Чума
Part I
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Inthemidstofgeneralannoyance,Rieuxleft.Afewmomentslater,inasuburbwhichsmelledoffryingoilandurine,awomanscreamingtodeath,hergroincoveredinblood,wasturningherfacetohim.
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Thedayaftertheconference,theinfectionmadeanothersmalladvance.Itevenenteredthenewspapers,butunderaharmlessguise,sincetheymerelymadeafewallusionstoit.OnthedayafterthatRieuxcouldreadsomelittlewhitepostersthatthePrefecturehadrapidlyhadstuckupintheleastobtrusivecornersofthetown.Fromthisposteritwashardtoreachtheconclusionthattheauthoritieswereconfrontingthesituation.Themeasureswerefarfromdraconiananditappearedthatagooddealhadbeendonetoavoidupsettingpublicopinion.ThepreambletothedecreeannouncedthatafewcasesofaperniciousfeverhadbeendetectedinthecommuneofOran,thoughitwasnotyetpossibletosaywhetherornotitwascontagious.Thesecaseswerenotspecificenoughtobereallydisturbingandtherewasnodoubtthatthepopulationwouldremaincalm.Nonetheless,forreasonsofcautionwhicheveryonecouldunderstand,thePrefectwastakingsomepreventivemeasures.Iftheywereinterpretedandappliedintheproperway,thesemeasuresweresuchthattheywouldputadefinitestoptoanythreatofepidemic.Asaresult,thePrefectdidnotforamomentdoubtthatthecitizensunderhischargewouldco-operateinthemostzealousmannerwithwhathewasdoing.
