapers,amanuscriptinminutehandwriting,whichwascoveredwithcrossings-out.

           "Yes,that’sit,"Grandtoldthedoctor,whowaslookingathimenquiringly."Butwouldyoulikeadrink?Ihavealittlewine."

           Rieuxrefused,Hewaslookingatthesheetsofpaper.

           "Don’tlook,"saidGrand."It’smyfirstsentence.It’sgivingmetrouble,alotoftrouble."

           He,too,wasstaringatallthesheetsofpaperandhishandseemedtobeirresistiblydrawntowardsoneofthem,whichheraisedupuntilthelightfromtheunshadedbulbwasshiningthroughit.Thesheettrembledinhishand.