Чума
Part I
Itwearsyouout,alwaysblowingdownatube."
"Ah,well,"thesecondmansaid."Whenyou’reill,youshouldn’tblowdownatube."
AfterthisbriefdialogueTarrouwonderedwhyCampshadjoinedthechoirwhenitwassoobviouslynotinhisinterest,andwhatwerethefundamentalreasonsthatdrovehimtoriskhislifetotakepartinitsSundaymarches.
Next,Tarrouseemstohavebeenfavourablyimpressedbyascenethatwasoftenplayedoutonthebalconyoppositehiswindow.Hisroomlookedoutoverasmallside-streetwherecatswouldsleepintheshadeofthewalls.Buteverydayafterlunch,atatimewhenthewholetownwasdrowsingintheheat,alittleoldmanwouldappearonthebalconyontheothersideofthestreet.Withwell-combedwhitehair,sternanduprightinclothesofmilitarycut,hewouldcalltothecatswitha"puss,puss’thatwasatoncesoftanddistant.Palewithsleep,thecatsraisedtheireyeswithoutatfirstbotheringtomove.Themanwouldthentearuplittlepiecesofpaperabovethestreet,andthecreatures,attractedbythisshowerofwhitebutterflies,cameoutintothemiddleoftheroad,raisingenquiringpawstowardsthelastpiecesofpaper.Atthisthelittleoldmanwouldspitonthecats,firmlyandaccurately.Whenoneofhisgobsofsalivahitthetargethewouldlaugh.
