Чума
Part II
Afterwards,theycanreflectonitallandsocanI.Buttheimmediatetaskistocurethem.IamdefendingthemasbestIcan,that’sall."
"Againstwhom?"
Rieuxturnedtowardsthewindow.Inthedistance,wherethehorizoncondensedintoadarkermass,hesensedthepresenceofthesea.Allhecouldfeelwashisexhaustionandatthesametimehewasstrugglingagainstasudden,unreasonabledesiretoconfidealittlemoreinthisman,thisunusualman,butonewhomhefelttobeafriendandabrother.
"Idon’tknowatall,Tarrou,Ipromiseyou,Idon’tknow.WhenIfirsttookupthisprofession,Ididsoinasenseabstractly,becauseIneededto,becauseitwasacareerlikeanyother,oneofthosethatyoungpeopleconsiderforthemselves.And,perhaps,alsobecauseitwasespeciallyhardforsomeonelikemyself,aworking-man’sson.AndthenIhadtoseepeopledie.Doyouknowthattherearepeoplewhorefusetodie?Haveyoueverheardawomancryout"Never!"atthemomentofdeath?Ihave.AndIrealizedthenthatIcouldnotgetusedtoit.Iwasyoungandmydisgustthoughtthatitwasdirectedagainsttheveryorderoftheworld.SincethenIhavebecomemoremodest.QuitesimplyIamstillnotusedtoseeingpeopledie.Idon’tknowanythingmorethanthat.But,afterall…"
Rieuxpausedandsatdownagain.Hismouthfeltdry.
"Afterall?"Tarrousaidsoftly.
