Чума
Part II
Normally,allourfellow-citizensrejoicedatthecomingofsummer.Thetownusedtoopenitselftowardstheseaandspillitsyoungpeopleoutontothebeaches.Thissummer,however,thenearbyseawasoutofboundsandthebodynolongerhadtherighttoenjoyit.Inthesecircumstances,whatcouldonedo?Oncemore,Tarrouwasthepersonwhogavethemostaccuratepictureofourlifeasitwasthen.Naturallyhewasfollowingthecourseoftheplagueingeneral,accuratelyobservingthataturningpointintheepidemicwasmarkedbytheradionolongerannouncingsomehundredsofdeathsperweek,but92,107and120deathsaday."Thenewspapersandtheauthoritiesareengagedinabattleofwitswiththeplague.Theythinkthattheyarescoringpointsagainstit,because130isalowerfigurethan910."Hewouldalsonotethetouchingorimpressiveaspectsoftheepidemic,likethewomanwho,inanemptydistrict,withclosedshutters,hadsuddenlythrownopenawindowaboveherandletouttwogreatcriesbeforepullingtheshuttersclosedagainonthedeepshadowsofherroom.Inaddition,hepointedoutthatpeppermintshadvanishedfromchemists’shopsbecausealotofpeoplesuckedthemasadefenceagainstinfection.
Andhecontinuedtoobservehisfavouritecharacters.Helearnedthatthelittleoldmanwiththecatswasexperiencingatragedyofhisown.Whathadhappenedwasthatonemorningsomeshotshadrungoutand,asTarroudescribedit,splintersofleadhadkilledmostofthecatsandterrorizedtherest,wholeftthestreet.
