Чума
Part V
ThedoctordidnotknowwhetherTarrouintheendhadfoundpeace,butatthismomentatleast,hethoughtheknewthattherewouldnolongerbeanypeacepossibleforhimself,anymorethanthereisanarmisticeforthemothertornfromhersonorforthemanwhoburieshisfriend.
Outsideitwasthesamecoldnight,withfrozenstarsinaclear,icysky.Inthehalf-darknessoftheroomonecouldfeelthecoldweighingonthewindowpanes,thegreat,palebreathofapolarnight.NearthebedMmeRieuxwassittinginherusualattitude,herrightsidelitbythebedsidelamp.Inthecentreoftheroom,farfromthelight,Rieuxwaswaitinginhischair.Herememberedhiswife,butpushedthethoughtawayeachtimeitcame.
Earlyinthenight,theheelsofpassers-byhadsoundedclearinthechilldarkness.
"Haveyoutakencareofeverything?"askedMmeRieux.
"Yes,Iphoned."
Thentheyresumedtheirsilentwatch.FromtimetotimeMmeRieuxlookedatherson.Whenheinterceptedoneoftheselookshesmiledather.Thefamiliarsoundsofthenightcontinuedinthestreet.Althoughtheywerenotyetauthorizedtodoso,alotofcarsweredrivingaroundagain.Theyquicklysuckedattheroadway,disappeared,thenlaterreappeared.Therewerevoices,shouts,returningsilence,ahorse’shoofs,twotramsscreechingonabend,vaguenoises,thenoncemorethebreathingofthenight.
