Чума
Part I
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Richardfeltthattheyshouldnotpainttooblackapicture,andthatinanycasetherewasnoproofofcontagionsincetherelativesofhispatientswerestillunaffected.
"Butothershavedied,"Rieuxpointedout."And,ofcourse,contagionisneverabsolute,becauseifitwere,weshouldhaveendlessexponentialgrowthanddevastatinglossofpopulation.It’snotamatterofpaintingablackpicture;it’samatteroftakingprecautions."
However,Richardthoughthecouldsumthesituationupbysayingthatiftheyweretohaltthedisease,assumingitdidnotstopofitsownaccord,theyhadtoapplytheseriouspreventivehealthmeasuresprovidedforinlaw;that,todoso,theywouldhavetoacknowledgeofficiallythattherewasanoutbreakofplague;thattherewasnoabsolutecertaintyonthatscore;andconsequentlythattheyshouldconsiderthematter.
"Thequestion",Rieuxinsisted,"isnotknowingwhetherthemeasuresprovidedforunderthelawareseriousbutiftheyarenecessarytopreventhalfthetownbeingkilled.TherestisamatterofadministrationanditispreciselyinordertosettlesuchquestionsthattheStategivesusaPrefect."
"Naturally,"saidthePrefect."ButIneedyoutoacknowledgeofficiallythatwedohaveanoutbreakofplague."
"Ifwedon’tacknowledgeit,"saidRieux,"itstillthreatenstokillhalfthepopulationofthetown."
Richardinterruptednervously.
