Чума
Part II
Intheterrifiedmindsofourfellow-citizens,andintheheatandsilence,everythingbecamemoreimportant.Forthefirsttime,allofusbecameawareofthecoloursoftheskyandthesmellsoftheearthwhichmarkthepassageoftheseasons.Eachpersonrealizedwithanxietythatwarmthwouldfavourtheepidemicand,atthesametime,eachonesawthatsummerwassettlingin.Thecalloftheswiftsintheeveningskybecamesharperabovethetown,andtheskyitselfhadgrowntoosmallforthosedusksofJunethatpushbackthehorizoninourcountry.Inthemarketstheflowersnolongerarrivedasbudsbutwerealreadyblooming,and,afterthemorningsale,theirpetalslitteredthedustypavements.Itwascleartoseethatspringhadexhausteditself,givingofitsbountyinthethousandsofflowerstobeseeneverywherearound,andthatnowitwasgoingtofadeaway,slowlycrushedbeneaththedoubleweightoftheplagueandtheheat.Thissummerskyandthesestreetspalingbeneaththecoloursofdustandboredomhadthesamesinistermeaningforeveryoneasthehundredadditionaldeathsthatweigheddailyuponthetown.Thisincessantsunshine,thisseasonwithitsflavourofsleepandholidays,nolongerinvitedonetothepleasuresofwaterandthebody,astheyoncehad.Onthecontrary,inthesilent,enclosedtown,theygaveahollowsound.Theyhadlosttheresonantshineofhappiertimes.Theplaguesunextinguishedallcoloursanddroveawayalljoy.
Thiswasoneoftheprofoundchangesbroughtaboutbytheepidemic.
