Чума
Part IV
Heleantagainstthebackofthenextbedandbroughtoutapacketofcigarettes,butafterlookingatthechild,putitbackinhispocket.
Castel,stillsittingdown,lookedatRieuxoverhisglasses:
"Anynewsofthefather?"
"No,"Rieuxsaid."Heisintheisolationhospital."
Thedoctorwasgraspingtheironbaratthefootofthebedwherethechildwasgroaning.Henevertookhiseyesoffthelittlepatient,whostiffenedsuddenlyand,oncemoreclenchinghisteeth,archedhisbackalittleatthewaist,slowlyextendinghisarmsandlegs.Thesmallbody,nakedunderthearmyblanket,gaveoffanacridsmellofsweatandwool.Thechildgraduallyrelaxed,broughthisarmsandlegsbacktowardsthecentreofthebedand,stillblindanddumb,seemedtobebreathingmorerapidly.RieuxlookedtowardsTarrou,whoturnedaway.
Theyhadalreadyseenchildrendie:forseveralmonthstheterrorhadnotdiscriminatedinitsvictims;butneverbeforehadtheyfollowedachild’ssufferingminutebyminuteastheyhadbeendoingheresinceearlymorning.Ofcourse,thepaininflictedontheseinnocentshadneverceasedtoappeartothemwhatintruthitwas,anoutrage.Butuntilthentheyhadbeenoutragedabstractly,inasense,becausetheyhadneverlookedface-to-faceforsolongatimeatthedeaththroesofaninnocentchild.
Atthatmomenttheboy,asthoughbitteninthestomach,doubledupagainwithahigh-pitchedmoan.
