Чума
Part IV
Heremainedbentlikethisforseveralseconds,shakingandtremblingconvulsively,asthoughhisfrailbodywerebowingbeneaththeragingwindoftheplagueandcrackingundertherepeatedblastsoffever.Oncethegusthadpassed,herelaxedalittle,thefeverseemedtomoveaway,abandoninghim,gasping,onadampandpollutedshorewhererestalreadyseemedlikedeath.Whentheburningtidestruckhimagainforthethirdtimeandraisedhimupalittle,thechild,bentdoubleandthrowingbackhisblanket,fledtotheendofthebed,wildlyshakinghisheadfromsidetoside,interroroftheflamethatwasburninghim.Largetearsrosebeneathhisswolleneyelidsandbegantoflowdownhispallidface;whenthecrisiswasover,exhausted,tensinghisbonylegsandhisarmsfromwhichinforty-eighthoursthefleshhaddroppedaway,thechildassumedthegrotesqueposeofacrucifiedmanintheravagedbed.
Tarrouleantoverandwithhisheavyhandwipedthesmallfacebathedintearsandsweat.Amomentearlier,Castelhadclosedhisbookandwaslookingatthepatient.Hebegantosaysomething,buthadtocoughinordertofinishit,becausehisvoicesuddenlystartedtocrack.
"Therewasnomorningremission,wasthere,Rieux?"
Rieuxsaidno,butthatthechildwasholdingonlongerthannormal.Paneloux,whoseemedtohaveslumpedsomewhatagainstthewall,saidinadullvoice:
"Ifheistodie,hewillhavesufferedlonger.
