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Part II
ThisatleastwastheopinionofDrRieuxwhenhereadinthenewspapersorheardontheradiotheappealsandencouragementthattheoutsideworldgotthroughtothestrickentown.Atthesametimeasaidbyairorbyroad,everyeveningontheairwavesorinthepress,pityingoradmiringcommentsraineddownonthisnowsolitarytown;and,everytime,thedoctorwasirritatedbytheepicnoteorthetoneofaprize-givingaddress.Ofcourseheknewthattheconcernwasgenuine,butitcouldonlyexpressitselfintheconventionallanguageinwhichmentrytoexplainwhatunitesthemwiththerestofhumanity.Suchlanguagecouldnotbeappliedtothelittle,dailyeffortsofGrand,forexample,andcouldnotdescribeGrand’ssignificanceinthemidstoftheplague.
Sometimesatmidnight,inthegreatsilenceofthedesertedtown,justashegotintobedtocatchanall-too-shortmomentofsleep,thedoctorswitchedonhisradio.Andfromdistantpartsoftheworld,acrossthousandsofmiles,unknownbutfraternalvoicestriedawkwardlytoexpresstheirsolidarity—anddid,indeed,expressit,whileatthesametimeexhibitingthedreadfulpowerlessnessofallmenwhotrulyendeavourtoshareapainthattheycannotsee."Oran,Oran!"InvaintheappealcrossedtheseasandinvainRieuxstoodby,waiting;then,soon,eloquencewouldwellupandmakestillplainerthefundamentaldivisionthatmadeGrandandthespeakerstrangerstooneanother."Oran,yes,Oran!Butno,"thoughtthedoctor.
