Чума
Part IV
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Ifoneistobelievehisnotes,Tarrouunderstoodthemandimaginedtheminthebeginningpiledintotheirtents,kickingtheirheelsorscratchingtheirbellies,shoutingouttheirangerandtheirfearwhenevertheyfoundawillingear.Butassoonasthecampbecameover-populated,therewerefewerandfewerwillingears.Therewasnothingleftforitbuttobequietandwatchful.Indeed,therewasasortofwarinessthatfelloutofthegreybutluminousskyontotheredcamp.
Yes,theyalllookedsuspicious.Sincetheyhadbeenseparatedfromtherest,thiswasnotunreasonable,andtheyhadthefacesofthosewhoarelookingforreasonsandwhoareafraid.EachofthoseTarroulookedathadavacanteyeandallappearedtobesufferingfromageneralseparationfromeverythingthatmadeuptheirlives.Sincetheycouldnotalwaysbethinkingaboutdeath,theythoughtaboutnothing.Theyweretakingaholiday."Buttheworstthing",Tarrouwrote,"isthattheseareforgottenpeopleandtheyknowit.Theiracquaintanceshaveforgottenthembecausetheyarethinkingaboutotherthings,andthatisquiteunderstandable.Asforthosewholovethem,theyhavealsoforgottenthembecausetheymustbeexhaustingthemselvesinappealsandschemestogetthemout.Themoretheythinkaboutgettingthemout,thelesstheythinkaboutthepersontobegotout.That,too,isnormal.Andwhenitcomesdowntoit,yourealizethatnooneisreallycapableofthinkingofanyoneelse,evenintheworstmisfortune.
