Чума
Part IV
Hetoldthemthatthereweresomewhodidn’tagree,thatthegravytrainwasalwaysforthesamepeople,thatwhenthejuggoestoooftentothewell,iteventuallybreaks,andthatprobably,wheneverherubbedhishands,troublewouldfollow.Thiscommentaryoneventsdidnotstopatallwhilethedoctorexaminedhim.
Theyheardfootstepsoverhead.Theoldwoman,noticingthatTarrouseemedinterested,explainedthatoneoftheneighbourswasontheterrace.Theyalsolearnedthattherewasafineviewfromupthereandthatsincetheroofterracesofhousesoftenjoinedononeside,itwaspossibleforthewomenoftheareatovisitoneanotherwithoutleavinghome.
"Yes,"theoldmansaid."Comeonup.Theairisgoodupthere."
Theyfoundtheterraceempty,withthreechairsonit.Ononeside,asfarastheeyecouldsee,alltheycouldmakeoutwereroofterraces,whicheventuallycametorestagainstadarkrockymassinwhichtheyrecognizedthefirsthill.Ontheotherside,aboveafewstreetsandtheport(whichwasinvisible),theeyewaslostinahorizonwhereskyandseamingledinavaguethrobbing.Beyondwhattheyknewtobethecliffs,alightreappearedregularly,thoughtheycouldnotseewhereitwascomingfrom:sincethepreviousspring,thelighthouseonthechannelhadcontinuedtoshineforshipsheadedforotherports.Inthesky,sweptcleanandshiningbythewind,thepurestarsshoneand,fromtimetotime,thedistantlightofthelighthouseaddeditsbriefember.
