Чума
Part I
"Doingthatmustbepainful,Ishouldthink.Ofcourse,Iwentin."
Theyhadpushedopenadoorandwereattheentrancetoabright,butpoorlyfurnishedroom.Alittleroundmanwaslyingonabrassbedstead.Hewasbreathingheavilyandlookedatthemwithbloodshoteyes.Thedoctorstopped.Inthepausesbetweentheman’sbreathshethoughthecouldhearratssqueaking,butnothingwasmovinganywhereintheroom.Rieuxwentovertothebed.Themanhadnotfallenfromhighenoughortoosuddenly,andhisspinehadtakentheblow.Ofcoursetherewassomeasphyxia.HewouldneedanX-ray.Thedoctorgavehimaninjectionofcamphoratedoilandtoldhimthathewouldbefineinafewdays.
"Thankyou,doctor,"themansaidinachokedvoice.
RieuxaskedGrandifhehadreportedthemattertothepoliceandthecivilservantlookeduncomfortable.
"No,"hesaid."Well,no…Ithoughtthatthemosturgentthing…"
"Ofcourse,"Rieuxsaid,interruptinghim."I’lldoitthen."
Butatthatmomentthesickmanstirredandsatuponthebed,protestingthathewaswellandthattherewasnoneed.
"Don’tworry,"saidRieux."It’snothingmuchandIhavetomakeastatement."
"Oh!"theothermansaid,andlayback.Hestartedtoweep,withlittlesobs.Grand,whohadbeentwirlinghismoustacheforawhile,wentacrosstohim,
"Comenow,MonsieurCottard,"hesaid.
