Чума
Part II
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"Despitethepapershortagewhichisbecomingmoreandmoresevere,forcingcertainperiodicalstocutdownonthenumberofpages,anewpaperhasbeenlaunched,TheCourrieroftheEpidemic,withtheaimof"informingourfellow-citizens,inaspiritoftotalobjectivity,abouttheadvancesordeclineintheillness;toprovidethemwiththemostauthoritativeaccountsofthefutureoftheepidemic;tolendthesupportofitscolumnstoallthose,well-knownorotherwise,whomaybeabletofightthispestilence;tosustainthemoraleoftheinhabitants,topassondirectivesfromtheauthoritiesand,inshort,tobringtogetherallwell-intentionedpersonstoundertakeaneffectivestruggleagainstthescourgewhichhasfallenuponus."Inreality,thepaperverysoonconfineditselftopublishingadvertisementsfornewproductswhichwereinfallibleinprotectingagainstplague.
"Aroundsixinthemorning,allthesenewspapersstartedtobesoldinthequeuesformingatthedoorsofshopsmorethananhourbeforeopening,theninthepackedtramsthatarrivedfromtheoutlyingdistricts.Tramshavebecometheonlymeansoftransportandtheycanhardlymove,theirfootboardsandrailsloadedtobreakingpoint.Anoddthing,however:allthepassengers,asfaraspossible,turntheirbacksononeanother,toavoidinfection.Atstops,thetramunloadsitscargoofmenandwomen,allinahurrytogetawayandbeontheirown.Rowsoftenbreakoutduepurelytobadtemper,whichisbecomingchronic.
