Чума
Part IV
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Sincehebegantoworkforthehealthteams,Panelouxhadnotleftthehospitalsandotherplaceswheretheplaguewastobefound.Heputhimselfamongtherescuersinthepositionwhichhefeltwashisbyright,namelyinthefrontrank.Hehadseendeathmanytimes.And,thoughintheoryhewasprotectedbytheserum,theideaofhisowndeathwasalsofamiliartohim.Toallappearances,though,hehadkeptcalm.Butfromthedaywhenhehadhadtowatchforhourswhilethatchilddied,heseemedchanged.Hisfaceshowedevidenceofincreasingstress.SowhenonedayhetoldRieux,withasmile,thathewasjustthenpreparingashortexposeonthesubject"Canapriestconsultadoctor?",RieuxgottheimpressionthatsomethingmoreseriouswasinvolvedthanPanelouxappearedtobetellinghim.Whenthedoctorsaidhewouldbeinterestedtoseethework,Panelouxannouncedthathewastogiveasermonatthemen’smassandthatonthisoccasionhewoulddevelopatleastsomeofhisideas.
"I’dlikeyoutocome,doctor,thesubjectwillinterestyou."Thepriestgavehissecondsermononadayofhighwind.Totellthetruth,theranksofthecongregationwerelesstightlypackedthanonthepreviousoccasion.Thefactisthatthiskindofentertainmentnolongerhadtheappealofnoveltyforourfellow-citizens.Inthedifficultcircumstancesthatthetownwasexperiencing,theveryword"novelty"hadlostitsmeaning.
