Чума
Part I
AndDrRieux,whowaslookingatthegulf,thoughtofthepyresthat,Lucretiustellsus,theAtheniansbuiltontheseashorewhentheywerestrickenwithillness.Thedeadwerebroughtthereatnight,buttherewastoolittlespaceandthelivingwouldfighteachotherwithburningtorchestoputtheirlovedonesonthepyres,engaginginbloodystrugglesratherthanabandontheirdeadbodiesonthebeach.Youcouldimaginethepyresglowinginfrontofthecalmdarkwater,thetorchesstrugglinginadarknesscracklingwithsparks,andthick,poisonousfumesrisingtowardsthewaitingsky.Andyoucouldimagineithappeninghere…
Butcommonsensedispelledthisdizzyingvision.Itistruethattheword"plague"hadbeenspoken,itistruethatatthatverymomentthepestilencewastossingandbeatingdownoneortwovictims.Butthatcouldend,couldn’tit?Whathemustdowastoacknowledgeclearlywhathadtobeacknowledged,driveawayallneedlessshadowsandtakewhatevermeasureswererequired.Afterthat,theplaguewouldceasebecauseplaguewasinconceivable,orbecauseitwaswronglyconceived.Ifitdidstop,aswasmostlikely,thenallwouldbewell.Otherwise,theywouldunderstandwhatitwasandknowiftherewassomemeansbywhichtheymightcometotermswithit,soaseventuallytoovercomeit.
Thedoctoropenedthewindowandthenoiseofthetownswelledsuddenly.Fromanearbyworkshopcamethebrief,repeatedsoundsofamechanicalsaw.Rieuxshookhimself.Thiswascertainty:everydaywork.
