Чума
Part V
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MmeRieuxturnedtowardsthewindow.Thedoctorsaidnothing.Thenhetoldhismothernottocry,thathehadbeenexpectingit,butthatitwashard.Yetevenashesaidthisheknewthattherewasnosurpriseinhissuffering.Formonths,forthelasttwodays,itwasacontinuationofthesamepain.
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Thegatesofthetownfinallyopened,atdawnonefineFebruarymorning,andtheeventwashailedbythepeople,thenewspapers,theradio,andwithcommuniquésfromthePrefecture.Itremainsforthenarratortobecomethechroniclerofthehoursofhappinessthatfollowedthisopeningofthegates,eventhoughhewasamongthosewhowerenotfreetojoininwholeheartedly.
Greatcelebrationswereorganizedforthedaytimeandforthenight.Atthesametimethetrainsbegantoletoffsteaminthestations,whileshipsfromdistantseaswerealreadyheadingforourport,markingintheirownwaythatthisdaywasthatofthegreatreunionforthosewhohadbeenseparated.
Onemayeasilyimaginewhatwouldbecomeofthefeelingofseparationthathadinhabitedsomanyofourtownspeople.Thetrainsthatcameintothetownduringthedaywerenolessladenthanthosewhichleft.Everyonehadreservedaplaceforthatdayduringthetwoweeksofsuspension,fearingthatthedecisionoftheauthoritiesmightbeannulledatthelastmoment.
