Чума
Part V
Onthedayofthedeclarationfromtheauthorities,Cottardcompletelyvanishedfromcirculation.TwodayslaterTarroumethimwanderingthroughthestreets.Cottardaskedhimtowalkasfarastheoutskirtsofthetownwithhim.Tarrouhesitated,feelingunusuallytiredafterhisday’swork.Buttheothermaninsisted.Heseemedveryexcited,gesticulatingwildlyandspeakingquickly,inaloudvoice.HeaskedhiscompanionifhethoughtthatthedeclarationfromthePrefecturereallymarkedanendtotheplague.Ofcourse,Tarrouconsideredthatanadministrativedeclarationwasnotinitselfenoughtohaltapestilence,butthatonecouldnowreasonablybelievethattheepidemicwasgoingtoend,unlesssomethingunforeseenhappened.
"Yes,"saidCottard."Unlesssomethingunforeseenhappens.Andtheunforeseencanalwayshappen."
TarroupointedoutthatinanycasethePrefecturehadtosomeextentforeseentheunforeseen,byprovidingforaperiodoftwoweeksbeforethegateswereopened.
"Theywererighttodoso,"saidCottard,stillinadarkandagitatedmood."Becausewiththewaythingsaregoing,theymightwellhavebeenwastingtheirbreath."
Tarrouconsideredthispossible,butthoughtthatitwasstillbettertolookforwardtothegatesbeingopenedsoonandlifereturningtonormal.
"Perhaps,"Cottardsaid,"Perhapsso.Butwhatdoyoucallareturntonormallife?"
"Newfilmsinthecinema,"saidTarrouwithasmile.
