Чума
Part IV
IcannotsaythatIforgotaboutmyfather,buttherewassomethinginthepitofmystomachwhichdistractedmefromconcentratingonanythingexceptthemaninthedock.Iheardpracticallynothing.Ifeltthattheywantedtokillthislivingmanandaninstinctaspowerfulasatidalwavesweptmetohissidewithasortofblindobstinacy.Ionlyproperlywokeupwhenmyfatherbeganhisspeechfortheprosecution.
"Transformedbyhisredrobe,hewasneithergood-naturednoraffectionateandhismouthwascrammedwithsonorousphraseswhichleaptfromitconstantlylikeserpents.Irealizedthenthathewasaskingforthedeathofthismaninthenameofsocietyandthathewasevendemandingthathisheadshouldbecutoff.Intruth,allhesaidwas:"Thisheadmustfall."Butthedifferencewasnotgreatintheend.Infactitcametothesamething,sincehegottheman’shead.Theonlythingwasthathedidnotdothejobhimself.I,whosubsequentlyfollowedthematterrightthroughtoitsconclusion,feltafarmoreterrifyingintimacywiththatunfortunatemanthanmyfatherevercould.Andyethehadtobepresent,accordingtocustom,atwhatareeuphemisticallycalledthelastmoments,andwhichoneshouldbyrightscallthemostshamefulofmurders.
"FromthatdayonwardsIcouldnotlookattheChaixtimetablewithoutthemostdreadfuldisgust.FromthenonwardsItookahorrifiedinterestinjustice,indeathsentencesandinexecutions.
