Чума
Part I
Notingthatthelittleoldmanhadfinallygothiscatsbackafterthedisappearanceoftherats,andwaspatientlyadjustinghisaim,Tarrouaddedthatonecouldalreadymentionadozencasesofthisinfection,inmostofwhichithadprovedfatal.
Finally,fortherecord,onemaycopyTarrou’sportraitofDrRieux.Asfarasthenarratorcanjudge,itisquiteaccurate:
"Appearsthirty-fiveyearsold.Mediumheight.Broadshouldered.Almostrectangularface.Dark,straighteyes,butprotrudingjaw.Hisstrongnoseisregular.Blackhair,cutveryshort.Themouthisabowwithfulllips,almostalwaystightshut.HelooksratherlikeaSicilianpeasantwithhisbronzedskin,hisblackbodyhairandhisclothes,whichsuithim,butarealwaysindarkcolours.
"Hewalksfast.Hestepsoffthepavementwithoutalteringhispace,buttwotimesoutofthreegoesupontotheoppositepavementwithalittlejump.Heisabsent-mindedwhendrivingandoftenleaveshiscar’sindicatorsupevenafterhehastakenabend.Neverwearsahat.Looksasifheknowswhatisgoingon."
Tarrou’sfigureswerecorrect.DrRieuxknewwhatwasup.Oncetheconcierge’sbodyhadbeenputinisolation,hetelephonedRichardtoaskhimabouttheseinguinalinfections.
"Idon’tunderstandit,"Richardreplied."Twodeaths,oneinforty-eighthours,theotherinthreedays.Ileftthesecondoftheseonemorninggivingeveryappearanceofbeingonthemend.
