Чума
Part V
Theequalitythatthepresenceofdeathhadnotachievedwasrealizedbythejoyofdeliverance,atleastforafewhours.
Butthiscommonplaceexuberancewasnotthewholestory.Thosewhofilledthestreetsattheendoftheafternoon,besideRambert,oftenconcealedmoredelicatejoysbehindanattitudeofcalm.Manycouplesandfamiliesseemedlikenothingmorethanpeacefulstrollers.Inrealitymostweremakingquietpilgrimagestotheplaceswheretheyhadsuffered,whichmeantshowingthenewarrivalstheobviousorhiddensignsoftheplague,thevestigesofitshistory.Inafewcases,theywerecontenttoplayguide—thepersonwhohasseenlotsofthingsandlivedwiththeplague—andtheyspokeofdangerwithoutmentioningfear.Thesewereharmlesspleasures.Butinothercases,theitinerariesweremorehighlycharged,whenalover,givingwaytothesweetpainofmemory,couldsaytohislovedone:"Here,atsuchatime,Iwantedyouandyouwerenotthere."Youcouldrecognizethesepassionatetourists:theyformedlittleislesofwhispersandconfidencesinthemidstofthebustlingcrowdaroundthem.Anditwastheywho,betterthanthebandsonthestreetcorners,announcedthetruedeliverance,becausetheseenchantedcouples,lockedtogether,sparingofwords,proclaimedinthemidstofthethrong,withallthetriumphandinjusticeofhappiness,thattheplaguewasoverandthatterrorhadhaditsday.
