Чума
Part IV
Ontheotherhand,oneshouldnotimitatethemonksofCairowhointheepidemicsofthelastcenturywouldgivecommunionpickingupthehostwithpincersinordertoavoidanycontactwiththosemoist,warmmouthsinwhichinfectionmightlinger.ThePersiansufferersandthemonkswereequallyinthewrong.Forthefirst,thesufferingofachilddidnotcountandforthesecondtheveryhumanfearofpainhadbecomethemainconsideration.Inbothcasestheproblemwasbeingavoided.BothweredeaftothevoiceofGod.ButtherewereotherexamplesthatFatherPanelouxwouldliketorecall.IfweweretobelievethechroniclerofthegreatplagueofMarseille,outoftheeighty-onereligiousinhabitantsintheConventofMercy,onlyfoursurvivedthefever;andofthesefour,threefled.Thisiswhatthechroniclerstoldusanditwasnottheirbusinesstosaymore.Butwhenhereadthis,thethoughtsofFatherPanelouxwenttotheonemonkwhoremained,alone,inspiteoftheseventy-sevencorpsesandaboveallinspiteoftheexampleofhisthreebrothers.Andthepriest,hammeringwithhisfistonthesideofthepulpit,exclaimed:"Mybrethren,youmustbetheonewhostays!"
Itwasnotamatterofnottakingprecautions,thesensibleorderthatsocietyintroducesintothechaosofapestilence.Oneshouldnotheedthosemoralistswhosaidthatweshouldfalldownonourkneesandabandoneverything.Oneshouldmerelystarttomoveforward,inthedark,feelingone’swayandtryingtodogood.
