Чума
Part V
Butwhothoughtoftheselonelypeople?Atnoonthesuntriumphedoverthecoldwindsthathadbeenstrugglingintheairsincemorning,andbathedthetowninuninterruptedwavesoftranquillight.Thedaylighthungintheairandfromthefortsandhillscannonsoundedceaselesslybeneathastillsky.Thewholetownrushedoutsidetocelebratethiscrowdedminutewhenthetimeofsufferinghadendedandthetimeofforgettinghadnotyetbegun.
Theyweredancingoneverysquare.Traffichadincreasedconsiderablyfromonedaytothenextandthecars,ofwhichtherewerenowmanymore,haddifficultydrivingalongthepackedstreets.Thebellsofthetownpealedoutcontinuallythroughouttheafternoon,fillingtheblueandgoldskywiththeirvibrations.Inthechurches,theywereholdingservicesofthanksgiving.Butatthesametimeplacesofpleasurewerefulltoburstingandthecafeswerehandingouttheirlastsuppliesofspirits,withnothoughttothefuture.Infrontofthecountersacrowdofequallyexcitedpeoplehustledandbustled,amongthemseveralcoupleshuggingandkissing,notbotheredaboutappearances.Everyonewasshoutingorlaughing.Thatdaytheyexpendedthestockoflifethattheyhadpiledupduringthosemonthswhentheyhadallputtheirsoulsontheback-burner;thiswaslikethedayoftheirsurvival.Thenextdaylifeproperwouldresume,withitsreticenceandrestrictions.Forthetimebeing,peopleofverydifferentoriginswerefraternizing,elbowtoelbow.
