Чума
Part V
"Tellme,doctor,isittruethatthey’regoingtoputupamonumenttothevictimsoftheplague?"
"Sothepaperssay.Apillaroraplaque."
"Iknewit!Andthere’llbespeeches."
Theoldmangaveastrangledlaugh.
"Icanhearthemalready:"Ourdead…"Thenthey’llgoandhavedinner."
Rieuxwasalreadygoingupthestairs.Thegreatcoldskywasshiningabovethehousesand,nearthehills,thestarswerehardasflint.ThisnightwasnotsodifferentfromtheonewhenTarrouandhehadcomeoutonthissamerooftoforgettheplague.Theseawaslouderthanithadbeenthen,atthefootofthecliffs.Theairwasstillandlight,freedfromthetaintedbreathbroughtbythewarmwindsofautumn.Thenoisefromthetown,however,wasstillbeatingwithasoundlikewavesaroundthebottomoftheterraces.Butthisnightwasthatofdeliverance,notofrebellion.Faroff,adarkreddeningmarkedtheboulevardsandwell-litsquares.Inthenowfreenight,desirecameunbridledandthiswastherumblingthatRieuxcouldhear.
Outofthedarkportrosethefirstrocketsoftheofficialcelebrations.Thetowngreetedthemwithalong,muffledexclamation.Cottard,Tarrou,themenandthewomanwhomRieuxhadlovedandlost,all,deadorguilty,wereforgotten.Theoldmanhadbeenright,menwerealwaysthesame.
