Чума
Part V
Thetworeligioushousesinthetownbegantore-formandcommunallifewasabletoresume.Thesameappliedtothemilitarywhowereoncemoregatheredintobarracksthathadbeenleftempty;theywentbacktotheirnormallifeasagarrison.Thesesmalleventshadgreatsymbolicsignificance.
ThepopulationlivedinthissecretturmoiluntilJanuary25.Inthatweekthefiguresfellsolowthat,afterconsultingthemedicalcommission,thePrefectureannouncedthattheepidemiccouldbeconsideredundercontrol.Admittedly,thecommuniquéadded—inaspiritofcautionthatthepopulationcouldnotfailtoapplaud—thatthegatesofthetownwouldremainclosedfortwomoreweeksandsanitarymeasurescontinuedforamonth.Duringthisperiod,attheslightestindicationthattheplaguemightresume,"thestatusquoshouldbemaintainedandthenecessarymeasurescontinuedforaslongasnecessary".However,everyonewasunanimousinconsideringtheseprovisionsamereformalityand,ontheeveningofJanuary25,thetownwasfilledwithjoyfulexcitement.TocontributetothegeneralmoodofcelebrationthePrefectgavetheordertoputonthetownlightsasinpre-plaguetimes.Beneathacold,clearsky,thetownspeoplespilledoutintothebrightlylitstreetsinnoisy,laughinggroups.
Admittedly,inmanyhousestheshuttersremainedclosedandfamiliesspentthiseveninginsilencewhileotherswerefillingitwiththeirnoisycelebrations.
