Чума
Part V
"Bernard?"
"Yes?"
"You’renottired?"
"No."
Heknewwhathismotherwasthinkingandthatshelovedhimatthatmoment.Buthealsoknewthatitisnotmuchtoloveaperson—or,atleast,thataloveisneverstrongenoughtofinditsownexpression.Sohismotherandhewouldalwaysloveoneanotherinsilence.Andshewoulddieinherturn—orhewould—withouteitherofthematanytimeintheirlivesbeingabletogofurtherinconfessingtheiraffection.InthesamewayhehadlivedbesideTarrou,whohaddied,thatafternoon,withoutthembeingabletohavethetimereallytoexperiencetheirfriendship.Tarrouhadlostthegame,ashesaid.Butwhathadhe,Rieux,won?Allhehadgainedwastohaveknowntheplagueandtorememberit,tohaveknownfriendshipandtorememberit,tohaveknownaffectionandtohaveonedaytorememberit.Allthatamancouldwininthegameofplagueandlifewasknowledgeandmemory.PerhapsthatwaswhatTarroucalledwinningthegame!
OnceagainacarpassedandMmeRieuxshuffledalittleonherchair.Rieuxsmiledather.Shetoldhimthatshewasnottired,andimmediatelyafterwards:
"Youmustgoandrestoverthere,inthemountains."
"Ofcourse,mother."
Yes,hewouldrestoverthere.Whynot?Thattoowouldbeapretextformemory.
