Чума
Part II
"Afterthefirsttramshavegoneby,thetownwakesupbitbybitandthefirsttavernsopentheirdoorswithcountersladenwithnotices:"Nomorecoffee","Bringyourownsugar",etc.Thentheshopsopenandthestreetsfill.AtthesametimethelightincreasesandtheheatgraduallybuildsupitsleadenweightintheJulysky.Thisisthetimewhenthosewhohavenothingtodoventureoutontotheboulevards.Mostofthemseemtohaveresolvedtowardofftheplaguebyanostentatiousdisplayofwealth.Everyday,ataroundeleveno’clockinthemajorthoroughfares,thereisaparadeofyoungmenandwomenamongwhomonecansensethatpassionforlifewhichflourishesinthemidstofgreatdisasters.Iftheepidemicextends,sowilltheboundsofmorality.WeshallseetheMilanesesaturnaliabesidethetombs.
"Atnoontherestaurantsfillinthetwinklingofaneye.Smallgroupsofpeoplewhohavenotmanagedtofindaseatrapidlyformatthedoor.Theskystartstoloseitsluminescencebecauseoftheexcessiveheat.Candidatesforfoodwaittheirturnintheshadeofthegreatawnings,ontheedgeofstreetsburstingwithsunshine.Thereasonwhytherestaurantsarepackedoutisthat,formanypeople,theysimplifytheproblemofgettingfood.Buttheyleaveunalteredtheiranxietiesaboutinfection.Dinersspendseveralminutespatientlywipingtheirknivesandforks.Notlongagosomerestaurantswouldannounce:"Here,thecutleryhasbeenboiled.
