Чума
Part I
Evenoutsidethearea,hehadplentyofacquaintances.
"DoyouknowMonsieurRigaud,thearchitect?He’safriendofmine."
Theroomwasgettingdarker.Thesuburbanstreetwasfillingwithpeopleandadullsighofreliefoutsidegreetedthemomentwhenthestreetlampscameon.RieuxwentoutonthebalconyandCottardfollowed.Fromeverynearbypartoftown,aseveryevening,alightbreezebroughtthehumofvoices,thesmellofgrilledmeatandthejoyful,sweet-smellingbuzzoffreedom,littlebylittlefillingthestreetasnoisyyoungpeopleflowedintoit.Thegreatroarsofinvisibleboatsandthemurmurthatrosefromtheseaandfromtheswellingcrowdbynight,thismomentthatRieuxknewsowellandoncehadloved,nowseemedoppressivetohimbecauseofallthatheknew.
"Canweputthelighton?"heaskedCottard.
Oncelighthadreturnedtotheroomthelittlemanlookedathimthroughblinkingeyes.
"Tellme,doctor,ifIweretofallillwouldyoutakemeinyourhospital?"
"Whyshouldn’tI?"
AtthisCottardaskedifithadeverhappenedthatapersonwasarrestedwhenhewasinaclinicorahospital.Rieuxsaidthatithadoccurredbutthatitdependedonthestateofthepatient.
"Itrustinyou,"saidCottard.
Thenheaskedthedoctorifhewouldkindlytakehimtotowninhiscar.
