Чума
Part I
IspentpartofmylifeworkinginChina,andIsawafewcasesinParis,twentyyearsago—thoughnoonedaredputanametoitatthattime.Publicopinionissacred:nopanic,aboveallnopanic.Then,asacolleaguetoldme:"It’simpossible,everyoneknowsithasvanishedfromtheWest."Yes,everyoneknewthat,exceptthedead.Comeon,Rieux,youknowaswellasIdowhatitis."
Rieuxthought.Outofhisstudywindowhelookedattheshoulderofthestonycliffthatclosedaroundthebayinthedistance.Thoughtheskywasblueithadadullsheenthatwassofteningastheafternoonwenton.
"Yes,Castel,"hesaid."It’salmostimpossibletobelieve.Butitappearsthatitmustbetheplague."
Castelgotupandwenttowardsthedoor.
"Youknowwhatthey’lltellus,"theolddoctorsaid."Itdisappearedfromtemperatelandsyearsago."
"Whatdoesitmean,"disappeared"?"Rieuxreplied,shrugginghisshoulders.
"Yes.Anddon’tforget:inParis,almosttwentyyearsago…"
"Fine.Let’shopethatitwon’tbemoreseriousnowthanitwasthen.Butit’squiteincredible."
***
Theword"plague"hadjustbeenspokenforthefirsttime.Atthispointinthestory,leavingBernardRieuxathiswindow,thenarratormaybeallowedtojustifythedoctor’suncertaintyandsurprisesince,withafewslightdifferences,hisreactionwasthesameasthatofmostofourtownsfolk.
