Чума
Part V
Nowthedoctorhaddonealltherewastodo.Aftertherainthesilencethickenedintheroom,whichwasonlyfullofthenoiselesstumultofaninvisiblewar.Agitatedbyinsomnia,thedoctorthoughthecouldhear,beyondthesilence,thesoft,regularwhistlethathadaccompaniedhimthroughouttheepidemic.Henoddedtohismothertogotobed.Sheshookherheadandhereyeslitup,thenshemeticulouslyexaminedadubiousstitchattheendofherneedles.Rieuxgotuptogetthepatientsomewaterandwentbacktohisplace.
Somepassers-by,takingadvantageofthelullinthestorm,werewalkingquicklyalongthepavement.Theirfootstepsgrewfainterandfadedintothedistance.Forthefirsttimethedoctorrealizedthatthisnight,fulloflatestrollersandwithoutambulancesirens,waslikethoseofformertimes.Itwasanightliberatedfromtheplague.Anditseemedthatthesickness,drivenoutbycold,lightandcrowds,hadescapedfromthedarkdepthsofthetownandtakenrefugeinthiswarmroomtomakeitsfinalassaultonthemotionlessformofTarrou.Thepestilencewasnolongerthreshingtheskyabovethetownwithitsflail,butwhistlingsoftlyintheheavyairoftheroom.ThisiswhatRieuxhadbeenhearingforhours,andheneededittostophere,sothatheretootheplaguewouldadmitdefeat.
ShortlybeforedawnRieuxleantacrosstohismother:
"Youshouldgetsomesleepsothatyoucantakeoverfrommeateighto’clock.Takeyourdropsbeforeyougotobed.
