Чума

           Thisdiscussionwasinterruptedonlybyaradiosetwhichhadbeensoftlydroningoutsentimentalsongs,thenannouncedthatonthepreviousdaytheplaguehadclaimed137victims.Nooneamongthelistenersreactedtothis.Themanwiththehorse’sheadshruggedhisshouldersandgotup.RaoulandRambertfollowedsuit.

           Ashewasleaving,thecentre-halfshookRambert’shandvigorously:

           "Myname’sGonzales,"hesaid.

           ThetwodaysseemedendlesstoRambert.HewenttoseeRieuxandgavehimadetailedaccountofwhathadgoneon.Thenheaccompaniedthedoctorononeofhishousecalls.Hesaidgoodbyeatthefrontdoorbeyondwhichasuspectedvictimwaswaiting.Inthecorridortherewasasoundofvoicesandhurryingsteps:thefamilywasbeingtoldthatthedoctorhadarrived.

           "IhopeTarrouwon’tbelong,"Rieuxmuttered.Heseemedtired.

           "Istheepidemicprogressingtooquickly?"Rambertasked.

           Rieuxrepliedthatthatwasnottheproblem;eventhegraphwaslevellingout.Itwasjustthattheydidnothaveenoughweaponswithwhichtofighttheplague.

           "Wedon’thavetheequipment,"hesaid."Generally,ineveryarmyintheworld,whenmaterielrunsshort,itisreplacedbymen.Butwedon’thaveenoughmeneither."

           "Doctorsandhealthworkershavebeenbroughtinfromoutside."

           "Yes,"Rieuxsaid."Tendoctorsandaroundahundredmen.Thisisalot,apparently.