Чума

           "

           Heslumpedbackintohisseat.

           "It’safact,that’sall,"hesaidwearily."Let’sjustacknowledgeitanddrawthenecessaryconclusions."

           "Whatconclusions?"Rambertasked.

           "Oh,"Rieuxsaid."Onecan’thealandknowatthesametime.Solet’shealasfastaswecan.That’sthemosturgentthing."

           AtmidnightTarrouandRieuxweregivingRamberttheplanofthedistrictwhichhehadtoinvestigate,whenTarroulookedathiswatch.Raisinghishead,hemetRambert’seyes.

           "Didyouletthemknow?"

           Thejournalistlookedaway.

           "Isentanote,"hesaidinastrainedvoice."BeforeIcametoseeyou."

           ***

           ItwasinthelastdaysofOctoberthattheytriedoutCastel’sserum.InpracticaltermsthiswasRieux’slasthope.Intheeventofanewfailurethedoctorwasconvincedthatthetownwouldhavetosurrendertothewhimsofthediseaseandeithertheepidemicwouldcontinueformanylongmonthsyetorelseitwoulddecidetocallahaltfornoreason.

           OntheeveofthedaywhenCastelcametoseeRieux,M.Othon’ssonfellillandthewholefamilyhadtogointoquarantine.Themother,whohadonlyrecentlyemergedfromquarantine,wasthusisolatedforasecondtime.Obedienttotheinstructionshehadbeengiven,thejudgehadRieuxbroughtinassoonasherecognizedthesignsofthediseaseonthechild’sbody.