Чума
Part IV
Thatis,untilthedaywhenIsawanexecution—itwasinHungary—andfeltthesamehorrorsweepovermenowIwasamanasIhadpreviouslyfeltasachild.
"You’veneverseenamanshot?No,ofcourse,it’sbyinvitationonlyandtheaudienceishandpickedinadvance.Consequently,youknowfrompicturesandbooks—ablindfold,astakeand,inthedistance,afewsoldiers.Well,no!Doyourealizethat,onthecontrary,thefiringsquadstandsatoneandahalfmetresfromthecondemnedman?Doyouknowthatifthecondemnedmantooktwostepsforward,therifleswouldhithiminthechest?Doyouknowthatatthisshortdistancethemembersofthefiringsquadconcentratetheirfireontheregionoftheheartandthatallofthemwiththeirlarge-calibrebulletsmakeaholebigenoughtoputyourfistin?No,youdon’tknow,becausethesearedetailsthatpeopledon’tspeakabout.Thesleepofmenismoresacredthanlifeforplaguesufferers.Onemustnotkeepthesegoodpeopleawakeatnights.Thatwouldbeinbadtasteandgoodtasteisamatterofnotharpingonaboutit,aseveryoneknows.ButIhavenotsleptwellsincethattime.ThebadtastestayedinmymouthandIhaven’tstoppedharpingonaboutit,thatistosay,thinking.
"ThisiswhenIatlastrealizedthatIhadcontinuedtobeaplaguevictimforallthoselongyearsinwhich,withmyheartandsoul,IthoughtIwasstrugglingagainsttheplague.
