Чума
Part I
Whyshouldtheyhavethoughtabouttheplague,whichnegatesthefuture,negatesjourneysanddebate?Theyconsideredthemselvesfreeandnoonewilleverbefreeaslongasthereisplague,pestilenceandfamine.
EvenafterDrRieuxhadacknowledgedtohisfriendthatahandfulofsickpeopleindifferentplaceshadunexpectedlydiedofplague,thedangerseemedunrealtohim.Itisjustthatwhenoneisadoctoronehasacquiredsomeideaofpainandgainedalittlemoreimagination.Ashelookedthroughthewindowoverhistown,whichwasunchanged,thedoctorcouldbarelyfeelthefirststirringsofthatslightnauseawithregardtothefuturethatisknownasanxiety.Hetriedtoputtogetherinhismindwhatheknewaboutthedisease.Figuresdriftedthroughhisheadandhethoughtthatthethirtyorsogreatplaguesrecordedinhistoryhadcausednearlyahundredmilliondeaths.Butwhatareahundredmilliondeaths?Whenonehasfoughtawar,onehardlyknowsanymorewhatadeadpersonis.Andifadeadmanhasnosignificanceunlessonehasseenhimdead,ahundredmillionbodiesspreadthroughhistoryarejustamistdriftingthroughtheimagination.ThedoctorrecalledtheplagueofConstantinoplewhich,accordingtoProcopius,claimedtenthousandvictimsinoneday.Tenthousanddeadequalsfivetimestheaudienceinalargecinema.That’swhatyoushoulddo.Youshouldgetallthepeoplecomingoutoffivecinemas,takethemtoasquareinthetownandmakethemdieinaheap;thenyouwouldgraspitbetter.
