Чума
Part I
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"Theremustbemorethanthirtypatientsinthetown?"
"Therearetheoneswhoareafraidandtheothers,themajority,whodon’tevenhavetimetofeelafraid."
"Aren’tburialsbeingchecked?"
"No.IphonedRichardtosayweneededcomprehensivemeasures,notfinewords,andthateitherwemustsetuparealbarriertotheepidemic,ornothingatall."
"And?"
"Hetoldmethathehadnopower.Inmyopinion,itwillgetworse."
Sureenough,inthreedaysthetwobuildingswerefull.Richardthoughtthattheycouldrequisitionaschoolandprovideanauxiliaryhospital.Rieuxwaitedforthevaccinestoarriveandhelancedlymphnodes.Castelreturnedtohisoldbooksandspentalongtimeinthelibrary.
"Theratsdiedoftheplagueorofsomethingverysimilartoit,"heconcluded."Theyputtensofthousandsoffleasincirculationandthesewilltransmittheinfectionatanexponentialrateifwedonotstopitintime."
Rieuxstayedsilent.
Aroundthistimetheweatherseemedtosettle.Thesundrewupthepuddlesfromthelastshowers.Fine,blueskiesburstingwithyellowlight,thehumofaircraftinthegatheringheat…itwasatimewheneverythinginvitedtranquillity.However,infourdaystheinfectiontookfoursurprisingleaps:sixteendead,thentwenty-four,twenty-eightandthirty-two.
