Чума
Part V
Hefeltthepatient’slegsnexttohim,aslongandhardasthelimbsofaneffigyonatombstone.Tarrouwasbreathingmoreheavily.
"Thefeverisgoingtocomeback,isn’tit,Rieux?"hesaid,breathlessly.
"Yes,butbymiddayweshouldknowhowthingsstand."
Tarrouclosedhiseyesandseemedtobegatheringhisstrength.Therewasalookofexhaustiononhisface.Hewaswaitingforthefevertorisefromwhereitwasalreadystirring,somewheredeepinsidehim.Whenhereopenedhiseyes,hislookwasglazedanddidnotclearuntilhesawRieuxleaningoverthebed.
"Drink,"thedoctorsaid.
Theothermandrankandlethisheadfallback.
"Ittakesalongtime,"hesaid.
Rieuxtookhisarm,butTarrou,lookingtheotherway,didnotreact.Suddenlythefevervisiblysweptupthroughhisbodytohisforeheadasthoughithadbrokensomeinnerdyke.WhenTarrouagainturnedtowardsthedoctor,Rieux’sdrawnfeatureshadalookofencouragement.ThesmilethatTarrouagaintriedtoformcouldnotgetbeyondhisclenchedjawsandlipssealedwithwhitishfoam.Butinthestiffenedfacetheeyesstillshonewithbrightcourage.
Atseveno’clockMmeRieuxcamebackintotheroom.Thedoctorwentintohisconsulting-roomtoringthehospitalandarrangeareplacement.Healsodecidedtopostponehisconsultationsandstretchedoutonthecouch,butgotupagainalmostimmediatelyandwentbackintothebedroom.
