Чума
Part II
RieuxsawhimgointothehotelwhereJeanTarrouwasliving.
Afteramomentthedoctorshookhishead.Thejournalistwasrighttobeimpatientforhappiness.ButwasherighttoaccuseRieux?"Youarethinkinginabstractterms."Wasittrulyanabstraction,spendinghisdaysinthehospitalwheretheplaguewasworkingovertime,bringingthenumberofvictimsuptofivehundredonaverageperweek?Yes,therewasanelementofabstractionandunrealityinmisfortune.Butwhenanabstractionstartstokillyou,youhavetogettoworkonit.AndRieuxknewthatthiswasnottheeasiestthingtodo.Itwasnoteasy,forexample,tomanagethisauxiliaryhospitalwhichwashisresponsibility—therewerenowthreeoftheminall.Hehadhadtoconvertoneroom,openingontotheconsulting-room,intoanadmissionsarea.Apitdugintothefloorformedalakeofdisinfectantinthemidstofwhichwasasmallislandofbrick.Thepatientwastransportedontotheisland,quicklyundressedandhisclothesthrownintothewater.Washed,driedandcoveredinthecoarsehospitalgown,hewaspassedontoRieux,thentakentooneofthewards.Theyhadbeenforcedtousethecourtyardofaschoolwhichnowcontainedfivehundredbedsinall,almostallofthemoccupied.Afterthemorningadmissionswhichhewasinchargeofhimself,thepatientswerevaccinatedandtheswellingslanced.ThenRieuxonceagaincheckedthefiguresbeforegoingbacktohisafternoonrounds.Finally,intheevening,hemadehishousevisitsandcamehomelateatnight.
