Чума
Part IV
Sothatsheknows…andsothatshecanbehappywithoutfeelinganyremorse…"
RieuxpushedGrandforwardalmostviolently.Theothermandidnotresist,allowinghimselftobedraggedalong,stammeringoutafewwords.
"Thishasgoneontoolong.Inevitably,onewantstoletoneselfgo.Oh,doctor!Iseemcalmmostofthetime.Butithasalwaysbeenanenormousefforteventobenormal.Andnowit’stoomuch."
Hestopped,wild-eyedandtremblingineverylimb.Rieuxtookhishand.Itwasburning.
"Wemustgoback."
ButGrandescapedfromhimandranafewsteps,thenstopped,heldhisarmswideandbegantoswaybackwardsandforwards.Hereeledoverandfellontotheicypavement,hisfacestreakedwiththetearsthatcontinuedtorundownhischeeks.Peoplepassinginthestreetlookedonfromadistance,stoppingsuddenlyandnotdaringtocomeforward.Rieuxhadtotaketheoldmaninhisarms.
Onceinhisownbed,Grandstruggledforbreath.Thelungswereaffected.Rieuxthoughtaboutit.Thecivilservanthadnofamily.Whymovehim?Hewouldbealone,withTarroutolookafterhim…
Grandwaspressedintohispillow,hisskingreenishandhiseyesdull.HewasstaringatapaltryfirethatTarrouhadlitinthegratewiththeremainsofapackingcase."I’mnotwell,"hesaid.Andanoddcracklingsoundemergedfromthedepthsofhisburninglungsaccompanyingeverythinghesaid.
