Чума
Part IV
Atnoon,inicyweather,RieuxgotoutofthecarandsawGrandinthedistance,almostgluedtoashopwindowfullofcrudelysculptedwoodentoys.Tearswererunninginasteadystreamdowntheoldcivilservant’sface.AndthesetearsweredevastatingforRieuxbecauseheunderstoodthemandhealsofeltalumpatthebackofhisthroat.Hetoorecalledtheunfortunateman’sengagement,infrontofashop,atChristmastime,andJeanneleaningtowardshimtosayhowhappyshewas.Fromthedepthsofyearslongpast,intheveryheartofthismadness,Jeanne’sfreshvoicewasspeakingtoGrand,thatwassure.Rieuxknewwhattheoldmanwasthinkingatthatmomentashewept,andhethoughtthesame:thatthisworldwithoutlovewaslikeadeadworldandthattherealwayscomesatimewhenonegrowstiredofprisons,workandcourage,andyearnsforthefaceofanotherhumanbeingandthewondering,affectionateheart.
Buttheothermanhadseenhiminthewindow.Histearsdidnotstopbutheturnedroundandstoodwithhisbacktotheshopashewatchedthedoctorapproach.
"Oh,doctor,doctor!"heexclaimed.
Rieuxnoddedinacknowledgement,unabletospeak.Theman’spainwashisownandwhatwasclutchingathisheartatthatmomentwasthegreatragethatcomestomenwhenconfrontedwiththepainthatallmenmustshare.
"Yes,Grand,"hesaid.
"Ishouldliketohavetimetowriteheraletter.
