Чума
Part I
Justimaginetheamazementofourlittletownwhichhadbeensoquietuntilthen,ravagedinafewdays,likeahealthymanwhosethickbloodhadsuddenlyrebelledagainsthim!
ThingsgottothepointwhereInfodoc(theagencyforinformationanddocumentation,"allyouneedtoknowonanysubject")announcedinitsfreeradionewsprogrammethat6,231ratshadbeencollectedandburnedinasingleday,the25th.Thisfigure,whichgaveaclearmeaningtothedailyspectaclethateveryoneintownhadinfrontoftheireyes,disconcertedthemevenmore.Uptothenpeoplehadmerelycomplainedaboutaratherdisgustingaccident.Nowtheysawthattherewassomethingthreateninginthisphenomenon,theextentandoriginofwhichwasnotyetcleartothem.OnlytheasthmaticoldSpaniardkeptrubbinghishandsandrepeating,withseniledelight:"They’recomingout,they’recomingout!"
However,onApril28Infodocannouncedacollectionofaroundeightthousandratsandanxietyreacheditspeakinthetown.Peoplecalledforradicalmeasures,accusingtheauthoritiesofinaction,andsomefamilieswhohadseasidehomeswerealreadytalkingaboutescapingtothem.Butthefollowingdaytheagencyannouncedthatthephenomenonhadabruptlystoppedandthattherodentcontrolservicehadgatheredonlyaninsignificantnumberofdeadrats.Thetownheavedasighofrelief.
