Чума
Part IV
Hespokelittleabouthisforthcomingescape.Onenotablefact:afteraweek,heconfidedinthedoctorthatforthefirsttime,thepreviousnight,hehadgotdrunk.Oncomingoutofthebar,hesuddenlyhadtheimpressionthathisgroinwasswellingandthathisarmswerestiffaroundthearmpits.Hethoughtitwastheplague.Andtheonlythinghecouldthinkofdoingatthatpoint—somethingwhichheagreedwithRieuxwasnotreasonable—wastorunuptothehighestpartofthetownandthere,fromalittlesquarefromwhichyoucouldstillnotseethesea,butcouldatleastseeabitmoresky,hecalledtohiswifewithagreatcryacrossthetownwalls.Whenhegothome,hefoundnosignofinfectiononhimselfandwasnotparticularlyproudofsuccumbingtothissuddenpanic.Rieuxsaidthatheunderstoodhisactinglikethatverywell:"Inanycase,"hesaid,"it’sthesortofthingyoumightwanttodo."
"MonsieurOthontalkedtomeaboutyouthismorning,"RieuxaddedsuddenlyjustasRambertwasleaving."HeaskedmeifIknewyou."Thenadvisehim,"hesaid,"nottofrequentsmugglers.Peoplearestartingtonoticehim."
"Whatdoesthatmean?"
"Itmeansthatyou’dbetterhurry."
"Thankyou,"saidRambert,shakingthedoctor’shand.
Atthedoor,hesuddenlyturnedround.Rieuxsawthatforthefirsttimesincetheoutbreakoftheplaguehewassmiling.
"Sowhydon’tyoustopmeleaving?Youcouldifyouwantedto.
