Чума
Part II
Butafterafewprecisequestionshemanagedtofindtheofficewhichhadsenthimtheformandhewastoldthattheinformationwasbeingcollected"intheevent…"
"Intheeventofwhat?"Rambertasked.
Theythentoldhimthatitwasintheeventofhisfallingillwiththeplagueanddying,inwhichcasetheycould,ontheonehand,informhisfamily,andontheotherknowwhetherthehospitalfeesshouldbechargedtothebudgetofthetownorwhethertheycouldrequestreimbursementfromhisrelatives.Obviously,thisprovedthathewasnotaltogethercutofffromthewomanwhowaswaitingforhim;societywastakinganinterestinthem.Butthatwasnoconsolation.Whatwasmoreremarkable—andRambertconsequentlyremarkedonit—wasthewayinwhich,intheverymidstofadisaster,anofficecouldcarryonworkingandtakeinitiativesappropriatetoaquitedifferenttime,oftenunknowntothehighestauthorities,forthesimplereasonthatitwasdesignedtooperateinthisway.
ForRambert,theperiodthatfollowedwasboththeeasiestandthemostdifficult.Itwasaperiodofnumbness.Hehadvisitedalltheoffices,madealltheapproaches,andforthetimebeingtheexitsinthatdirectionwereblocked.Hewanderedfromcafetocafe.
