Чума
Part V
Yes,theyhadallsufferedtogether,intheirfleshandintheirsouls,fromahardseparation,anirremediableexileandaneversatisfiedthirst.Amongtheseheapsofdeadbodies,theambulancesirens,thewarningsofwhatisknownasfate,theobstinatestampingoffearandtheterriblerebellionintheirhearts,agreatvoicehadcontinuedtocallandtellthesehorrifiedpeoplethattheyhadtoreturntotheirtruehome.Andforallofthem,thistruehomewasbeyondthewallsofthesuffocatingtown.Itwasinthesweet-smellingbrushwoodonthehills,inthesea,infreecountriesandintheheavyburdenoflove.Anditwastowardsthis,towardshappiness,thattheylongedtogoback,turningawayindisgustfromeverythingelse.
Asforwhatevermeaningtherewasinthisexileandthisdesireforreunion,Rieuxhadnoidea.Stillwalking,withpeoplecallingtohimandpushinghimfromallsides,hegraduallymadehiswayintolesscrowdedstreetsandthoughtthatitdidnotmatterwhetherthesethingshaveameaningornot,butthatonemustsimplyseewhatresponsetherewastothehopesofmankind.
Nowheknewwhatresponsetherewas,andheperceiveditbetterinthefirststreetsoftheouterdistricts,whichwerealmostempty.Thosewhohadconfinedthemselvestothelittlethattheywerehadmerelywantedtoreturntothehouseoftheirlovedonesandweresometimesrewarded.Ofcoursetherewerethoseamongthemwhocontinuedtowalkaroundthetownalone,deprivedoftheonetheyexpected.
