Чума
Part V
Nowthattheplaguewasover,withitsmiseryandprivations,allthesemenhadeventuallytakenontheclothingoftherolethattheyhadbeenplayingforalongtime,thatofémigréswhosefacesthen,andclothesnow,spokeofabsenceanddistanthomelands.Fromthemomentwhentheplagueclosedthegatesofthetown,theyhadstartedtoliveinastateofseparationandbeencutofffromthathumanwarmththatleadsustoforgeteverything.Toadifferentextent,ineverycornerofthetown,thesemenandwomenhadaspiredtoareunionthatwasnotofthesamekindforeachofthembutwhich,forallofthem,wasequallyimpossible.Mosthadappealedwithalltheirstrengthforanabsentone,thewarmthofabody,fortendernessorfamiliarity.Afew,oftenwithoutknowingit,hadsufferedfrombeingplacedbeyondthefriendshipofmenandnotbeingabletoreachthembytheusualmeans:letters,trains,boats.Others,whowererarerstill,perhapslikeTarrou,hadwantedtobejoinedwithsomethingthattheycouldnotdefine,butwhichappearedtothemtheonlydesirablegood.Failinganyothername,theysometimescalleditpeace.
Rieuxwasstillwalking.Ashewentonthecrowdgrewaroundhim,thedinincreasedanditseemedtohimthattheouterdistrictshewastryingtoreachweremovingfurtheraway.Bitbybithemeltedintothisgreatbellowingbody,understandingitscrybetterandbetterbecauseatleastinsomerespects,itwashisown.
