Чума
Part V
Happy,too,werethosewhohadnotbeentwiceseparated,likesomepeoplewhobeforetheepidemichadnotbeenabletobuildtheirloveinthefirstinstancebuthadforyearspursuedthehardunderstandingthateventuallybindstogetherhostilelovers.Thoseweretheoneswho,likeRieuxhimself,hadbeenrashenoughtocountontime;nowtheywereseparatedforever.Buttherewerestillothers,likeRambert,whomthedoctorhadleftthatverymorningwiththewords:"Courage,nowisthetimetoproveyou’reright’;andthesehadunhesitatinglyreunitedwiththeabsentlovewhomtheythoughtwaslost.Atleastforaperiodtheywouldbehappy.Theyknewnowthatifthereisonethingthatonecanalwaysdesireandsometimesobtain,itishumanaffection.
Forallthepeoplewho,onthecontrary,hadlookedbeyondmantosomethingthattheycouldnotevenimagine,therehadbeennoreply.Tarrouhadappearedtoreachthealmostunattainablepeaceaboutwhichhespoke,buthefounditonlyindeath,atamomentwhenitcouldbeofnousetohim.Bycontrast,therewereotherswhomRieuxsawonthedoorstepsoftheirhouses,inthefadinglight,claspedtooneanotherwithalltheirstrengthandlookingatoneanotherwithenchantment:iftheyhadfoundthattheywanted,itwasbecausetheyhadaskedfortheonlythingthatdependedonthem.AndRieux,asheturnedintoGrandandCottard’sstreet,thoughtthatitwasrightthat,fromtimetotime,joyshouldrewardthosewhosedesiresarecircumscribedbymankindanditsmeagreandterriblelove.
