Чума
Part II
Theegotismofloveprotectedtheminthemidstofthegeneraldistressand,iftheydidthinkabouttheplague,itwasalwaysandonlytotheextentthatitriskedmakingtheirseparationeternal.Thusattheveryheartoftheepidemictheypresentedasalutarydetachmentthatpeoplewereinclinedtomistakeforcool-headedcomposure.Theirdespairsavedthemfrompanic,sotherewassomegoodintheirmisfortune.Forexample,ifithappenedthatoneofthemdidsuccumbtothedisease,itwasalmostalwaysbeforehebecameawareofit.Draggedawayfromthelongdialoguethathewasholdinginsidehimselfwithashadow,hewouldthenbecastforthwithintothestilldeepersilenceoftheearth.Hehadnotimeforanything.
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Whilethetownspeopleweretryingtocometotermswiththissuddenexile,theplaguesetguardsatthegatesandturnedbackshipsthatweremakingfortheportofOran.Sincethetownhadbeenclosed,notavehiclehadenteredit.Fromthatdayonwards,youhadtheimpressionthatcarshadstartedtogoroundincircles.Theportalsotookonanunusualappearanceforthosewholookedatitfromtheheightoftheboulevards.Theusualhustleandbustlewhichmadethisoneoftheleadingportsonthecoasthadsuddenlyhalted.Onecouldstillseeafewshipswhichwereheldinquarantine,butonthequaysidethehugeidlecranes,thetrucksturnedontheirsidesandthesolitaryheapsofbarrelsorsacksshowedthattrade,too,hadsuccumbedtotheplague.
