Чума
Part I
Butoncehewasinthestreetitoccurredtohimthattheratshouldnothavebeenthereandheturnedbacktoinformtheconcierge.OldM.Michel’sreactionmadehimstillmoreawareoftheincongruityofhisdiscovery.Tohimthepresenceofthisdeadrathadseemedmerelyodd,whilefortheconciergeitwasanoutrage.Infact,themanwasadamant:therewerenoratsinthehouse.Howevermuchthedoctorassuredhimthattherewasoneonthefirst-floorlanding,probablydead,M.Michel’sconvictionwasfirm.Therewerenoratsinthehouse,sothisonemusthavebeenbroughtinfromoutside.Inshort,itwasapracticaljoke.
ThatsameeveningBernardRieuxwasstandinginthecorridorofthebuilding,lookingforhiskeysbeforegoinguptohisflat,whenhesawalargeratemergehesitantlyfromthedarkdepthsofthecorridor,itsfurdamp.Thecreaturestopped,seemedtobetryingtogetitsbalance,stoppedagain,spunroundandroundwithafaintcryandeventuallyfell,bloodspurtingfromitshalf-openlips.Thedoctorlookedatitforamoment,thenwentupstairs.
Hewasnotthinkingabouttherat.Thatspilledbloodbroughthimbacktothesubjectpreoccupyinghimatthetime.Hiswife,whohadbeenillforthepastyear,wasduetoleavethenextdayforasanatoriuminthemountains.Hefoundherlyinginbedintheirroom,ashehadaskedhertodo.Shewasgatheringstrengthforthejourney.Shesmiled.
"I’mfeelingfine,"shesaid.
