Чума
Part II
"Toloveortodietogether,thereisnothingelsetobedone.Theyaretoofaraway."
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Andwhatpreciselyremainstobetoldbeforewecometotheheightoftheplague,whilethepestilencewasgatheringallitsstrengthforanassaultonthetown,sothatitcouldtakeholdofitforgood,arethelong,desperate,monotonouseffortsthatafewindividualslikeRambertmadetorediscoverhappinessandtopreservefromtheplaguethatpartofthemselvesthattheydefendedagainstallassault.Thiswastheirwayofresistingthethreatofslavery,andeventhoughthisresistancewasevidentlynotaseffectiveastheother,thenarrator’sopinionisthatithaditsownlogicand,initsveryfutilityandcontradictions,alsoborewitnesstotheelementofprideineachofusatthetime.
Rambertstruggledtopreventtheplaguefromtakinghim.Whenithadbeenprovedtohimthathecouldnotleavethetownbylegalmeans,hedecided,ashetoldRieux,totrytheothersort.Thejournaliststartedwithwaiters:awaiterinacafealwaysknowseverythingthatisgoingon.Butthefirstoneshequestionedwereespeciallywellinformedabouttheveryseriouspenaltiesimposedforthiskindofventure.Inonecase,hewasevenmistakenforanagentprovocateur.ItwasnotuntilhemetCottardatRieux’sthathemadesomeheadway.ThatdayRieuxandhehadbeentalkingonceagainaboutthejournalist’sfruitlesseffortswiththeauthorities.
