Чума
Part I
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"Comenow,"RieuxtoldGrandonthedayoftheposters."Thisbusinessoftheratshasgonetohishead,asithaswithmanyotherpeople,that’sall.Orelsehe’safraidofinfection."
Grandreplied:
"Idon’tthinkso,doctor,andifyouwantmyopinion…"
Therodent-controllorrywentpastbeneaththewindowwithaloudnoisefromitsexhaust.Rieuxdidnotreplyuntilhehadsomehopeofbeingheardandcasuallyaskedtheclerkforhisopinion.Grandgavehimaseriouslook.
"He’saman",hesaid,"whohassomethingonhisconscience."
Thedoctorshruggedhisshoulders.Asdidthepolicecommissioner,hehadotherfishtofry.
InthecourseoftheafternoonRieuxhadameetingwithCastel.Theserumhadnotarrived.
"Asforthat,"Rieuxsaid,"woulditbeanyuse?Thisbacillusisveryodd."
"Oh,no,"saidCastel."Idon’tagree.Thoselittlebrutesalwayslookdifferentfromoneanother,butunderneaththey’rethesame."
"Soyouthink,anyway.Inreality,wedon’tknowathingaboutit."
"Ofcoursenot,Isupposewedon’t.Butit’sthesameforeveryone."
Throughouttheday,thedoctorfeltgrowinginsidehimtheslightsenseofdizzinessthathegotwheneverhethoughtabouttheplague.Eventuallyheadmittedthathewasafraid.Twicehewentintocrowdedcafes:likeCottard,hefelttheneedforhumanwarmth.
