Чума
Part II
Inthemorninghewouldsitdownonaterraceinfrontofaglassofwarmbeer,readingthenewspaperandhopingtofindinitsomeindicationthattheepidemicwouldsoonbeover,watchingthefacesofthepassers-byinthestreetandturningawayindisgustfromtheirexpressionsofmelancholy.Thenafterreadingforthehundredthtimethesignsontheshopsoppositeandtheadvertisementsforgreataperitifswhichwerealreadynolongeravailable,hewouldgetupandwalkaimlesslythroughtheyellowstreetsofthetown.Inthisway,withsolitarywalkstocafesandfromcafestorestaurants,hewouldreachevening.Rieuxnoticedhim,ononesuchevening,atthedoorofacafewherethejournalistseemedreluctanttoenter.Thenheappearedtomakeuphismindandwenttositatthebackoftheroom.Itwasatthetimewhen,inobediencetoordersfromabove,theywoulddelayaslongaspossiblethemomentofturningonthelightsinpublicplaces.Duskspreadthroughtheroomlikegreywater,thepinkoftheeveningskywasreflectedagainstthewindowsandmirrors,andthemarbletabletopsshonefaintlyinthegatheringdarkness.InthemiddleoftheemptyroomRambertseemedlikealostshadeandRieuxthoughtthatitwashistimeforgivingup.Butitwasalsothemomentwhenalltheprisonersofthetownfelttheirownsenseofabandonmentandsomethingmustbedonetospeedtheirdelivery.Rieuxturnedaway.
Rambertalsospentlongperiodsoftimeinthestation.Itwasforbiddentogoontotheplatforms.
