Чума
Part II
"TarrouaskedmetoinviteCottard,Idon’tknowwhy.Heshouldbehereatten.Youcomeathalfpast."
WhenCottardarrivedatthedoctor’sthenextday,TarrouandRieuxweretalkingaboutanunexpectedcureinvolvingoneofthedoctor’spatients.
"Oneoutoften.Hewaslucky,"Tarrouwassaying.
"Oh,well,"saidCottard."Thenitwasn’tplague."
Theyassuredhimthatitreallyhadbeenthedisease.
"Itcan’tbeso,ifherecovered.YouknowaswellasIdo,theplagueismerciless."
"Onthewhole,itis,"saidRieux."Butifyoupersevere,youcanhavesomepleasantsurprises."
Cottardlaughed.
"Itdoesn’tseemlikeit.Haveyouseenthisevening’sfigures?"
Tarrou,whowasgivingthemanofmeansakindlylook,saidthatheknewthefiguresandthesituationwasserious,butwhatdidthatprove?Itprovedthattheyneededstillmoreemergencymeasures.
"You’vetakenthemalready."
"Yes,buteveryonehastotakethemonhisownaccount."
CottardlookedatTarrouwithoutunderstanding.Theothermanexplainedthattoomanypeoplewerenotdoinganything,thattheepidemicwaseverybody’sbusinessandthattheyallhadtodotheirduty.Thevoluntaryhealthteamswereopentoall.
"It’sanidea,"saidCottard."Butitwon’tdoanygood.Theplagueistoostrong.
