Чума
Part IV
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AllSoul’sDaythatyearwasdifferentfromusual.Theweatherwascertainlyappropriate.Ithadchangedabruptlyandthelateheathadgivenwayovernighttochills.Asinotheryears,acoldwindwasnowblowingcontinuously.Largecloudsspedfromoneendofthehorizontotheother,castingshadowsoverthehousesbeforethecold,goldenlightofNovemberreturnedtothemafterthecloudshadpassedby.Thefirstmackintoshesmadetheirappearance,butonecouldalsoseeasurprisingnumberofshiny,rubberizedmaterials:thenewspapershadreportedthattwohundredyearsearlier,inthegreatplaguesintheSouthofFrance,doctorsusedtowearoilclothfortheirownprotection.Theshopstookadvantageofthistounloadasupplyofclothesthatwerenolongerinfashion,andfromwhicheveryonehopedtogainimmunity.
However,alltheseseasonalindicatorscouldnotdisguisethefactthatthecemeteriesweredeserted.Inotheryearsthetramshadbeenfullofthevapidscentofchrysanthemumsandprocessionsofwomenmakingtheirwaytotheplaceswheretheirlovedoneswereburied,toputflowersontheirgraves.Thishadbeenthedaywhenpeopletriedtomakeuptothedeadforleavingthemaloneandforgettingthemformanylongmonths.Butthatyearnoonewantedtothinkaboutthedead,fortheveryreasonthattheyhadalreadybeenthinkingtoomuchaboutthem.Itwasnolongeramatterofgoingbacktoseethem,withalittleremorseandlotsofmelancholy.
