Чума
Part II
"
AstheywentoutRambertaskedwhatthebusinesswas.
"Contraband,ofcourse.Theygetmerchandisethroughthetowngates,thensellathighprices."
"Fine,"saidRambert."Aretheyincollusionwiththepolice?"
"Youbet."
Thatevening,theawningwasraised,theparrotwassquawkinginitscageandthemetaltablesweresurroundedbymeninshirt-sleeves.Oneofthem,withastrawhatpushedbackonhisheadandawhiteshirtopenonachestthecolourofburntearth,gotupwhenCottardcamein.Hehadregular,tannedfeatures,smallblackeyes,whiteteethandtwoorthreeringsonhisfingers.Heappearedtobeagedaroundthirty.
"Hi,"hesaid."We’redrinkingatthebar."
Theydrankthreeroundsinsilence,thenGarciasaid:
"Whydon’twegooutside?"
TheywalkeddowntowardstheportandGarciaaskedwhattheywantedofhim.Cottardsaidthathedidn’tpreciselywanttointroducehimtoRambertforbusiness,butjustforwhathecalled"anexit".Garciawalkedstraightahead,smoking.Heaskedaquestion,using"he"torefertoRambert,asthoughunawareofhispresence.
"Whatdoeshewanttodo?"
"HehasawifeinFrance."
"Ah!"
Then,afterapause:
"Whatjobdoeshedo?"
"Journalist."
"That’saprofessionwheretheytalkalot.
