Чума
Part III
Intheevening,insteadofthegatheringsinwhichpeopletriedtoprolongcontactasfaraspossiblethesedays,eachofwhichcouldbethelast,onemetsmallgroupsofpeoplehurryingtoreturnhomeorgetintocafes,somuchsothatforsomedays,atduskwhichfellmuchfasteratthattimeoftheyear,thestreetsweredesertedandonlythewindmoanedcontinuallydownthem.Asmellofseaweedandsaltrosefromthewind-tossed,alwaysinvisiblesea.Thisemptytown,whitewithdust,saturatedwithseasmells,loudwiththehowlofthewind,wouldgroanatsuchtimeslikeanislandofthedamned.
Uptonowtheplaguehadclaimedmanymorevictimsintheoutlyingdistricts,whichweremorecrowdedandlessaffluentthanthecentreoftown.Butsuddenlyitseemedtogetcloserandtotakeupresidenceinthebusinessquartersaswell.Theinhabitantsaccusedthewindofcarryingtheseedsofinfection."Itisshufflingthecards,"saidthemanagerofthehotel.Whateverthecause,thetowncentrelearnedthatitsturnhadcomewhenitspeopleheardwithincreasedfrequencyatnightthethrobbingofambulancessoundingthedreary,passionlesscalloftheplaguebeneaththeirwindows.
Insidethetownsomeonehadtheideaofquarantiningcertaindistrictswhichhadbeenespeciallyhardhitandonlyallowingpeoplewhoseserviceswereindispensabletoleavethem.
