Чума
Part V
Tarrou’sheadwasturnedtowardsMmeRieux.Hewaslookingatthelittlefigureslumpedbesidehimonachair,herhandsfoldedonherlap.HewasstaringatherwithsuchintensitythatMmeRieuxputafingertoherlipsandgotuptoturnoffthebedsidelamp.Butthedaylightwasrapidlyincreasingbehindthecurtainsandshortlyafterwards,whenthesickman’sfaceemergedfromthedarkness,MmeRieuxsawthathewasstilllookingather.Sheleanttowardshim,smoothedhispillowand,gettingup,putherhandforamomentonhisdamp,twistedhair.Itwasthenthatsheheardadullvoice,whichappearedtobecomingfromalongwayoff,thankherandsaythatnoweverythingwasallright.WhenshesatdownagainTarrouhadclosedhiseyesandhisexhaustedfaceseemed,inspiteofthesealedmouth,tobesmilingagain.
Atnoonthefeverreacheditheight.Asortofgutcoughshookthepatient’sbodyandhewasspittingblood.Thelymphnodeshadstoppedswelling:theywerestillthere,hardasironscrewedintothejoints,andRieuxdecideditwasimpossibletolancethem.Intheintervalsbetweenthefeverandthecoughing,Tarrouoccasionallylookedathisfriends.Butafterashortwhile,hiseyesopenedlessandlessfrequentlyandthelightthatwouldthenshinefromhisravagedfeatureswaspalereverytime.Thestormthatwasshakinghisbodywithconvulsiveshudderswaslitwithincreasinglyinfrequentflashes,andTarrouwasslowlydriftinginthemidstofthistempest.
