Чума
Part II
Rieuxnoticedthattheclerk’sforeheadwasdamp.
"Sitdown",Rieuxsaid,"andreadittome."
Theothermanlookedathimwithakindofgratitude.
"Yes,"hesaid."IthinkI’dliketo."
Hewaitedforamoment,stilllookingatthesheetofpaper,thensatdown.Rieuxwaslisteningatthesametimetoasortofvaguehummingsoundinthetown,asifreplyingtothewhistlingflailoftheplague.Atthisparticularmomenthehadanextraordinarilyacuteperceptionofthetownspreadoutathisfeet,theenclosedworldthatitformedandthedreadfulcriesstifledinitsnight.HeheardGrand’smuffledvoice:"OnafinemorninginthemonthofMay,anelegantwomanwasridingamagnificentsorrelmarethroughthefloweredavenuesoftheBoisdeBoulogne."Silencereturnedandwithitthefaintmurmuringofthesufferingtown.Grandhadputdownthesheetofpaper,butwasstillstaringatit.Afterapause,helookedup:
"Whatdoyouthinkofit?"
Rieuxrepliedthatthisbeginningmadehimcurioustoknowwhatwouldfollow.Buttheothermansaidwithexcitementthatthiswasnottherightwayoflookingatit.Heslappedtheflatofhishanddownonthepaper.
"That’sonlyaroughidea.
