Чума
Part II
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Cottardprotestedthathedidn’twanttheplague,ithadcomeofitsownaccordanditwasnothisfaultifittemporarilygothimoutofamess.AndwhenRambertarrivedatthedoor,headded,withalotofemphasis:
"Inanycase,whatIthinkisthatyouwon’tachieveanything."
RambertlearnedthatCottarddidnotknowGonzales’saddress,butthattheycouldalwaysgobacktothelittlecafe.Theyarrangedameetingforthenextday.AndwhenRieuxindicatedthathewouldliketoknowwhatwasgoingon,Rambertinvitedhim,withTarrou,tocometohisroomthatweekendatanytimeoftheday.
InthemorningCottardandRambertwenttothelittlecafeandleftamessageforGarciatomeetthemthateveningor,ifthatwasimpossible,thenextday.Intheeveningtheywaitedinvain,butthefollowingdayGarciawasthere.HelistenedtoRambert’sstoryinsilence.Hehadnotbeeninformed,buthedidknowthatwholedistrictshadbeenputoutofboundsfortwenty-fourhourswhilethepolicemadehouse-to-housesearches.ItwaspossiblethatGonzalesandthetwoyoungmenhadbeenunabletogetpasttheroadblocks.TheonlythingthatcouldbedonewastoputthemintouchwithRaoul.Ofcourse,itcouldnotbedoneovernight.
"Isee,"saidRambert."Wehavetogobacktosquareone."
Thedayafternext,atthecornerofastreet,RaoulconfirmedGarcia’ssupposition:thelowerdistrictshadbeensealedoff.
