Чума
Part II
"
Thecarstarted.
ShortlyafterwardsRambertandCottardsawGarciacoming.Hewalkedtowardsthemwithoutanysignofrecognitionandsaid,insteadofagreeting:"Wemustwait."
Aroundthemthecrowd,themajorityofwhomwerewomen,werestandingincompletesilence.Almostallofthemwerecarryingbasketsinthevainhopethattheycouldgetthemacrosstotheirsickrelativesandwiththestillmorefoolishnotionthattheserelativescouldmakeuseoftheprovisions.Thedoorwasguardedbyarmedsentriesandfromtimetotimeanoddcrycouldbeheardfromacrosstheyardwhichseparatedthebarracksfromthedoor.Atsuchmomentsworriedfacesamongthosewaitingwouldturntowardstheinfirmary.
Thethreemenwerewatchingthisscenewhena"hello",curtanddeep,behindthemmadethemturnround.Despitetheheat,Raoulwassmartlydressed.Tallandstrong,hewaswearingadarkchecksuitandafelthatwithaturned-upbrim.Hisfacewasratherpale.Tight-lipped,withbrowneyes,Raoulspokerapidlyandprecisely:
"We’llgodownintotown,"hesaid."Garcia,youcanleaveus."
Garcialitacigaretteandletthemwalkaway.Theydidsoquickly,adjustingtheirstepstokeepupwithRaoulwhohadplacedhimselfbetweenthem.
"Garciaexplainedtome,"hesaid."Itcanbedone.Inanycase,itwillcostyoutenthousandfrancs."
Rambertrepliedthatheaccepted.
