Чума
Part III
Rieuxknewthatinthiscasedesperatemeasureshadbeenenvisaged,forexamplethrowingbodiesintothesea,andhecouldeasilypicturethismonstrousfoamonthebluewaves.Healsoknewthatifthefigureswentonrising,noorganization,howeverexcellent,couldwithstanditandthatmenwouldcomeanddieinheapsandrotawayinthestreets,despitethePrefecture,andthatthetownwouldseethedeadonthepublicsquaresclingingtothelivingwithamixtureofjustifiedhatredandridiculoushope.
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Itwasthiskindofevidenceorfearwhichmeantthatourfellow-citizenshadacontinuingfeelingofexileandseparation.Atthisjuncturethenarratorisperfectlywellawarehowunfortunateitisthathecannotheredescribesomethingtrulyspectacular,forexamplesomereassuringherooranimpressiveaction,similartothosethatonefindsinoldstories.Thetroubleis,thereisnothinglessspectacularthanapestilenceand,ifonlybecausetheylastsolong,greatmisfortunesaremonotonous.Inthememoryofthosewhohavelivedthroughthem,thedreadfuldaysoftheplaguedonotseemlikevastflames,cruelandmagnificent,butratherlikeanendlesstramplingthatflattenedeverythinginitspath.
No,theplaguehadnothingincommonwiththegreatelevatingimagesthatobsessedDrRieuxatthestartoftheepidemic.Firstofall,itwasashrewdlydesignedandflawlesssystem,whichoperatedwithgreatefficiency.
