Чума
Part IV
Thebreezebroughtscentsofspicesandstone.Thesilencewasabsolute.
"Itfeelsgood,"saidRieux,sittingdown."It’sasthoughtheplaguehadnevercomeuphere."
Tarrouturnedhisbackonthedoctorandlookedatthesea.
"Yes,"hesaid,afterashortpause."Itfeelsgood."
HecameoverandsatdownbesideRieux,lookingcloselyathim.Threetimesthelightreappearedinthesky.Asoundofcrockerycameuptothemfromthedepthsofthestreet.Adoorslammedinthehouse.
"Rieux,"Tarrousaidinaverynaturalvoice."HaveyounevertriedtofindoutwhoIam?Doyouseemeasafriend?"
"Yes,"saidthedoctor."Wearefriends,butuntilnowwehavehadtoolittletime."
"Good,that’sarelief.Wouldyoulikeustomakethishourthehouroffriendship?"
Inreply,Rieuxmerelysmiledathim.
"Well,it’slikethis…"
Afewstreetsfurtheroff,acarseemedtoskidforalongtimeonthewetroad.Itdroveawaywhilebehinditconfusedexclamationscomingfromafarcontinuedtobreakthesilence.Thenthissilencefellbackonthetwomenwithallitsweightofskyandstars.Tarrouhadgotuptoprophimselfagainsttheparapet,facingRieux,whowasstillsunkinthebottomofhischair.Allthatcouldbeseenofhimwasamassiveformsilhouettedagainstthesky.
