Чума

           Hewasrubbinghisneckinamechanicalway.Rieuxaskedhowhefelt.Theconciergeansweredthat,ofcourse,hecouldn’tsayhewasill,butthat,evenso,hewasnotfeelingquitehimself.Inhisview,itwasamatterofmorale.Theseratshadbeenashockforhimandeverythingwouldbemuchbetteroncetheyhadgone.

           Thenextmorning,however,April18,thedoctorwasbringinghismotherhomefromthestationandfoundM.Michellookingevenmorepoorly:fromthecellartotheattic,therewereadozenratslyingonthestairs.Thedustbinsintheneighbouringhouseswerefullofthem.Thedoctor’smotherwasnotsurprisedwhenhetoldher.

           "Thingslikethathappen."

           Shewasalittle,silver-hairedwoman,withsoft,darkeyes.

           "I’mgladtoseeyouagain,Bernard,"shesaid."Theratscan’tchangethat."

           Heagreed;itwastruethatwithhereverythingalwaysseemedeasy.

           Evenso,Rieuxphonedthedistrictrodentcontrolservice,whereheknewthedirector.Hadheheardabouttheseratswhichwereemerginginlargenumbersanddyingintheopen?Yes,Mercier,thedirector,hadbeeninformed;theyhadevendiscoveredmorethanfiftyoftheminhisownoffices,whichwerenotfarfromtheport.Yethewonderedhowseriousitwas.Rieuxcouldnotgiveanopiniononthat,buthethoughttherodentcontrolserviceshoulddosomething.

           "Wecan,"Merciersaid."Withanorder.Ifyoureallythinkit’sworthwhile,I’lltrytogetone.