Чума
Part II
Butwhentheysawthatitwasserious,theyrememberedpleasure.Sointhedusty,blazingduskalltheanguishimprintedontheirfacesduringthedayresolvesitselfintoasortofcrazedexcitement,anuneasyfreedomthatenflamesawholepopulation.
"I,too,amlikethem.Andyet!Deathisnothingformenlikemyself.It’saneventthatprovesusright."
***
ItwasTarrouwhohadaskedRieuxforthetalkthathementionsinhisnotebooks.OntheeveningwhenRieuxwasexpectinghim,thedoctorhappenedtobelookingathismother,whowasquietlysittinginacornerofthedining-roomonachair.Thisiswhereshespentherdayswhenshehadfinishedthehouseholdchores.Withherhandscrossedonherknees,shewaited.Rieuxwasnotevensurethathewaswhatshewaswaitingfor.However,somethingchangedinhismother’sfacewhenheappeared.Atthatmoment,allthetaciturnitythatahard-workinglifehadimposedonitseemedtolift.Thenshewouldrelapseintosilence.Thatevening,shewaslookingoutofthewindowintothenowdesertedstreet.Thestreetlightinghadbeenreducedbytwo-thirds;andhereandthereaveryweaklightcastitsglowintotheshadesofthetown.
"Aretheygoingtokeepthelightinglowuntiltheplague’sover?"MmeRieuxasked.
"Probably."
"Aslongasitdoesn’tgoonuntilwinter.Thatwouldbedreary."
"Yes,"saidRieux.
Hesawthathismotherwaslookingathisforehead.
