Чума
Part III
Thesilenttownwashenceforthaheapofmassive,motionlesscubesbetweenwhichthemutestatuesofforgottenbenefactorsorformergreatmen,stifledforeverinbronze,wereleftalonetryingwiththeirimitationfacesinstoneorirontosuggestadegradedimageofwhatthemanusedtobe.Thesemediocreidolsreignedbeneathaheavyskyonlifelesscrossroads,unfeelingbruteswhoevokedratherwellthestateofimmobilityintowhichwehaddrifted—oratleastitsfinalstate,thatofanecropolisinwhichplague,stoneandnightwouldfinallyhavesilencedeveryvoice.
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Butnightwasalsoineveryheart,andthefacts,aswellasthemyths,thatwerepassedaroundaboutburialswerenotlikelytoreassureourfellow-citizens.Itreallyisnecessarytospeakaboutburials,andthenarratorapologizesforthefact.Heiswellawareofthecriticismthatmightbelevelledagainsthiminthisrespect,andhisonlyjustificationisthattherewereburialsthroughoutthistimeandthat,inasense,hewasforced,likealltheotherpeopleofthetown,toconcernhimselfwiththem.Itisnotthathehasatasteforthiskindofceremony—onthecontrary,heprefersthecompanyofthelivingand,ifyouwantanexample,likesseabathing.Butthefactisthatseabathinghadbeenforbiddenandthecompanyofthelivingwasinconstantfearofbeingobligedtogivewaytothatofthedead.Thisisobvious.
