Чума
Part I
WhenhegothomeRieuxphonedthedepotforpharmaceuticalproductsforthedépartement.Hisprofessionalnotesforthedayinquestionmerelystate:"Negativeresponse."Andalreadyhewasbeingcalledoutelsewheretosimilarcases.Obviously,theabscesseshadtobelanced.Twocutswiththescalpelintheformofacrossandtheglandsdischargedamixtureofpusandblood.Thepatientsbled,inagony.Darkpatchesappearedonthebellyandthelegs,alymphnodewouldceasetosuppurate,thenitswelledupagain.Moreoftenthannot,thepatientdied,withanappallingsmellabouthim.
Thepress,whichhadhadsomuchtosayaboutthebusinessoftherats,fellsilent.Thisisbecauseratsdieinthestreetandpeopleintheirbedrooms;andnewspapersareonlyconcernedwiththestreet.ButthePrefectureandtheHôteldeVillewerestartingtowonder.Aslongaseachdoctorwasnotawareofmorethantwoorthreecases,noonethoughttodoanything.But,afterall,someoneonlyhadtodecidetodoanaddition,andthetallywasdisturbing.Inbarelyafewdaysthenumberoffatalcasesmultiplied,anditwascleartothosewhowereconcernedwiththiscuriousillnessthattheyweredealingwitharealepidemic.ThiswaswhenCastel,oneofRieux’scolleagues,thoughmucholder,cametoseehim.
"Ofcourse,"hesaid,"youknowwhatitis,Rieux,don’tyou?"
"I’mwaitingfortheresultsofthetests."
"Well,Iknow.AndIdon’tneedtests.
