Чума
Part III
Everythingwasacceptedasitcame.
Finally,onemightsaythattheseparatednolongerhadthispeculiarprivilegethathadprotectedthematthestart.Theyhadlosttheegoismofloveandtheadvantagesthattheygainedbyit.Atleast,now,thesituationwasclear,thepestilenceaffectedeverybody.Allofus,inthemidstoftheshotsthatcouldbeheardatthegatesofthetown,thethumpofrubberstampsthatbeattherhythmofourlives,orourdeaths,inthemidstoffiresandfilingcards,terrorandformalities,destinedforanignominious—butregistered—death,amidhorrifyingsmokeandthetranquilnotesofambulances,weatethesamebreadofexile,waiting(thoughwedidnotknowit)forthesamedevastatingreunionandthesamedevastatingpeace.Nodoubtourlovewasstillthere,butquitesimplyitwasunusable,heavytocarry,inertinsideus,sterileascrimeorcondemnation.Itwasnolongeranythingexceptapatiencewithnofutureandastubbornwait.Fromthispointofview,theattitudeofsomeofourfellow-citizensremindedoneofthoselongqueuesinallpartsofthetown,infrontoffoodshops.Therewasthesameresignationandthesameforbearance,atoncelimitlessandwithoutillusions.Itwasmerelythatwhereseparationwasconcernedthefeelinghadtobemeasuredonascaleathousandtimesgreater,becauseanotherkindofhungerwasinvolved,onethatmightdevoureverything
