Чума
Part IV
Hetriedtosendthemstraightintodrainageholesandwhenhesucceeded,hewouldsay"one-nil".Whenhehadfinishedhiscigarettehespatoutthebuttinfrontofhimandtriedtodrop-kickit.SomechildrenwhowereplayingnearthestadiumkickedaballtowardsthepassinggroupandGonzalestookthetroubletosenditneatlybacktothem.
Finallytheyenteredthestadium.Thestandswerefullofpeople,andthefieldwascoveredwithseveralhundredredtentsinsidewhichonecouldsee,fromadistance,beddingandbundles.Thestandshadbeenretainedsothattheinterneescouldtakeshelterifitwashotorraining.Theywerejustobligedtogobacktotheirtentsatsunset.Underthestandsweretheshower-roomswhichhadbeenrefurbishedandtheplayers’olddressing-roomswhichhadbeentransformedintoofficesandinfirmaries.Mostoftheinterneeswereinthestands,whilesomeotherswerewanderingalongthetouchlines.Afewwerecrouchingattheentrancetotheirtentsandlookingvaguelyaroundthem.Inthestandsmanywereslumpeddown,apparentlywaitingforsomething.
"Whatdotheydoallday?"TarrouaskedRambert.
"Nothing."
Almostallofthemwereempty-handed,withtheirarmshangingbytheirsides.Thisvastassemblageofmenwascuriouslysilent.
"Intheearlydays,youcouldn’thearyourselfspeakhere,"saidRambert."Butastimegoesby,theytalklessandless.
