Чума
Part II
Andthequestionisnotwhatrewardorpunishmentawaitsthedemonstration;itisknowingwhetherornottwoandtwodomakefour.Forthoseofthetownspeoplewhoriskedtheirlives,theyhadtodecidewhetherornottheywereinastateofplagueandwhetherornottheyshouldtrytoovercomeit.
Alotofnewmoralistsappearedinthetownatthismoment,sayingthatnothingwasanyuseandthatweshouldgodownonourknees.Tarrou,Rieuxandtheirfriendscouldanswerthisorthat,buttheconclusionwasalwayswhattheyknewitwouldbe:onemustfight,inonewayoranother,andnotgodownonone’sknees.Thewholequestionwastopreventthelargestpossiblenumberofpeoplefromdyingandsufferingadefinitiveseparation.Therewasonlyonewaytodothis,whichwastofighttheplague.Therewasnothingadmirableaboutthistruth,itsimplyfollowedasalogicalconsequence.
ThisiswhyitwasnaturalforoldCasteltoputallhistrustandenergyintomakingserumsonthespot,withwhateverwastohand.Rieuxandhehopedthataserummadewithculturesfromtheverymicrobethatwasinfectingthetownwouldbemoredirectlyeffectivethananyserumbroughtinfromoutside,sincethemicrobedifferedveryslightlyfromthebacillusofplagueastraditionallydefined.Castelhopedtohavehisfirstserumquitesoon.
ThisisalsowhyitwasnaturalforGrand,whohadnothingheroicabouthim,tobeinchargeofasortofsecretariatofhealthorganizations.
