Чума
Part IV
Atdawnthenextdaytheyallwenttothelittleboy’sbedsidetoassesstheresultofthisdecisiveexperiment.
Thechild,whohademergedfromhistorpor,wasturningconvulsivelyunderthesheets.Thedoctor,CastelandTarrouhadbeenbesidehimsincefouro’clockinthemorning,followingthediseaseasitadvancedandretreated.Tarrou’ssolidframewasslightlyhunchedattheheadofthebed.RieuxwasstandingatthefootofthebedandbesidehimCastelsatandreadsomeoldbookwitheveryappearanceofcalm.Littlebylittle,asdaylightspreadthroughtheoldschoolroom,theothersarrived.First,Paneloux,whotookuphispositionontheothersideofthebedfromTarrou,withhisbackagainstthewall.Hisfaceworeapainedexpression,andtheexhaustionofsomanydaysinwhichhehadgiventoothersattheexpenseofhisownwell-beinghaddrawnlinesacrosshisflushedforehead.JosephGrandarrivedinhisturn.Itwasseveno’clockandthecivilservantapologizedforbeingoutofbreath.Hewouldonlystayforamoment;perhapstheyalreadyknewsomethingdefinite.WithoutawordRieuxshowedhimthechild,whoseeyeswereclosedinhiscontortedface,histeethclenchedashardashecouldclenchthemandhisbodymotionless.Hewasturninghisheadbackandforth,fromrighttoleftonthebolsterwithnosheetacrossit.Whenitwasfinallylightenoughforonetoseetheblackboardwhichhadremainedatthebackoftheroomwithsomeoldequationsonit,Rambertcame.
