Чума
Part I
Intheendthisproblemhadbecomehismainworry."Oh,doctor,"hewouldsay."IwishIcouldlearntoexpressmyself."HementionedthistoRieuxeverytimetheymet.
Thatevening,ashewatchedthecivilservantleave,thedoctorrealizedsuddenlywhatGrandmeant:hemustsurelybewritingabookorsomethingofthatsort.ThisreassuredRieuxallthewaytothelaboratory,wherehedidfinallygo.Heknewthatitwassillyofhimtofeellikethis,buthecouldnotbelievethattheplaguemightreallygetaholdonatownwhereyoucouldstillfindhumblecivilservantswhodevotedtheirfreemomentstohonourableobsessions.Moreexactly,hecouldnotimaginehowsuchobsessionsfittedintothecontextoftheplague,andsoconcludedthat,inpracticalterms,theplaguehadnofutureamongthepeopleofourtown.
***
Thefollowingday,asaresultofwhatwasconsideredexcessiveinsistence,RieuxpersuadedthePrefect’sofficetoappointahealthcommission.
"It’struethatpeoplearestartingtoworry,"Richardagreed,"andgossipexaggerateseverything.ThePrefecttoldme:"Let’sactquicklyifyoulike,butkeepquietaboutit."Anyway,heissurethatit’safalsealarm."
BernardRieuxtookCastelinhiscarwhenhewenttothePrefecture.
"Doyouknow,"Castelsaid,"thatthedépartementhasnoserum?"
"Iknow.Iphonedthewarehouse.Themanagerwasflabbergasted.IthastobebroughtfromParis.
