Чума
Part I
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"Ihopeitwon’ttakelong."
"I’vealreadysentatelegram,"Rieuxreplied.
ThePrefectwaspleasant,butnervous.
"Let’sgetstarted,gentlemen,"hesaid."DoIhavetosummarizethesituation?"
Richardthoughtthattherewasnoneed.Thedoctorsknewthesituationalready.Thequestionwasmerelytodecideonthepropercourseofaction.
"Thequestion,"oldCastelsaidbluntly,"istodecidewhetherwearedealingwiththeplagueornot."
Twoorthreedoctorsprotested,whiletheothersappearedhesitant.AsforthePrefect,heleaptupinhisseatandautomaticallyturnedtowardsthedoor,asthoughcheckingthatithadreallypreventedthisenormityfromspreadingdownthecorridor.Richardannouncedthatinhisopiniontheyshouldnotgivewaytopanic:alltheycouldsayforcertainwasthatitwasaninfectionwithinguinalcomplications;anditwasdangerous,inscienceasinlife,tojumptoconclusions.OldCastel,whowascalmlychewinghisyellowmoustache,turnedhiscleareyestowardsRieux.Thenhelookedbenevolentlyovertherestofthecompanyandannouncedthatheknewverywellitwasplague,butthat,ofcourse,iftheyweretoacknowledgethefactofficially,theywouldhavetotakesternmeasures.Heknewthat,underneath,thiswaswhatheldhiscolleaguesbackandasaresult,nottoupsetthem,hewasquitewillingtostatethatitwasnotplague.
