Чума
Part IV
Thecrieswhichhadbeenconfusedearliergatheredontheoutskirtsofthetown,neartherockyhill.Atthesametimetheyheardsomethinglikeanexplosion.Thensilencereturned.Rieuxcountedtwoflashesofthelighthouse.Thewindseemedtogatherstrengthandatthesametimeabreezecomingfromtheseabroughtthesmellofsalt.Nowtheycoulddistinctlyhearthemuffledbreathingofthewavesagainstthecliff.
"Inshort,"Tarrousaidsimply,"whatinterestsmeistoknowhowonebecomesasaint."
"Butyoudon’tbelieveinGod."
"Precisely.CanonebeasaintwithoutGod:thatistheonlyconcretequestionthatIknowtoday."
Suddenlyagreatflashoflightcamefromthedirectionofthecriesandavaguenoiseofshoutingreachedthetwomenalongthestreamofwind.Thelightfadedatonceandinthedistanceontheedgeoftheroofstherewasonlyareddishglow.Thewinddieddownforamomentandonecoulddistinctlyhearmen’sshouts,thenthenoiseofashotandtheroarofacrowd.Tarrougotupandlistened.Nothingmorewastobeheard.
"They’refightingatthegatesagain."
"It’sovernow,"saidRieux.
Tarroumutteredthatitwasneveroverandthattherewouldbemorevictims,sincethiswasthenormalcourseofthings.
"Perhaps,"thedoctorsaid."Butyouknow,Ifeelmoresolidaritywiththedefeatedthanwithsaints.Idon’tthinkIhaveanytasteforheroismandsainthood.
