Чума
Part IV
Eventhoughthepriceofgoodswasrisinginexorably,peoplehadneverwastedsomuchmoneyandwhilemostofthemlackedtheessentials,theyhadnevermoreeffectivelydissipatedthesuperfluous.Youcouldseethemindulginginallthegamesofanidlenessthatwasinrealitynothingbutunemployment.SometimesCottardandTarrouwouldfollowforminutesatatimebehindoneofthosecoupleswhohadpreviouslytakentroubletohidewhatunitedthemandwhonow,pressedoneagainsttheother,wouldmarchstubbornlythroughthetownwithoutnoticingthecrowdthatsurroundedthem,withtheslightlyobsessiveabsorptionofgreatpassion.Cottardwouldgushoverthem:"Oh,whatlustyyoungthings!"hewouldsay.Andhesaiditaloud,becomingexpansiveinthemidstofthecollectivefever,thehugetipsclangingonthetablesaroundthemandintriguesconcoctedbeforetheireyes.
However,TarroufeltthattherewaslittlemaliceinCottard’sattitude.His"Iexperiencedthatbeforethem"wassaidmoreinmisfortunethanintriumph."Ithink",Tarrousaid,"thatheisstartingtolovethesepeopleimprisonedbetweentheskyandthewallsoftheirtown.Forexample,ifhecould,hewouldhappilyexplaintothemthatitisnotasbadasallthat:"Can’tyouhearthem?"heasked."Aftertheplague,I’lldothis,aftertheplagueI’lldothat…"They’reruiningtheirlives,insteadofstayingcalm.Andtheydon’tevenrealizewhattheyhavegoingforthem.CouldIsay:"Aftermyarrest,I’lldothisorthat?Anarrestisabeginning,notanend.
