Чума
Part IV
"
"Isthatit?"theoldmansaidfeverishly.
Rieuxdidnotlookup.
"Oh!"theothermansaid,movingagitatedly."Iknow.Beautiful,beautifulisnottherightword."
Rieuxtookhishandontheblanket.
"Leaveitdoctor.Idon’thavetime."
Hischestwasmovingpainfullyandhesuddenlycriedout:
"Burnit!"
Thedoctorhesitated,butGrandrepeatedtheorderinsuchafearfultoneandwithsuchsufferinginhisvoice,thatRieuxthrewthesheetsontothealmostextinguishedfire.Theroomwasbrieflylitupandwarmedbyashortburstofheat.Whenthedoctorcamebacktothepatient,Grandhadhisbackturnedandhisfacealmosttouchingthewall.Tarrouwaslookingoutofthewindow,asthoughastrangertothescene.Afterinjectingtheserum,RieuxtoldhisfriendthatGrandwouldnotsurvivethenightandTarrouofferedtostay.Thedoctoraccepted.
ThroughoutthenightRieuxwashauntedbytheideathatGrandwasdying.YetthefollowingmorninghefoundhimsittingupinbedtalkingtoTarrou.Histemperaturewasnormal.Heshowedonlytheusualsymptomsofcompleteexhaustion.
"Oh,doctor,"saidthecivilservant."Iwaswrong.ButI’llstartagain.Yousee:Iremembereverything."
"Let’swait,"RieuxsaidtoTarrou.
Butatnoonnothinghadchanged.BytheeveningGrandcouldbeconsideredsaved.
