Чума
Part I
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Theywentinthedirectionoftheparade-ground.Cottardwasstillnotsayinganything.Thestreetsstartedtofillwithpeople.Thefleetingduskthatwehaveinourcountrywasalreadygivingwaytonightandthefirststarshadappearedonastillclearhorizon.Afewsecondslaterthelampsabovethestreetslitupandblockedoutthesky.Thesoundofconversationsseemedtoriseatone.
"Excuseme,"Grandsaidatthecorneroftheparade-ground."Ihavetocatchmytram.Myeveningsaresacred.Astheysaywhere"Icomefrom:"Oneshouldneverputoffuntiltomorrow…"
RieuxhadalreadynotedthishabitthatGrandhadofquotingsayingsfromhispartofthecountry—hewasborninMontélimar—andthenaddingsomeclichéthatcamefromnowhereinparticular,like"apeachofanevening"or"fairytalelights".
"Nowthere,"saidCottard,"that’strue.Nothingcandraghimawayfromhomeafterdinner."
RieuxaskedGrandifhewasdoingsomeworkfortheHôteldeVille;Grandansweredno,hewasworkingforhimself.
"Ah,"saidRieux,forthesakeofsayingsomething."Isitprogressing?"
"Inevitably,consideringalltheyearsI’vebeenworkingonit.Although,inanothersense,thereisn’tmuchprogress."
"Butwhatexactlyisit?"thedoctorasked,stoppinginhistracks.
Grandmumbledashesettledhisroundhatoverhisears.
