Чума
Part IV
Asforme,Ihadnoanimosityagainsthim,justalittlesadnessinmyheart.WhenhediedItookmymothertolivewithmeandshewouldbetherestillifshehadnotdiedinherturn.
"Ihavespentalongtimeonthisbeginningtomystory,becauseitwasinfactthestartofeverything.Ishallgofasterfromnowon.Isufferedpovertyateighteen,havingbeencomfortablyoff.Ididdozensofjobstoearnaliving,andmadeareasonablegoofit.Butwhatinterestedmewasthedeathpenalty.Ihadanaccounttosquarewiththered-headedowl.Consequently,Iwentintopolitics,astheysay.Ididnotwanttobeavictimoftheplague,that’sall.IthoughtthesocietyinwhichIlivedrestedonthedeathpenaltyandthat,ifIfoughtagainstit,Ishouldbefightingagainstmurder.ThisiswhatIbelieved;otherpeoplehavetoldmethesamethingand,whenitcomesdowntoit,itwaslargelytrue.SoIjoinedwithotherpeopleIliked—andstilllike.IstayedwiththemforalongtimeandthereisnocountryinEuropewhosestruggleIhavenotshared.But,tocontinue…
"Ofcourse,Iknewthatwetoooccasionallycondemntodeath.ButIwastoldthatthesefewdeathswerenecessarytobringaboutaworldinwhichnoonewouldkillanyoneanymore.Thiswastosomeextenttrueand,afterall,Imaynotbeabletolivewithsuchtruths.WhatissureisthatIwavered;butIthoughtoftheowlandIwasabletogoon.
