Чума
Part II
Attheendoftheseharrowingweeks,afteralltheseeveningswhenthetownpouredintothestreetstowanderroundthem,Rieuxrealizedthathenolongerneededtoprotecthimselfagainstpity.Whenpityisuselessonegrowstiredofit.Andthedoctorfoundhisonlyconsolationfortheseexhaustingdaysinthisfeelingofaheartslowlyclosingarounditself.Heknewthatitwouldmakehistaskeasier.Thatiswhyhewelcomedit.Whenhismother,meetinghimashecameinattwoo’clockinthemorning,waspainedbytheemptylookhegaveher,shewasactuallyregrettingtheonlycomfortthatRieuxbythencouldenjoy.Tostruggleagainstabstraction,onemustcometoresembleitalittle.ButhowcouldRambertbepersuadedofthat?AbstractionforRambertwaseverythingthatstoodinthewayofhishappiness.Intruth,Rieuxknewthatinacertainsensethejournalistwasright.Buthealsoknewthatsometimesabstractionmaybecomestrongerthanhappiness,andthatthen,andonlythen,shouldonetakeitintoaccount.ThisiswhatwouldhappenedtoRambert,andthedoctorwouldlearnofitinthedetailsthatRambertwouldlaterconfideinhim.Inthisway,andatadifferentlevel,hewouldfollowthesortofdrearystrugglebetweenthehappinessofeachindividualandtheabstractionsoftheplague,thatwastomakeupthelifeofourtownforthislongperiodoftime.
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However,wheresomepeoplesawabstraction,otherssawtruth.
