Чума
Part IV
Oneofthepaddeddoorsattheentrancewasflappinggently.Someonegotuptofastenit.AndRieux,disturbedbythismovement,washardlylisteningtoPanelouxasheresumedhissermon.Hewassaying,moreorless,thatonemustnottrytoexplainthephenomenonoftheplague,butattemptinsteadtolearnwhatonecouldfromit.Rieuxvaguelyunderstoodthat,accordingtothepriest,therewasnothingtoexplain.PanelouxcapturedhisfullattentionwhenhesaidfirmlythatthereweresomethingsthatonecouldexplaininthesightofGodandothersthatonecouldnot.Certainly,thereweresuchthingsasgoodandeviland,broadlyspeaking,onecouldeasilyunderstandwhatdistinguishedthem.Butitwasinsideevilthattheproblemstarted.Forexample,therewereapparentlynecessaryevilsandapparentlyunnecessaryones.TherewasDonJuancastintoHellandtherewasthedeathofachild.Whileitisrightthatthelibertineshouldbecastaside,onecouldnotunderstandthesufferingofthechild.And,intruth,therewasnothingonearthmoreimportantthanthesufferingofachildandthehorrorthatthissufferingbringswithitandtheexplanationthathadtobefoundforit.Inotheraspectsoflife,Godmadeeverythingeasyforus,sointhatsensetherewasnomeritinreligion.Here,ontheotherhand,itputuswithourbackstothewall.Itwouldhavebeeneasyforhimtosaythattheeternityofjoythatawaitedthechildmightcompensateforhissuffering,butintruthhedidnotknowaboutthat.
