Чума
Part IV
Naturally,thenewspapersfollowedtheorderthattheyhadbeengiven,tobeoptimisticatanycost.Readingthemyouwouldthinkthatthemaincharacteristicofthesituationwas"themovingexampleofcalmandcourage"shownbythepeople.Butinatownshutinonitself,wherenothingcouldremainsecret,noonehadanyillusionsaboutthe"example"givenbythepopulation.And,togetacorrectnotionofthecalmandcourageinquestion,onehadonlytogointoaplaceofquarantineoroneoftheisolationcampsthattheauthoritieshadsetup.Asithappens,thenarratorwasbusyelsewhereanddidnothavethisexperience,sohecanonlyquotetheevidenceprovidedbyTarrou.
Inhisnotebooks,TarroudescribesavisitthathemadewithRamberttothecampsituatedinthemunicipalstadium.Thisstadiumstandsalmostatthegatesofthetown,havingononesideastreetdownwhichtramspassandontheothersomewastegroundwhichextendsasfarastheedgeoftheplateauonwhichthetownisbuilt.Normallyitissurroundedbyhighconcretewallsanditwasenoughtoputsentriesatthefourentrancestomakeescapedifficult.Inthesameway,thewallspreventedcuriouspeopleoutsidefromcausinganuisancetothoseunfortunateswhowereplacedinquarantine.Ontheotherhand,thelattercouldhearthetramspassingalldaylongandguessfromthenoisesthattheybroughtwiththemwhenitwastimeforpeopletogotoorleavework.
