Чума
Part I
Inanyevent,oneshouldnotexaggerate.Itisimportanttostresstheordinarinessofthetownanditslife.Butoneeasilypassesthetimeawaywhenonehasaroutine.Totheveryextentthatourtownencouragesroutine,onemightsaythatallisforthebest.Admittedly,seenlikethat,lifeisnottooexciting.Atleastdisorderisunknownamongus.Andourpeople,open,likeableandenergetic,havealwayselicitedafairdegreeofrespectfromtravellers.Thistown,whichhasnothingpicturesqueaboutit,novegetationandnosoul,comeseventuallytoseemrestful;inshort,inducessleep.Butitisonlyfairtoaddthatitissituatedinanunrivalledcountryside,inthemidstofabareplainsurroundedbyluminoushills,attheedgeofaperfectlyformedbay.Onecanonlyregretthatitwasbuiltwithitsbackturnedtothebayandthat,asaresult,itisimpossibletoseethesea.Youalwayshavetogoandlookforit.
Bynow,itwillbeeasytoacceptthatnothingcouldleadthepeopleofourtowntoexpecttheeventsthattookplaceinthespringofthatyearandwhich,aswelaterunderstood,wereliketheforerunnersoftheseriesofgravehappeningsthatthishistoryintendstodescribe.Tosomepeoplethesefactswillseemquitenatural;toothers,onthecontrary,improbable.Butachroniclercannot,afterall,takeaccountofsuchcontradictions.
