,P>T #e 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALB]T ,CAMUS 

,TEXT 3 

,P,>,T ,V 

,?\< ?IS SUDD5 SETBACK ( ! PLAGUE WAS AS WELCOME AS IT WAS UNLOOK$-=1 \R 
T[NSFOLK W]E 9 NO HURRY TO JUBILATE4 ,:ILE 9T5SIFY+ !IR DESIRE TO BE SET FREE1 ! 
T]RIBLE MON?S !Y HAD LIV$ ?R\< HAD TAU<T !M PRUD5CE1 & !Y HAD COME TO 
C\NT LESS & LESS ON A SPE$Y 5D ( ! EPIDEMIC4 ,ALL ! SAME1 ?IS NEW DEVELOPM5T 
WAS ! TALK ( ! T[N1 & PEOPLE BEGAN TO NURSE HOPES NONE ! LESS HE>TFELT = BE+ 
UNAV[$4 ,ALL ELSE TOOK A BACK PLACE2 ?AT DAILY !RE W]E NEW VICTIMS C\NT$ = LITTLE 
BESIDE ?AT /AGG]+ FACT3 ! WEEKLY TOTAL %[$ A DECREASE4 ,ONE ( ! SIGNS ?AT A 
RETURN TO ! GOLD5 AGE ( HEAL? WAS SECRETLY AWAIT$ WAS ?AT \R FELL[ CITIZ5S1 
C>EFUL ?\< !Y W]E NOT TO VOICE !IR HOPE1 N[ BEGAN TO TALK1 91 IT IS TRUE1 A 
C>EFULLY DETA*$ TONE1 ( ! NEW ORD] ( LIFE ?AT W\LD SET 9 AFT] ! PLAGUE4 

,ALL AGRE$ ?AT ! AM5ITIES ( ! PA/ C\LDN'T BE RE/OR$ AT ONCE2 DE/RUCTION 
IS AN EASI]1 SPE$I] PROCESS ?AN RECON/RUCTION4 ,H[EV]1 IT WAS ?\<T ?AT A SLI<T 
IMPROVEM5T 9 ! FOOD-SUPPLY C\LD SAFELY BE C\NT$ ON1 & ?IS W\LD RELIEVE :AT 
WAS JU/ N[ ! ACUTE/ WORRY ( EV]Y H\SEHOLD4 

,BUT 9 REALITY BEH9D !SE MILD ASPIRATIONS LURK$ WILD1 EXTRAVAGANT HOPES1 & 
(T5 ONE ( US1 BECOM+ AW>E ( ?IS1 W\LD HA/ILY ADD ?AT1 EV5 ON ! ROSIE/ VIEW1 
Y\ C\LDN'T EXPECT ! PLAGUE TO /OP FROM ONE DAY TO ANO!R4 

,ACTUALLY1 :ILE ! EPIDEMIC DID NOT /OP 0FROM ONE DAY TO ANO!R10 IT DECL9$ 
MORE RAPIDLY ?AN WE C\LD REASONABLY HAVE EXPECT$4 ,) ! FIR/ WEEK ( ,JANU>Y AN 
UNUSUALLY P]SI/5T SPELL ( V]Y COLD WEA!R SETTL$ 9 & SEEM$ TO CRY/ALLIZE ABOVE 
! T[N4 ,YET NEV] BE=E HAD ! SKY BE5 SO BLUE2 DAY AFT] DAY ITS ICY RADIANCE 
FLOOD$ ! T[N ) BRILLIANT LI<T1 & 9 ! FRO/-CLEANS$ AIR ! EPIDEMIC SEEM$ TO 
LOSE ITS VIRUL5CE1 & 9 EA* ( ?REE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS A BIG DROP 9 ! DEA?-ROLL WAS 
ANN\NC$4 ,?US OV] A RELATIVELY BRIEF P]IOD ! DISEASE LO/ PRACTICALLY ALL ! GA9S 
PIL$ UP OV] MANY MON?S4 ,ITS SETBACKS ) SEEM+LY PR$E/9$ VICTIMS1 LIKE ,GR& 
& ,RIEUX'S GIRL PATI5T1 ITS BUR/S ( ACTIVITY = TWO OR ?REE DAYS 9 SOME DI/RICTS 
SYN*RONIZ+ ) ITS TOTAL DISAPPE>ANCE FROM O!RS1 ITS NEW PRACTICE ( MULTIPLY+ ITS 
VICTIMS ON1 SAY1 A ,MONDAY1 & ON ,W$NESDAY LETT+ ALMO/ ALL ESCAPE1 9 %ORT1 ITS 
ACCESSES ( VIOL5CE FOLL[$ BY SPELLS ( COMPLETE 9ACTIVITY1 ALL !SE GAVE AN 
IMPRESSION ?AT ITS 5]GY WAS FLAGG+1 \T ( EXHAU/ION & EXASP]ATION1 & IT WAS 
LOS+1 ) ITS SELF-COMM&1 ! RU?LESS1 ALMO/ MA!MATICAL EFFICI5CY ?AT HAD BE5 
ITS TRUMP C>D HI!RTO4 ,( A SUDD5 ,CA/EL'S ANTI-PLAGUE 9JECTIONS SCOR$ FREQU5T 
SUCCESSES1 D5I$ IT UNTIL N[4 ,9DE$1 ALL ! TREATM5TS ! DOCTORS HAD T5TATIVELY 
EMPLOY$1 )\T DEF9ITE RESULTS1 N[ SEEM$ ALMO/ UNI=MLY EFFICACI\S4 ,IT WAS AS IF 
! PLAGUE HAD BE5 H\ND$ D[N & CORN]$1 & ITS SUDD5 WEAKNESS L5T NEW 
/R5G? TO ! BLUNT$ WEAPONS SO F> US$ AGA9/ IT4 ,ONLY AT R>E MOM5TS DID ! 
DISEASE BRACE ITSELF & MAKE AS IT W]E A BL9D & FATAL LEAP AT ?REE OR F\R PATI5TS 
:OSE RECOV]Y HAD BE5 EXPECT$1 A TRULY ILL-/>R$ FEW1 KILL$ (F :5 HOPE RAN 
HI<E/4 ,SU* WAS ! CASE ( ,M4 ,O?ON1 ! MAGI/RATE1 EVACUAT$ FROM ! QU>ANT9E 
CAMP2 ,T>R\ SAID ( HIM ?AT 0HE'D HAD NO LUCK10 BUT ONE C\LDN'T TELL IF HE HAD 9 M9D 
! LIFE OR ! DEA? ( ,M4 ,O?ON4 ,BUT1 G5]ALLY SPEAK+1 ! EPIDEMIC WAS 9 RETREAT ALL 
ALONG ! L9E2 ! (FICIAL COMMUNIQUES1 :I* HAD AT FIR/ 5C\RAG$ NO MORE ?AN 
%AD[Y1 HALF-HE>T$ HOPES1 N[ CONFIRM$ ! POPUL> BELIEF ?AT ! VICTORY WAS WON 
& ! 5EMY AB&ON+ HIS POSITIONS4 ,REALLY1 H[EV]1 IT IS D\BTFUL IF ?IS C\LD BE 
CALL$ A VICTORY4 ,ALL ?AT C\LD BE SAID WAS ?AT ! DISEASE SEEM$ TO BE LEAV+ AS 
UNACC\NTABLY AS IT HAD COME4 ,\R /RATEGY HAD NOT *ANG$1 BUT :]EAS YE/]DAY IT HAD 
OBVI\SLY FAIL$1 TODAY IT SEEM$ TRIUMPHANT4 ,9DE$1 ONE'S *IEF IMPRESSION WAS ?AT ! 
EPIDEMIC HAD CALL$ A RETREAT AFT] REA*+ ALL ITS OBJECTIVES2 IT HAD1 SO TO SPEAK1 A*IEV$ 
ITS PURPOSE4 

,NEV]!LESS1 IT SEEM$ AS IF NO?+ HAD *ANG$ 9 ! T[N4 ,SIL5T AS EV] BY 
DAY1 ! /REETS FILL$ UP AT NI<TFALL ) ! USUAL CR[DS ( PEOPLE1 N[ WE>+ 
OV]COATS & SC>VES4 ,CAFES & PICTURE-H\SES DID AS MU* BUS9ESS AS BE=E4 ,BUT ON A 
CLOS] VIEW Y\ MI<T NOTICE ?AT PEOPLE LOOK$ LESS /RA9$1 & !Y OCCASIONALLY 
SMIL$4 ,& ?IS BR\<T HOME ! FACT ?AT S9CE ! \TBREAK ( PLAGUE NO ONE HAD 
HI!RTO BE5 SE5 TO SMILE 9 PUBLIC4 ,! TRU? WAS ?AT = MANY MON?S ! T[N HAD 
BE5 /IFL+ UND] AN AIRLESS %R\D1 9 :I* A R5T HAD N[ BE5 MADE1 & EV]Y 
,MONDAY :5 HE TURN$ ON ! RADIO1 EA* ( US LE>N$ ?AT ! RIFT WAS WID5+2 SOON 
HE W\LD BE ABLE TO BREA! FREELY4 ,IT WAS AT BE/ A NEGATIVE SOLACE1 ) NO IMM$IATE 
IMPACT ON M5'S LIVES4 ,/ILL1 HAD ANYONE BE5 TOLD A MON? E>LI] ?AT A TRA9 HAD JU/ LEFT 
OR A BOAT PUT 91 OR ?AT C>S W]E TO BE ALL[$ ON ! /REETS AGA91 ! NEWS W\LD HAVE 
BE5 RECEIV$ ) LOOKS ( 9CR$ULITY2 :]EAS 9 MID-,JANU>Y AN ANN\NCEM5T ( ?IS 
K9D W\LD HAVE CAUS$ NO SURPRISE4 ,! *ANGE1 NO D\BT1 WAS SLI<T4 ,YET1 H[EV] 
SLI<T1 IT PROV$ :AT A VA/ =W>D /RIDE \R T[NSFOLK HAD MADE 9 ! WAY ( HOPE4 

,& 9DE$ IT C\LD BE SAID ?AT ONCE ! FA9TE/ /IRR+ ( HOPE BECAME POSSIBLE1 ! 
DOM9ION ( ! PLAGUE WAS 5D$4 

,IT MU/1 H[EV]1 BE ADMITT$ ?AT \R FELL[ CITIZ5S' REACTIONS DUR+ ?AT MON? 
W]E DIV]SE TO ! PO9T ( 9COH]5CE4 ,MORE PRECISELY1 !Y FLUCTUAT$ BETWE5 HI< 
OPTIMISM & EXTREME DEPRESSION4 ,H5CE ! ODD CIRCUM/ANCE ?AT SEV]AL MORE 
ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE TOOK PLACE AT ! V]Y MOM5T :5 ! /ATI/ICS W]E MO/ 
5C\RAG+4 ,?IS TOOK ! AU?ORITIES BY SURPRISE1 &1 APP>5TLY1 ! S5TRIES TOO1 S9CE 
MO/ ( ! 0ESCAPI/S0 BR\<T IT (F4 ,BUT1 LOOK+ 9TO IT1 ONE SAW ?AT PEOPLE :O TRI$ 
TO ESCAPE AT ?IS TIME W]E PROMPT$ BY QUITE UND]/&ABLE MOTIVES4 ,SOME ( !M 
PLAGUE HAD IMBU$ ) A SKEPTICISM SO ?OR\< ?AT IT WAS N[ A SECOND NATURE2 !Y 
HAD BECOME ALL]GIC TO HOPE 9 ANY =M4 ,?US EV5 :5 ! PLAGUE HAD RUN ITS C\RSE1 
!Y W5T ON LIV+ BY ITS /&>DS4 ,!Y W]E1 9 %ORT1 BEH9D ! TIMES4 ,9 ! CASE ( 
O!RS1 *IEFLY ?OSE :O HAD BE5 LIV+ UNTIL N[ 9 =C$ SEP>ATION FROM ?OSE !Y 
LOV$1 ! RIS+ W9D ( HOPE1 AFT] ALL !SE MON?S ( DURANCE & DEPRESSION1 HAD 
FANN$ IMPATI5CE TO A BLAZE & SWEPT AWAY !IR SELF-CONTROL4 ,!Y W]E SEIZ$ ) A 
SORT ( PANIC AT ! ?\<T ?AT !Y MI<T DIE SO NE> ! GOAL & NEV] SEE AGA9 ! 
ONES !Y LOV$1 & !IR LONG PRIVATION HAVE NO RECOMP5SE4 ,?US1 ?\< = WE>Y 
MON?S & MON?S !Y HAD 5DUR$ !IR LONG ORDEAL ) DOGG$ P]SEV]ANCE1 ! 
FIR/ ?RILL ( HOPE HAD BE5 5\< TO %ATT] :AT FE> & HOPELESSNESS HAD FAIL$ TO 
IMPAIR4 ,& 9 ! FR5ZY ( !IR HA/E !Y TRI$ TO \T/RIP ! PLAGUE1 9CAPABLE ( 
KEEP+ PACE ) IT UP TO ! 5D4 

,MEAN:ILE1 !RE W]E V>I\S SYMPTOMS ( ! GR[+ OPTIMISM4 ,PRICES1 = 
9/ANCE1 FELL %>PLY4 ,?IS FALL WAS UNACC\NTABLE FROM ! PURELY ECONOMIC VIEWPO9T4 

,\R DIFFICULTIES W]E AS GREAT AS EV]1 ! GATES W]E KEPT RIGOR\SLY CLOS$1 & ! FOOD 
SITUATION WAS F> FROM %[+ ANY IMPROVEM5T4 ,?US IT WAS A PURELY PSY*OLOGICAL 
REACTION1 AS IF ! DW9DL+ ( ! PLAGUE MU/ HAVE REP]CUSSIONS 9 ALL FIELDS4 ,O!RS TO 
PR(IT BY ! SPREAD ( OPTIMISM W]E ?OSE :O US$ TO LIVE 9 GR\PS & HAD BE5 
=C$ TO LIVE AP>T4 ,! TWO CONV5TS REOP5$ & !IR COMMUNAL LIFE WAS RESUM$4 

,! TROOPS1 TOO1 W]E REGR\P$ 9 SU* B>RACKS AS HAD NOT BE5 REQUISITION$1 & 
SETTL$ D[N TO ! G>RISON LIFE ( ! PA/4 

,M9OR DETAILS1 BUT SIGNIFICANT4 

,?IS /ATE ( SUBDU$ YET ACTIVE F]M5T PREVAIL$ UNTIL ,JANU>Y #b#e1 :5 ! 
WEEKLY TOTAL %[$ SO /RIK+ A DECL9E ?AT1 AFT] CONSULT+ ! M$ICAL BO>D1 ! 
AU?ORITIES ANN\NC$ ?AT ! EPIDEMIC C\LD BE REG>D$ AS DEF9ITELY /EMM$4 ,TRUE1 
! COMMUNIQUE W5T ON TO SAY ?AT1 ACT+ ) A PRUD5CE ( :I* ! POPULATION 
W\LD C]TA9LY APPROVE1 ! ,PREFECT HAD DECID$ ?AT ! GATES ( ! T[N W]E TO 
REMA9 CLOS$ = TWO WEEKS MORE1 & ! PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES TO REMA9 9 =CE = 
ANO!R MON?4 ,DUR+ ?IS P]IOD1 AT ! LEA/ SIGN ( DANG] ! /&+ ORD]S W\LD 
BE /RICTLY 5=C$ &1 IF NECESS>Y1 PROLONG$ !REAFT] = SU* A P]IOD AS MI<T BE 
DEEM$ DESIRABLE40 

,ALL1 H[EV]1 CONCURR$ 9 REG>D+ !SE PHRASES AS M]E (FICIAL V]BIAGE1 & 
! NI<T ( ,JANU>Y #be WAS ! OCCASION ( MU* FE/IVITY4 ,TO ASSOCIATE HIMSELF ) ! 
POPUL> REJOIC+S1 ! ,PREFECT GAVE ORD]S = ! /REET LI<T+ TO BE RESUM$ AS 9 ! 
PA/4 ,& ! T[NSPEOPLE P>AD$ ! BRILLIANTLY LI<T$ /REETS 9 BOI/]\S GR\PS1 
LAU<+ & S++4 

,TRUE1 9 SOME H\SES ! %UTT]S REMA9$ CLOS$1 & ?OSE )9 LI/5$ 9 
SIL5CE TO ! JOYFUL %\TS \TSIDE4 ,YET EV5 9 !SE H\SES ( M\RN+ A FEEL+ ( 
DEEP RELIEF PREVAIL$2 :E!R BECAUSE AT LA/ ! FE> ( SEE+ O!R MEMB]S ( ! 
H\SEHOLD TAK5 FROM !M WAS CALM$ OR BECAUSE ! %AD[ ( P]SONAL ANXIETY WAS 
LIFT$ FROM !IR HE>TS4 ,! FAMILIES ?AT P]=CE )DREW !MSELVES ! MO/ FROM ! 
G5]AL JUBILATION W]E ?OSE :O AT ?IS H\R HAD ONE ( !IR MEMB]S D[N ) 
PLAGUE 9 HOSPITAL &1 :E!R 9 A QU>ANT9E CAMP OR AT HOME1 WAIT$ 9 5=C$ 
SECLUSION = ! EPIDEMIC TO HAVE DONE ) !M AS IT HAD DONE ) ! O!RS4 ,NO 
D\BT !SE FAMILIES HAD HOPES1 BUT !Y HO>D$ !M & =BADE !MSELVES TO DRAW 
ON !M BE=E FEEL+ QUITE SURE !Y W]E JU/IFI$4 ,& ?IS TIME ( WAIT+ 9 SIL5CE 
& EXILE1 9 A LIMBO BETWE5 JOY & GRIEF1 SEEM$ /ILL CRUEL] = ! GLADNESS ALL 
>\ND !M4 

,BUT !SE EXCEPTIONS DID NOT DIM9I% ! SATISFACTION ( ! GREAT MAJORITY4 ,NO 
D\BT ! PLAGUE WAS NOT YET 5D$1 A FACT ( :I* !Y W]E TO BE REM9D$2 /ILL1 9 
IMAG9ATION !Y C\LD ALREADY HE>1 WEEKS 9 ADVANCE1 TRA9S :I/L+ ON !IR WAY TO 
AN \TSIDE WORLD ?AT HAD NO LIMIT1 & /EAM]S HOOT+ AS !Y PUT \T FROM ! H>BOR 
ACROSS %9+ SEAS4 ,NEXT DAY !SE FANCIES W\LD HAVE PASS$ & QUALMS ( D\BT 
RETURN$4 ,BUT = ! MOM5T ! :OLE T[N WAS ON ! MOVE1 QUITT+ ! D>K1 
LUGUBRI\S CONF9ES :]E IT HAD /RUCK ITS ROOTS ( /ONE1 & SETT+ =? AT LA/1 LIKE A 
%IPLOAD ( SURVIVORS1 T[>D A L& ( PROMISE4 

,?AT NI<T ,T>R\1 ,RIEUX1 ,RAMB]T1 & !IR COLLEAGUES JO9$ = A :ILE ! 
M>*+ CR[DS & !Y1 TOO1 FELT AS IF !Y TROD ON AIR4 ,LONG AFT] !Y HAD TURN$ (F 
! MA9 /REETS1 EV5 :5 9 EMPTY BYWAYS !Y WALK$ PA/ %UTT]$ H\SES1 ! 
JOYFUL CLAMOR FOLL[$ !M UP1 & BECAUSE ( !IR FATIGUE SOMEH[ !Y C\LD NOT 
DISASSOCIATE ! SORR[ BEH9D ?OSE CLOS$ %UTT]S FROM ! JOY FILL+ ! C5TRAL 
/REETS4 ,?US ! COM+ LIB]ATION HAD A TW(OLD ASPECT1 ( HAPP9ESS & TE>S4 

,AT ONE MOM5T1 :5 ! CRIES ( EXULTATION 9 ! DI/ANCE W]E SWELL+ TO A 
RO>1 ,T>R\ /OPP$ ABRUPTLY4 ,A SMALL1 SLEEK =M WAS SCAMP]+ ALONG ! ROADWAY3 A 
CAT1 ! FIR/ CAT ANY ( !M HAD SE5 S9CE ! SPR+4 ,IT /OPP$ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! 
ROAD1 HESITAT$1 LICK$ A PAW & QUICKLY PASS$ IT BEH9D ITS RI<T E>2 !N IT />T$ 
=W>D AGA9 & VANI%$ 9TO ! D>KNESS4 

,T>R\ SMIL$ TO HIMSELF2 ! LITTLE OLD MAN ON ! BALCONY1 TOO1 W\LD BE PLEAS$4 

,B,U,T 9 ?OSE DAYS :5 ! PLAGUE SEEM$ TO BE RETREAT+1 SL9K+ BACK TO ! OBSCURE 
LAIR FROM :I* IT HAD /EAL?ILY EM]G$1 AT LEA/ ONE P]SON 9 ! T[N VIEW$ ?IS 
RETREAT ) CON/]NATION1 IF ,T>R\'S NOTES >E TO BE TRU/$2 & ?AT MAN WAS ,COTT>D4 

,TO TELL ! TRU?1 !SE DI>Y NOTES TAKE A RA!R CURI\S TURN FROM ! DATE ON 
:I* ! DEA? RETURNS BEGAN TO DROP4 ,! H&WRIT+ BECOMES MU* H>D] TO READ1 
?IS MAY HAVE BE5 DUE TO FATIGUE1 & ! DI>I/ JUMPS FROM ONE TOPIC TO ANO!R 
)\T TRANSITION4 ,:AT IS MORE1 !SE LAT] NOTES LACK ! OBJECTIVITY ( ! E>LI] ONES2 
P]SONAL CONSID]ATIONS CREEP 94 ,?US1 S&WI*$ BETWE5 LONG PASSAGES DEAL+ ) 
! CASE ( ,COTT>D1 WE F9D A BRIEF ACC\NT ( ! OLD MAN & ! CATS4 ,T>R\ CONVEYS 
TO US ?AT ! PLAGUE HAD 9 NO WISE LESS5$ HIS APPRECIATION ( ! OLD FELL[1 :O 
CONT9U$ EQUALLY TO 9T]E/ HIM AFT] ! EPIDEMIC HAD RUN ITS C\RSE2 UN=TUNATELY1 HE 
C\LD NOT GO ON 9T]E/+ HIM1 & ?IS ?R\< NO LACK ( GOOD 9T5TIONS ON ,T>R\'S 
P>T4 

,HE HAD DONE HIS BE/ TO SEE HIM AGA94 ,SOME DAYS AFT] ?AT MEMORABLE #b#e? ( 
,JANU>Y HE /ATION$ HIMSELF AT ! CORN] ( ! LITTLE /REET4 ,! CATS W]E BACK AT !IR 
USUAL PLACES1 BASK+ 9 ! PAT*ES ( SUNLI<T4 ,BUT AT ! RITUAL H\R ! %UTT]S /AY$ 
CLOS$4 ,& NEV] ONCE DID ,T>R\ SEE !M OP5 ON ! FOLL[+ DAYS4 ,HE DREW ! 
RA!R ODD CONCLUSION ?AT ! OLD FELL[ WAS EI!R DEAD OR VEX$1 IF VEX$1 ! REASON 
BE+ ?AT HE HAD ?\<T ?AT HE WAS RI<T & ! PLAGUE HAD PUT HIM 9 ! WRONG2 IF 
DEAD1 ! QUE/ION WAS 7AS 9 ! CASE ( ! OLD A/HMATIC7 HAD HE BE5 A SA9T8 ,T>R\ 
H>DLY ?\<T SO1 BUT HE F\ND 9 ! OLD MAN'S CASE 0A PO9T]40 

0,P]HAPS10 HE WROTE1 0WE CAN ONLY REA* APPROXIMATIONS ( SA9?OOD4 ,9 :I* 
CASE WE MU/ MAKE %IFT ) A MILD1 B5EVOL5T DIABOLISM40 

,9T]SP]S$ ) OBS]VATIONS RELAT+ TO ,COTT>D >E REM>KS1 SCATT]$ H]E & 
!RE1 AB\T ,GR&1 HE WAS N[ CONVALESC5T & HAD GONE BACK TO WORK AS IF NO?+ 
HAD HAPP5$1 & AB\T ,RIEUX'S MO!R4 ,! OCCASIONAL CONV]SATIONS HE HAD ) H]1 
:5 LIV+ UND] ! SAME RO(1 ! OLD LADY'S ATTITUDES1 H] OP9IONS ON ! PLAGUE1 >E 
ALL RECORD$ 9 DETAIL 9 ! DI>Y4 ,T>R\ LAYS /RESS ABOVE ALL ON ,MME ,RIEUX'S SELF- 
EFFACEM5T1 H] WAY ( EXPLA9+ ?+S 9 ! SIMPLE/ POSSIBLE WORDS1 H] PR$ILECTION 
= A SPECIAL W9D[ AT :I* %E ALWAYS SAT 9 ! E>LY EV5+1 HOLD+ H]SELF RA!R 
/RAI<T1 H] H&S AT RE/1 H] EYES FIX$ ON ! QUIET /REET BEL[1 UNTIL TWILI<T FILL$ ! 
ROOM & %E %[$ AMONG ! GA!R+ %AD[S AS A MOTIONLESS BLACK =M :I* 
GRADUALLY M]G$ 9TO ! 9VAD+ D>KNESS4 ,HE REM>KS ON ! 0LI<TNESS0 ) :I* 
%E MOV$ FROM ONE ROOM TO ! O!R2 ON H] K9DNESS1 ?\< NO PRECISE 9/ANCES HAD 
COME TO HIS NOTICE HE DISC]N$ ITS G5TLE GL[ 9 ALL %E SAID & DID2 ON ! GIFT %E HAD 
( KN[+ EV]Y?+ )\T 7APP>5TLY7 TAK+ ?\<T2 & LA/LY ?AT1 DIM & SIL5T 
?\< %E WAS1 %E QUAIL$ BE=E NO LI<T1 EV5 ! G>I% LI<T ( ! PLAGUE4 ,AT ?IS 
PO9T ,T>R\'S H&WRIT+ BEGAN TO FALL (F ODDLY2 9DE$1 ! FOLL[+ L9ES W]E 
ALMO/ ILLEGIBLE4 ,&1 AS IF 9 CONFIRMATION ( ?IS LOSS ( GRIP UPON HIMSELF1 ! LA/ L9ES 
( ! 5TRY DEAL1 = ! FIR/ TIME 9 ! DI>Y1 ) HIS P]SONAL LIFE4 0,%E REM9DS ME ( 
MY MO!R2 :AT ,I LOV$ MO/ 9 ,MO!R WAS H] SELF-EFFACEM5T1 H] 'DIMNESS1' AS !Y 
SAY1 & IT'S %E ,I'VE ALWAYS WANT$ TO GET BACK TO4 ,IT HAPP5$ EI<T YE>S AGO2 BUT ,I CAN'T 
SAY %E DI$4 ,%E ONLY EFFAC$ H]SELF A TRIFLE MORE ?AN USUAL1 & :5 ,I LOOK$ R\ND 
%E WAS NO LONG] !RE40 

,BUT TO RETURN TO ,COTT>D4 ,:5 ! WEEKLY TOTALS BEGAN TO %[ A DECL9E1 HE 
VISIT$ ,RIEUX SEV]AL TIMES ON V>I\S PRETEXTS4 ,BUT OBVI\SLY :AT HE REALLY WANT$ WAS 
TO GET FROM ,RIEUX HIS OP9ION ON ! PROBABLE C\RSE ( ! EPIDEMIC4 

0,DO Y\ REALLY ?9K IT CAN /OP LIKE ?AT1 ALL ( A SUDD580 ,HE WAS SKEPTICAL AB\T 
?IS1 OR ANYH[ PR(ESS$ TO BE4 ,BUT ! FACT ?AT HE KEPT ON ASK+ ! QUE/ION SEEM$ 
TO IMPLY HE WAS LESS SURE ?AN HE PR(ESS$ TO BE4 ,FROM ! MIDDLE ( ,JANU>Y ,RIEUX GAVE 
HIM FAIRLY OPTIMI/IC ANSW]S4 ,BUT !SE W]E NOT TO ,COTT>D'S LIK+1 & HIS REACTIONS 
V>I$ ON EA* OCCASION1 FROM M]E PETULANCE TO GREAT DESPOND5CY4 ,ONE DAY ! DOCTOR 
WAS MOV$ TO TELL HIM ?AT1 ?\< ! /ATI/ICS W]E HI<LY PROMIS+1 IT WAS TOO SOON TO 
SAY DEF9ITELY ?AT WE W]E \T ( ! WOOD4 

0,9 O!R WORDS10 ,COTT>D SAID PROMPTLY1 0!RE'S NO KN[+4 ,IT MAY />T AGA9 AT 
ANY MOM5T40 

0,QUITE SO4 ,JU/ AS IT'S EQUALLY POSSIBLE ! IMPROVEM5T MAY SPE$ UP40 

,DI/RESS+ TO EV]YONE ELSE1 ?IS /ATE ( UNC]TA9TY SEEM$ TO AGREE ) 
,COTT>D4 ,T>R\ OBS]V$ ?AT HE W\LD 5T] 9TO CONV]SATIONS ) %OPKEEP]S 9 HIS 
P>T ( ! T[N1 ) ! OBVI\S DESIRE ( PROPAGAT+ ! OP9ION EXPRESS$ BY ,RIEUX4 

,9DE$1 HE HAD NO TR\BLE 9 DO+ ?IS4 ,AFT] ! FIR/ EXHIL>ATION FOLL[+ ! 
ANN\NCEM5T ( ! PLAGUE'S DECL9E HAD WORN (F1 D\BTS HAD RETURN$ TO MANY M9DS4 

,& ! SI<T ( !IR ANXIETY REASSUR$ ,COTT>D4 ,JU/ AS AT O!R TIMES HE YIELD$ TO 
DISC\RAGEM5T4 0,YES10 HE SAID GLOOMILY TO ,T>R\1 0ONE ( !SE DAYS ! GATES WILL BE 
OP5$4 ,& !N1 Y\'LL SEE1 !Y'LL DROP ME LIKE A LIVE COAL60 

,EV]YONE WAS /RUCK BY HIS ABRUPT *ANGES ( MOOD DUR+ ! FIR/ ?REE WEEKS 
( ,JANU>Y4 ,?\< NORMALLY HE SP>$ NO PA9S TO MAKE HIMSELF LIK$ BY NEI<BORS & 
ACQUA9TANCES1 N[1 = :OLE DAYS1 HE DELIB]ATELY COLD-%\LD]$ !M4 ,ON !SE 
OCCASIONS1 SO ,T>R\ GA!R$1 HE ABRUPTLY CUT (F \TSIDE CONTACTS & RETIR$ MOROSELY 
9TO HIS %ELL4 ,HE WAS NO MORE TO BE SE5 9 RE/AURANTS OR AT ! !AT] OR 9 HIS FAVORITE 
CAFES4 ,H[EV]1 HE SEEM$ UNABLE TO RESUME ! OBSCURE1 HUMDRUM LIFE HE HAD L$ BE=E 
! EPIDEMIC4 ,HE /AY$ 9 HIS ROOM & HAD HIS MEALS S5T UP FROM A NE>-BY RE/AURANT4 

,ONLY AT NI<TFALL DID HE V5TURE =? TO MAKE SOME SMALL PUR*ASES1 & ON LEAV+ ! 
%OP HE W\LD FURTIVELY ROAM ! D>K]1 LESS-FREQU5T$ /REETS4 ,ONCE OR TWICE ,T>R\ 
RAN 9TO HIM ON !SE OCCASIONS1 BUT FAIL$ TO ELICIT MORE ?AN A FEW GRUFF MONOSYLLABLES4 

,!N1 FROM ONE DAY TO ANO!R1 HE BECAME SOCIABLE AGA91 TALK$ VOLUBLY AB\T ! 
PLAGUE1 ASK+ EV]YONE = HIS VIEWS ON IT1 & M+L$ 9 ! CR[D ) EVID5T 
PLEASURE4 

,ON ,JANU>Y #b#e1 ! DAY ( ! (FICIAL ANN\NCEM5T1 ,COTT>D W5T TO COV] AGA94 

,TWO DAYS LAT] ,T>R\ CAME ACROSS HIM LOIT]+ 9 A SIDE-/REET4 ,:5 ,COTT>D SUGGE/$ 
HE %\LD ACCOMPANY HIM HOME1 ,T>R\ DEMURR$2 HE'D HAD A P>TICUL>LY TIR+ DAY4 ,BUT 
,COTT>D W\LDN'T HE> ( A REFUSAL4 ,HE SEEM$ MU* AGITAT$1 GE/ICULAT$ FREELY1 SPOKE 
V]Y RAPIDLY & 9 A V]Y L\D TONE4 ,HE BEGAN BY ASK+ ,T>R\ IF HE REALLY ?\<T ! 
(FICIAL COMMUNIQUE MEANT AN 5D ( ! PLAGUE4 ,T>R\ REPLI$ ?AT OBVI\SLY A M]E 
(FICIAL ANN\NCEM5T C\LDN'T /OP AN EPIDEMIC1 BUT IT C]TA9LY LOOK$ AS IF1 B>R+ 
ACCID5TS1 IT W\LD %ORTLY CEASE4 

0,YES10 ,COTT>D SAID4 0,B>R+ ACCID5TS4 ,& ACCID5TS WILL HAPP51 WON'T !Y80 

,T>R\ PO9T$ \T ?AT ! AU?ORITIES HAD ALL[$ = ?AT POSSIBILITY BY REFUS+ 
TO OP5 ! GATES = ANO!R =TNI<T4 

0,& V]Y WISE !Y W]E60 ,COTT>D EXCLAIM$ 9 ! SAME EXCIT$ TONE4 0,BY ! 
WAY ?+S >E GO+1 ,I %\LD SAY !Y'LL HAVE TO EAT !IR WORDS40 

,T>R\ AGRE$ ?IS MI<T BE SO2 /ILL1 HE ?\<T IT WIS] TO C\NT ON ! OP5+ 
( ! GATES & A RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE 9 ! NE> FUTURE4 

0,GRANT$60 ,COTT>D REJO9$4 0,BUT :AT DO Y\ MEAN BY 'A RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE'80 

,T>R\ SMIL$4 0,NEW FILMS AT ! PICTURE-H\SES40 

,BUT ,COTT>D DIDN'T SMILE4 ,WAS IT SUPPOS$1 HE ASK$1 ?AT ! PLAGUE W\LDN'T HAVE 
*ANG$ ANY?+ & ! LIFE ( ! T[N W\LD GO ON AS BE=E1 EXACTLY AS IF NO?+ 
HAD HAPP5$8 ,T>R\ ?\<T ?AT ! PLAGUE W\LD HAVE *ANG$ ?+S & NOT 
*ANG$ !M2 NATURALLY \R FELL[ CITIZ5S' /RONGE/ DESIRE WAS1 & W\LD BE1 TO 
BEHAVE AS IF NO?+ HAD *ANG$ & = ?AT REASON NO?+ W\LD BE *ANG$1 9 A 
S5SE4 ,BUT1 TO LOOK AT IT FROM ANO!R ANGLE1 ONE CAN'T =GET EV]Y?+1 H[EV] GREAT 
ONE'S WI% TO DO SO2 ! PLAGUE WAS B\ND TO LEAVE TRACES1 ANYH[1 9 PEOPLE'S HE>TS4 

,TO ?IS ,COTT>D REJO9$ CURTLY ?AT HE WASN'T 9T]E/$ 9 HE>TS2 9DE$1 !Y 
W]E ! LA/ ?+ HE BO!R$ AB\T4 ,:AT 9T]E/$ HIM WAS KN[+ :E!R ! 
:OLE ADM9I/RATION W\LDN'T BE *ANG$1 LOCK1 /OCK1 & B>REL2 :E!R1 = 9/ANCE1 
! PUBLIC S]VICES W\LD FUNCTION AS BE=E4 ,T>R\ HAD TO ADMIT HE HAD NO 9SIDE 
KN[L$GE ON ! MATT]2 HIS P]SONAL !ORY WAS ?AT AFT] ! UPHEAVAL CAUS$ BY ! 
EPIDEMIC1 !RE W\LD BE SOME DELAY 9 GETT+ !SE S]VICES UND] WAY AGA94 ,ALSO1 IT 
SEEM$ LIKELY ?AT ALL SORTS ( NEW PROBLEMS W\LD >ISE & NECESSITATE AT LEA/ SOME 
REORGANIZATION ( ! ADM9I/RATIVE SY/EM4 

,COTT>D NODD$4 0,YES1 ?AT'S QUITE ON ! C>DS2 9 FACT EV]YONE WILL HAVE TO MAKE 
A FRE% />T40 

,!Y W]E NE>+ ,COTT>D'S H\SE4 ,HE N[ SEEM$ MORE *E]FUL1 DET]M9$ TO 
TAKE A ROSI] VIEW ( ! FUTURE4 ,OBVI\SLY HE WAS PICTUR+ ! T[N 5T]+ ON A NEW 
LEASE ( LIFE1 BLOTT+ \T ITS PA/ & />T+ AGA9 ) A CLEAN %EET4 

0,SO ?AT'S ?AT10 ,T>R\ SMIL$4 0,QUITE LIKELY ?+S WILL PAN \T ALL RI<T = Y\1 
TOO1 :O CAN SAY8 ,IT'LL BE A NEW LIFE = ALL ( US1 9 A MANN] ( SPEAK+40 

,!Y W]E %AK+ H&S AT ! DOOR ( ! AP>TM5T H\SE :]E ,COTT>D LIV$4 

0,QUITE RI<T60 ,COTT>D WAS GR[+ MORE & MORE EXCIT$4 0,?AT W\LD BE A 
GREAT IDEA1 />T+ AGA9 ) A CLEAN %EET40 

,SUDD5LY FROM ! LI<TLESS HALL TWO M5 EM]G$4 ,T>R\ HAD H>DLY TIME TO HE> 
HIS COMPANION MUTT]3 0,N[1 :AT DO ?OSE BIRDS WANT80 :5 ! M5 9 QUE/ION1 :O 
LOOK$ LIKE SUBORD9ATE GOV]NM5T EMPLOYES 9 !IR BE/ CLO!S1 CUT 9 ) AN 
9QUIRY IF HIS NAME WAS ,COTT>D4 ,) A /IFL$ EXCLAMATION ,COTT>D SWUNG R\ND & 
DA%$ (F 9TO ! D>KNESS4 ,TAK5 BY SURPRISE1 ,T>R\ & ! TWO M5 GAZ$ BLANKLY AT 
EA* O!R = SOME MOM5TS4 

,!N ,T>R\ ASK$ !M :AT !Y WANT$4 ,9 NONCOMMITTAL TONES !Y 9=M$ 
HIM ?AT !Y WANT$ 0SOME 9=MATION10 & WALK$ AWAY1 UNHURRY+1 9 ! DIRECTION 
,COTT>D HAD TAK54 

,ON HIS RETURN HOME ,T>R\ WROTE \T AN ACC\NT ( ?IS PECULI> 9CID5T1 
FOLL[+ IT UP ) A 0,FEEL+ V]Y TIR$ TONI<T01 :I* IS CONFIRM$ BY HIS H&WRIT+ 
9 ?IS 5TRY4 ,HE ADD$ ?AT HE HAD /ILL MU* TO DO1 BUT ?AT WAS NO REASON = NOT 
0HOLD+ HIMSELF 9 READ9ESS10 & HE QUE/ION$ IF HE W]E READY4 ,AS A SORT ( 
PO/SCRIPT1 &1 9 FACT1 IT IS H]E ?AT ,T>R\'S DI>Y 5DS1 HE NOT$ ?AT !RE IS ALWAYS A 
C]TA9 H\R ( ! DAY & ( ! NI<T :5 A MAN'S C\RAGE IS AT ITS L[E/ EBB1 & IT 
WAS ?AT H\R ONLY ?AT HE FE>$4 

,:5 NEXT DAY1 A FEW DAYS BE=E ! DATE FIX$ = ! OP5+ ( ! GATES1 ,DR4 

,RIEUX CAME HOME AT NOON1 HE WAS WOND]+ IF ! TELEGRAM HE WAS EXPECT+ HAD 
>RIV$4 ,?\< HIS DAYS W]E NO LESS /R5U\S ?AN AT ! HEI<T ( ! EPIDEMIC1 ! 
PROSPECT ( IMM95T RELEASE HAD OBLIT]AT$ HIS FATIGUE4 ,HOPE HAD RETURN$ & ) IT A 
NEW ZE/ = LIFE4 ,NO MAN CAN LIVE ON ! /RET* ALL ! TIME1 ) HIS 5]GY & 
WILLP[] /RA9$ TO ! BREAK+-PO9T1 & IT IS A JOY TO BE ABLE TO RELAX AT LA/ & 
LOOS5 N]VES & MUSCLES ?AT W]E BRAC$ = ! /RUGGLE4 ,IF ! TELEGRAM1 TOO1 ?AT HE 
AWAIT$ BR\<T GOOD NEWS1 ,RIEUX W\LD BE ABLE TO MAKE A FRE% />T4 ,9DE$1 HE HAD A 
FEEL+ ?AT EV]YONE 9 ?OSE DAYS WAS MAK+ A FRE% />T4 

,HE WALK$ PA/ ! CONCI]GE'S ROOM 9 ! HALL4 ,! NEW MAN1 OLD ,MI*EL'S 
SUCCESSOR1 HIS FACE PRESS$ TO ! W9D[ LOOK+ ON ! HALL1 GAVE HIM A SMILE4 

,AS HE W5T UP ! /AIRS1 ! MAN'S FACE1 PALE ) EXHAU/ION & PRIVATION1 BUT 
SMIL+1 HOV]$ BE=E HIS EYES4 

,YES1 HE'D MAKE A FRE% />T1 ONCE ! P]IOD ( 0AB/RACTIONS0 WAS OV]1 & ) 
ANY LUCK8 ,HE WAS OP5+ ! DOOR ) !SE ?\<TS 9 HIS M9D :5 HE SAW HIS 
MO!R COM+ D[N ! HALL TO MEET HIM4 ,M4 ,T>R\1 %E TOLD HIM1 WASN'T WELL4 ,HE HAD 
RIS5 AT ! USUAL TIME1 BUT DID NOT FEEL UP TO GO+ \T & HAD RETURN$ TO B$4 ,MME 
,RIEUX FELT WORRI$ AB\T HIM4 

0,QUITE LIKELY IT'S NO?+ S]I\S10 H] SON SAID4 

,T>R\ WAS LY+ ON HIS BACK1 HIS HEAVY HEAD DEEPLY 9D5T+ ! PILL[1 ! 
COV]LET BULG+ ABOVE HIS MASSIVE *E/4 ,HIS HEAD WAS A*+ & HIS TEMP]ATURE UP4 

,! SYMPTOMS W]5'T V]Y DEF9ITE1 HE TOLD ,RIEUX1 BUT !Y MI<T WELL BE ?OSE ( 
PLAGUE4 

,AFT] EXAM9+ HIM ,RIEUX SAID3 0,NO1 !RE'S NO?+ DEF9ITE AS YET40 

,BUT ,T>R\ ALSO SUFF]$ FROM A RAG+ ?IR/1 & 9 ! HALLWAY ! DOCTOR TOLD 
HIS MO!R ?AT IT MI<T BE PLAGUE4 

0,OH60 %E EXCLAIM$4 0,SURELY ?AT'S NOT POSSIBLE1 NOT N[60 ,& AFT] A MOM5T 
ADD$3 0,LET'S KEEP HIM H]E1 ,B]N>D40 

,RIEUX POND]$4 0,/RICTLY SPEAK+1 ,I'VE NO RI<T TO DO ?AT10 HE SAID D\BTFULLY4 

0,/ILL1 ! GATES WILL BE OP5$ QUITE SOON4 ,IF Y\ W]5'T H]E1 ,I ?9K ,I'D TAKE IT ON 
MYSELF40 

0,B]N>D1 LET HIM /AY1 & LET ME /AY TOO4 ,Y\ KN[1 ,I'VE JU/ HAD ANO!R 
9OCULATION40 

,! DOCTOR PO9T$ \T ?AT ,T>R\1 TOO1 HAD HAD 9OCULATIONS1 ?\< IT WAS 
POSSIBLE1 TIR$ AS HE WAS1 HE'D OV]LOOK$ ! LA/ ONE OR OMITT$ TO TAKE ! NECESS>Y 
PRECAUTIONS4 

,RIEUX WAS GO+ TO ! SURG]Y AS HE SPOKE1 & :5 HE RETURN$ TO ! B$ROOM 
,T>R\ NOTIC$ ?AT HE HAD A BOX ( ! BIG AMPULES CONTA9+ ! S]UM4 

0,AH1 SO IT IS ?AT10 HE SAID4 

0,NOT NECESS>ILY2 BUT WE MU/N'T RUN ANY RISKS40 

,)\T REPLY+ ,T>R\ EXT5D$ HIS >M & SUBMITT$ TO ! PROLONG$ 
9JECTIONS HE HIMSELF HAD SO (T5 ADM9I/]$ TO O!RS4 

0,WE'LL JUDGE BETT] ?IS EV5+40 ,RIEUX LOOK$ ,T>R\ 9 ! EYES4 

0,BUT :AT AB\T ISOLAT+ ME1 ,RIEUX80 

0,IT'S BY NO MEANS C]TA9 ?AT Y\ HAVE PLAGUE40 

,T>R\ SMIL$ ) AN EF=T4 

0,WELL1 IT'S ! FIR/ TIME ,I'VE KN[N Y\ DO ! 9JECTION )\T ORD]+ ! 
PATI5T (F TO ! ISOLATION W>D40 

,RIEUX LOOK$ AWAY4 

0,Y\'LL BE BETT] H]E4 ,MY MO!R & ,I WILL LOOK AFT] Y\40 

,T>R\ SAID NO?+ & ! DOCTOR1 :O WAS PUTT+ AWAY ! AMPULES 9 ! 
BOX1 WAIT$ = HIM TO SPEAK BE=E LOOK+ R\ND4 ,BUT /ILL ,T>R\ SAID NO?+1 & 
F9ALLY ,RIEUX W5T UP TO ! B$4 ,! SICK MAN WAS GAZ+ AT HIM /EADILY1 & ?\< 
HIS FACE WAS DRAWN1 ! GRAY EYES W]E CALM4 ,RIEUX SMIL$ D[N ON HIM4 

0,N[ TRY TO SLEEP4 ,I'LL BE BACK SOON40 

,AS HE WAS GO+ \T HE HE>D ,T>R\ CALL+1 & TURN$ BACK4 ,T>R\'S MANN] 
HAD AN ODD EFFECT1 AS ?\< HE W]E AT ONCE TRY+ TO KEEP BACK :AT HE HAD TO SAY & 
=C+ HIMSELF TO SAY IT4 

0,RIEUX10 HE SAID AT LA/1 0Y\ MU/ TELL ME ! :OLE TRU?4 ,I C\NT ON ?AT40 

0,I PROMISE IT40 

,T>R\'S HEAVY FACE RELAX$ 9 A BRIEF SMILE4 

0,?ANKS4 ,I DON'T WANT TO DIE1 & ,I %ALL PUT UP A FI<T4 ,BUT IF ,I LOSE ! MAT*1 ,I 
WANT TO MAKE A GOOD 5D ( IT40 

,B5D+ =W>D1 ,RIEUX PRESS$ HIS %\LD]4 

0,NO4 ,TO BECOME A SA9T1 Y\ NE$ TO LIVE4 ,SO FI<T AWAY60 

,9 ! C\RSE ( ?AT DAY ! WEA!R1 :I* AFT] BE+ V]Y COLD HAD GR[N 
SLI<TLY MILD]1 BROKE 9 A S]IES ( VIOL5T HAIL/ORMS FOLL[$ BY RA94 ,AT SUNSET ! SKY 
CLE>$ A LITTLE1 & IT WAS BITT]LY COLD AGA94 ,RIEUX CAME HOME 9 ! EV5+4 ,HIS 
OV]COAT /ILL ON1 HE 5T]$ HIS FRI5D'S B$ROOM4 ,T>R\ DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE MOV$1 
BUT HIS SET LIPS1 DRA9$ :ITE BY FEV]1 TOLD ( ! EF=T HE HE WAS KEEP+ UP4 

0,WELL80 ,RIEUX ASK$4 

,T>R\ RAIS$ HIS BROAD %\LD]S A LITTLE \T ( ! B$CLO!S4 

0,WELL10 HE SAID1 0,I'M LOS+ ! MAT*40 

,! DOCTOR B5T OV] HIM4 ,GANGLIA HAD =M$ UND] ! BURN+ SK9 & !RE 
WAS A RUMBL+ 9 HIS *E/1 LIKE ! S\ND ( A HIDD5 =GE4 ,! /RANGE ?+ WAS ?AT 
,T>R\ %[$ SYMPTOMS ( BO? V>IETIES ( PLAGUE AT ONCE4 

,RIEUX /RAI<T5$ UP & SAID ! S]UM HADN'T YET HAD TIME TO TAKE EFFECT4 ,AN 
UPRU% ( FEV] 9 HIS ?ROAT DR[N$ ! FEW WORDS ?AT ,T>R\ TRI$ TO UTT]4 

,AFT] D9N] ,RIEUX & HIS MO!R TOOK UP !IR PO/S AT ! SICK MAN'S B$SIDE4 

,! NI<T BEGAN ) A /RUGGLE1 & ,RIEUX KNEW ?AT ?IS GRIM WRE/L+ ) ! 
ANGEL ( PLAGUE WAS TO LA/ UNTIL DAWN4 ,9 ?IS /RUGGLE ,T>R\'S ROBU/ %\LD]S & 
*E/ W]E NOT HIS GREATE/ ASSETS2 RA!R1 ! BLOOD ?AT HAD SPURT$ UND] ,RIEUX'S NE$LE 
&1 9 ?IS BLOOD1 ?AT SOME?+ MORE VITAL ?AN ! S\L1 :I* NO HUMAN SKILL CAN 
BR+ TO LI<T4 ,! DOCTOR'S TASK C\LD BE ONLY TO WAT* HIS FRI5D'S /RUGGLE4 ,AS TO :AT HE 
WAS AB\T TO DO1 ! /IMULANTS TO 9JECT1 ! ABSCESSES TO /IMULATE8 MANY MON?S' 
REPEAT$ FAILURES HAD TAU<T HIM TO APPRECIATE SU* EXP$I5TS AT !IR TRUE VALUE4 ,9DE$1 
! ONLY WAY 9 :I* HE MI<T HELP WAS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES = ! B5EFIC5CE ( 
*ANCE1 :I* TOO (T5 /AYS DORMANT UNLESS R\S$ TO ACTION4 ,LUCK WAS AN ALLY HE C\LD 
NOT DISP5SE )4 ,= ,RIEUX WAS CONFRONT$ BY AN ASPECT ( ! PLAGUE ?AT BAFFL$ HIM4 

,YET AGA9 IT WAS DO+ ALL IT C\LD TO CONF\ND ! TACTICS US$ AGA9/ IT2 IT LAUN*$ 
ATTACKS 9 UNEXPECT$ PLACES & RETREAT$ FROM ?OSE :]E IT SEEM$ DEF9ITELY LODG$4 

,ONCE MORE IT WAS \T TO D>K5 C\NSEL4 

,T>R\ /RUGGL$ )\T MOV+4 ,NOT ONCE 9 ! C\RSE ( ! NI<T DID HE 
C\NT] ! 5EMY'S ATTACKS BY RE/LESS AGITATION2 ONLY ) ALL HIS /OLID BULK1 ) 
SIL5CE1 DID HE C>RY ON ! FI<T4 ,NOR DID HE EV5 TRY TO SPEAK1 ?US 9TIMAT+1 AFT] HIS 
FA%ION1 ?AT HE C\LD NO LONG] LET HIS ATT5TION /RAY4 ,RIEUX C\LD FOLL[ ! VICISSITUDES 
( ! /RUGGLE ONLY 9 HIS FRI5D'S EYES1 N[ OP5 & N[ %UT2 9 ! EYELIDS1 N[ MORE 
CLOSELY WELD$ TO ! EYEBALL1 N[ DI/5D$2 & 9 HIS GAZE FIX$ ON SOME OBJECT 9 ! 
ROOM OR BR\<T BACK TO ! DOCTOR & HIS MO!R4 ,& EA* TIME IT MET ! DOCTOR'S 
GAZE1 ) A GREAT EF=T ,T>R\ SMIL$4 

,AT ONE MOM5T !RE CAME A S\ND ( HURRY+ FOOT/EPS 9 ! /REET4 ,!Y W]E 
9 FLI<T BE=E A DI/ANT ?ROBB+ :I* GRADUALLY APPROA*$ UNTIL ! /REET WAS L\D 
) ! CLAMOR ( ! D[NP\R2 ANO!R RA9-SQUALL WAS SWEEP+ ! T[N1 M+L$ 
PRES5TLY ) HAIL/ONES ?AT CLATT]$ ON ! SIDEWALK4 ,W9D[ AWN+S W]E FLAPP+ 
WILDLY4 ,RIEUX1 :OSE ATT5TION HAD BE5 DIV]T$ MOM5T>ILY BY ! NOISES ( ! SQUALL1 
LOOK$ AGA9 ACROSS ! %AD[S AT ,T>R\'S FACE1 ON :I* FELL ! LI<T ( A SMALL 
B$SIDE LAMP4 ,HIS MO!R WAS KNITT+1 RAIS+ H] EYES N[ & !N FROM H] WORK TO 
GAZE AT ! SICK MAN4 

,! DOCTOR HAD DONE EV]Y?+ ?AT C\LD BE DONE4 ,:5 ! SQUALL HAD PASS$1 
! SIL5CE 9 ! ROOM GREW D5S]1 FILL$ ONLY BY ! SIL5T TURMOIL ( ! UNSE5 BATTLE4 

,HIS N]VES OV]WR\<T BY SLEEPLESSNESS1 ! DOCTOR FANCI$ HE C\LD HE>1 ON ! $GE ( 
! SIL5CE1 ?AT FA9T E]IE SIBILANCE :I* HAD HAUNT$ HIS E>S EV] S9CE ! BEG9N+ 
( ! EPIDEMIC4 ,HE MADE A SIGN TO HIS MO!R1 9DICAT+ %E %\LD GO TO B$4 ,%E 
%OOK H] HEAD1 & H] EYES GREW BRI<T]2 !N %E EXAM9$ C>EFULLY1 AT H] NE$LE- 
TIPS1 A /IT* ( :I* %E WAS UNSURE4 ,RIEUX GOT UP1 GAVE ! SICK MAN A DR9K1 & SAT 
D[N AGA94 

,FOOT/EPS RANG ON ! PAVEM5T1 NE>+1 !N REC$+2 PEOPLE W]E TAK+ 
ADVANTAGE ( ! LULL TO HURRY HOME4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME ! DOCTOR REALIZ$ ?AT ?IS NI<T1 
)\T ! CLANG ( AMBULANCES & FULL ( BELAT$ WAYF>]S1 WAS JU/ LIKE A NI<T ( ! 
PA/1 A PLAGUE-FREE NI<T4 ,IT WAS AS IF ! PE/IL5CE1 H\ND$ AWAY BY COLD1 ! /REET- 
LAMPS1 & ! CR[D1 HAD FL$ FROM ! DEP?S ( ! T[N & TAK5 %ELT] 9 ?IS W>M 
ROOM & WAS LAUN*+ ITS LA/ (F5SIVE AT ,T>R\'S 9]T BODY4 ,NO LONG] DID IT ?RE% 
! AIR ABOVE ! H\SES ) ITS FLAIL4 ,BUT IT WAS :I/L+ S(TLY 9 ! /AGNANT AIR ( ! 
SICKROOM1 & ?IS IT WAS ?AT ,RIEUX HAD BE5 HE>+ S9CE ! LONG VIGIL BEGAN4 ,& 
N[ IT WAS = HIM TO WAIT & WAT* UNTIL ?AT /RANGE S\ND CEAS$ H]E TOO1 & H]E AS 
WELL ! PLAGUE CONFESS$ DEFEAT4 

,A LITTLE BE=E DAWN ,RIEUX LEAN$ T[>D HIS MO!R & :ISP]$3 

0,Y\'D BETT] HAVE SOME RE/ N[1 AS Y\'LL HAVE TO RELIEVE RNE AT EI<T4 ,M9D Y\ 
TAKE Y\R DROPS BE=E GO+ TO B$40 

,MME ,RIEUX ROSE1 FOLD$ H] KNITT+1 & W5T TO ! B$SIDE4 ,T>R\ HAD HAD HIS 
EYES %UT = SOME TIME4 ,SWEAT HAD PLA/]$ HIS HAIR ON HIS /UBBORN =EHEAD4 

,MME ,RIEUX SI<$1 & HE OP5$ HIS EYES4 ,HE SAW ! G5TLE FACE B5T OV] HIM 
&1 A?W>T ! SURGE ( FEV]1 ?AT /EADFA/ SMILE TOOK =M AGA94 ,BUT AT ONCE ! EYES 
CLOS$4 ,LEFT TO HIMSELF1 ,RIEUX MOV$ 9TO ! *AIR HIS MO!R HAD JU/ LEFT4 ,! /REET 
WAS SIL5T & NO S\ND CAME FROM ! SLEEP+ T[N4 ,! *ILL ( DAYBREAK WAS 
BEG9N+ TO MAKE ITSELF FELT4 

,! DOCTOR DOZ$ (F1 BUT V]Y SOON AN E>LY C>T RATTL+ D[N ! /REET AWAK$ 
HIM4 ,%IV]+ A LITTLE1 HE LOOK$ AT ,T>R\ & SAW ?AT A LULL HAD COME2 HE1 TOO1 WAS 
SLEEP+4 ,! IRON-%OD :EELS RUMBL$ AWAY 9TO ! DI/ANCE4 ,D>KNESS /ILL WAS 
PRESS+ ON ! W9D[PANES4 ,:5 ! DOCTOR CAME BESIDE ! B$1 ,T>R\ GAZ$ AT HIM 
) EXPRESSIONLESS EYES1 LIKE A MAN /ILL ON ! FRONTI] ( SLEEP4 

0,Y\ SLEPT1 DIDN'T Y\80 ,RIEUX ASK$4 

0,YES40 

0,BREA?+ BETT]80 

0,A BIT4 ,DOES ?AT MEAN ANY?+80 

,RIEUX KEPT SIL5T = SOME MOM5TS2 !N HE SAID3 

0,NO1 ,T>R\1 IT DOESN'T MEAN ANY?+4 ,Y\ KN[ AS WELL AS ,I ?AT !RE'S (T5 A 
REMISSION 9 ! MORN+40 

0,?ANKS40 ,T>R\ NODD$ HIS APPROVAL4 0,ALWAYS TELL ME ! EXACT TRU?40 

,RIEUX WAS SITT+ ON ! SIDE ( ! B$4 ,BESIDE HIM HE C\LD FEEL ! SICK MAN'S 
LEGS1 /IFF & H>D AS ! LIMBS ( AN EFFIGY ON A TOMB4 ,T>R\ WAS BREA?+ ) MORE 
DIFFICULTY4 

0,! FEV]'LL COME BACK1 WON'T IT1 ,RIEUX80 HE GASP$4 

0,YES4 ,BUT AT NOON WE %ALL KN[ :]E WE /&40 

,T>R\ %UT HIS EYES2 HE SEEM$ TO BE MU/]+ UP HIS /R5G?4 ,!RE WAS A LOOK 
( UTT] WE>9ESS ON HIS FACE4 ,HE WAS WAIT+ = ! FEV] TO RISE & ALREADY IT WAS 
/IRR+ SOME:AT 9 ! DEP?S ( HIS BE+4 ,:5 HE OP5$ HIS EYES1 HIS GAZE WAS 
MI/$4 ,IT BRI<T5$ ONLY :5 HE SAW ,RIEUX B5D+ OV] HIM1 A TUMBL] 9 HIS H&4 

',DR9K ' 
,T>R\ DRANK1 !N SL[LY L[]$ HIS HEAD ON TO ! PILL[4 

0,IT'S A LONG BUS9ESS10 HE MURMUR$4 

,RIEUX CLASP$ HIS >M1 BUT ,T>R\1 :OSE HEAD WAS AV]T$1 %[$ NO REACTION4 

,!N SUDD5LY1 AS IF SOME 9N] DIKE HAD GIV5 WAY )\T W>N+1 ! FEV] 
SURG$ BACK1 DYE+ HIS *EEKS & =EHEAD4 ,T>R\'S EYES CAME BACK TO ! DOCTOR1 :O1 
B5D+ AGA91 GAVE HIM A LOOK ( AFFECTIONATE 5C\RAGEM5T4 

,T>R\ TRI$ TO %APE A SMILE1 BUT IT C\LD NOT =CE ITS WAY ?R\< ! SET JAWS 
& LIPS WELD$ BY DRY SALIVA4 ,9 ! RIGID FACE ONLY ! EYES LIV$ /ILL1 GL[+ ) 
C\RAGE4 

,AT SEV5 ,MME ,RIEUX RETURN$ TO ! B$ROOM4 ,! DOCTOR W5T TO ! SURG]Y TO 
R+ UP ! HOSPITAL & >RANGE = A SUB/ITUTE4 ,HE ALSO DECID$ TO PO/PONE HIS 
CONSULTATIONS2 !N LAY D[N = SOME MOM5TS ON ! SURG]Y C\*4 ,FIVE M9UTES LAT] 
HE W5T BACK TO ! B$ROOM4 ,T>R\'S FACE WAS TURN$ T[>D ,MME ,RIEUX1 :O WAS 
SITT+ CLOSE BESIDE ! B$1 H] H&S FOLD$ ON H] LAP2 9 ! DIM LI<T ( ! ROOM %E 
SEEM$ NO MORE ?AN A D>K] PAT* ( %AD[4 ,T>R\ WAS GAZ+ AT H] SO 9T5TLY ?AT1 
PUTT+ A F+] TO H] LIPS1 ,MME ,RIEUX ROSE & SWIT*$ (F ! B$SIDE LAMP4 ,BEH9D 
! CURTA9S ! LI<T WAS GR[+1 & PRES5TLY1 :5 ! SICK MAN'S FACE GREW VISIBLE1 
,MME ,RIEUX C\LD SEE HIS EYES /ILL 9T5T ON H]4 ,B5D+ ABOVE ! B$1 %E SMOO!D 
\T ! BOL/] &1 AS %E /RAI<T5$ UP1 LAID H] H& = A MOM5T ON HIS MOI/1 
TANGL$ HAIR4 ,!N %E HE>D A MUFFL$ VOICE1 :I* SEEM$ TO COME FROM V]Y F> AWAY1 
MURMUR3 0,?ANK Y\10 & ?AT ALL WAS WELL N[4 ,BY ! TIME %E WAS BACK 9 H] *AIR 
,T>R\ HAD %UT HIS EYES1 &1 DESPITE ! SEAL$ M\?1 A FA9T SMILE SEEM$ TO HOV] ON 
! WA/$ FACE4 

,AT NOON ! FEV] REA*$ ITS CLIMAX4 ,A VISC]AL C\< RACK$ ! SICK MAN'S BODY 
& HE N[ WAS SPITT+ BLOOD4 ,! GANGLIA HAD CEAS$ SWELL+1 BUT !Y W]E /ILL !RE1 
LIKE LUMPS ( IRON EMB$D$ 9 ! JO9TS4 ,RIEUX DECID$ ?AT LANC+ !M WAS 
IMPRACTICABLE4 ,N[ & !N1 9 ! 9T]VALS BETWE5 B\TS ( FEV] & C\<+ FITS1 
,T>R\ /ILL GAZ$ AT HIS FRI5DS4 ,BUT SOON HIS EYES OP5$ LESS & LESS (T5 & ! 
GL[ ?AT %ONE \T FROM ! RAVAG$ FACE 9 ! BRIEF MOM5TS ( RECOGNITION GREW 
/EADILY FA9T]4 ,! /ORM1 LA%+ HIS BODY 9TO CONVULSIVE MOVEM5T1 LIT IT UP ) EV] 
R>] FLA%ES1 & 9 ! HE>T ( ! TEMPE/ HE WAS SL[LY DRIFT+1 D]ELICT4 ,& N[ 
,RIEUX HAD BE=E HIM ONLY A MASKLIKE FACE1 9]T1 FROM :I* ! SMILE HAD GONE =EV]4 

,?IS HUMAN =M1 HIS FRI5D'S1 LAC]AT$ BY ! SPE>-?RU/S ( ! PLAGUE1 CONSUM$ BY 
SE>+1 SUP]HUMAN FIRES1 BUFFET$ BY ALL ! RAG+ W9DS ( HEAV51 WAS F\ND]+ 
UND] HIS EYES 9 ! D>K FLOOD ( ! PE/IL5CE1 & HE C\LD DO NO?+ TO AV]T ! 
WRECK4 ,HE C\LD ONLY /&1 UNAVAIL+1 ON ! %ORE1 EMPTY-H&$ & SICK AT HE>T1 
UN>M$ & HELPLESS YET AGA9 UND] ! ONSET ( CALAMITY4 ,& ?US1 :5 ! 5D 
CAME1 ! TE>S ?AT BL9D$ ,RIEUX'S EYES W]E TE>S ( IMPOT5CE2 & HE DID NOT SEE 
,T>R\ ROLL OV]1 FACE TO ! WALL1 & DIE ) A %ORT1 HOLL[ GROAN AS IF SOME:]E 
)9 HIM AN ESS5TIAL *ORD HAD SNAPP$4 

,! NEXT NI<T WAS NOT ONE ( /RUGGLE BUT ( SIL5CE4 ,9 ! TRANQUIL DEA?- 
*AMB]1 BESIDE ! DEAD BODY N[ 9 EV]YDAY CLO?+1 H]E1 TOO1 ,RIEUX FELT IT 
BROOD+1 ?AT ELEM5TAL PEACE :I*1 :5 HE WAS SITT+ MANY NI<TS BE=E ON ! 
T]RACE HI< ABOVE ! PLAGUE1 HAD FOLL[$ ! BRIEF =AY AT ! GATES4 ,!N1 ALREADY1 IT 
HAD BR\<T TO HIS M9D ! SIL5CE BROOD+ OV] ! B$S 9 :I* HE HAD LET M5 DIE4 

,!RE AS H]E IT WAS ! SAME SOLEMN PAUSE1 ! LULL ?AT FOLL[S BATTLE2 IT WAS ! SIL5CE 
( DEFEAT4 ,BUT ! SIL5CE N[ 5VELOP+ HIS DEAD FRI5D1 SO D5SE1 SO MU* AK9 TO ! 
NOCTURNAL SIL5CE ( ! /REETS & ( ! T[N SET FREE AT LA/1 MADE ,RIEUX CRUELLY AW>E 
?AT ?IS DEFEAT WAS F9AL1 ! LA/ DISA/R\S BATTLE ?AT 5DS A W> & MAKES PEACE ITSELF 
AN ILL BEYOND ALL REM$Y4 ,! DOCTOR C\LD NOT TELL IF ,T>R\ HAD F\ND PEACE1 N[ ?AT ALL 
WAS OV]1 BUT = HIMSELF HE HAD A FEEL+ ?AT NO PEACE WAS POSSIBLE TO HIM H5CE=?1 
ANY MORE ?AN !RE CAN BE AN >MI/ICE = A MO!R B]EAV$ ( H] SON OR = A MAN 
:O BURIES HIS FRI5D4 

,! NI<T WAS COLD AGA91 ) FRO/Y />S SP>KL+ 9 A CLE>1 W9TRY SKY4 

,& 9 ! DIMLY LIT ROOM !Y FELT ! COLD PRESS+ ITSELF TO ! W9D[PANES 
& HE>D ! LONG1 SILV]Y SUSPIRATION ( A POL> NI<T4 ,MME ,RIEUX SAT NE> ! B$ 9 H] 
USUAL ATTITUDE1 H] RI<T SIDE LIT UP BY ! B$SIDE LAMP4 ,9 ! C5T] ( ! ROOM1 \TSIDE 
! LITTLE ZONE ( LI<T1 ,RIEUX SAT1 WAIT+4 ,N[ & !N ?\<TS ( HIS WIFE WAYLAID 
HIM1 BUT HE BRU%$ !M ASIDE EA* TIME4 

,:5 ! NI<T BEGAN1 ! HEELS ( PASS]SBY HAD RUNG BRISKLY 9 ! FROZ5 AIR4 

0,HAVE Y\ ATT5D$ TO EV]Y?+80 ,MME ,RIEUX HAD ASK$4 

0,YES1 ,I'VE TELEPHON$40 

,!N !Y HAD RESUM$ !IR SIL5T VIGIL4 ,FROM TIME TO TIME ,MME ,RIEUX /OLE A 
GLANCE AT H] SON1 & :5EV] HE CAU<T H] DO+ ?IS1 HE SMIL$4 ,\T 9 ! /REET ! 
USUAL NI<TTIME S\NDS BRIDG$ ! LONG SIL5CES4 ,A GOOD MANY C>S W]E ON ! ROAD 
AGA91 ?\< (FICIALLY ?IS WAS NOT YET P]MITT$2 !Y SP$ PA/ ) A LONG HISS ( TIRES 
ON ! PAVEM5T1 REC$$1 & RETURN$4 ,VOICES1 DI/ANT CALLS SIL5CE AGA91 A CLATT] ( 
HORSE HO(S1 ! SQUEAL ( /REETC>S R\ND+ A CURVE1 VAGUE MURMURS1 !N ONCE MORE 
! QUIET BREA?+ ( ! NI<T4 

0,B]N>D80 

0,YES80 

0,NOT TOO TIR$80 

0,NO40 

,AT ?AT MOM5T HE KNEW :AT HIS MO!R WAS ?9K+1 & ?AT %E LOV$ HIM4 

,BUT HE KNEW1 TOO1 ?AT TO LOVE SOMEONE MEANS RELATIVELY LITTLE2 OR1 RA!R1 ?AT LOVE IS 
NEV] /RONG 5\< TO F9D ! WORDS BEFITT+ IT4 ,?US HE & HIS MO!R W\LD ALWAYS 
LOVE EA* O!R SIL5TLY4 ,& ONE DAY %E1 OR HE1 W\LD DIE1 )\T EV]1 ALL !IR LIVES 
LONG1 HAV+ GONE F>!R ?AN ?IS BY WAY ( MAK+ !IR AFFECTION KN[N4 ,?US1 TOO1 HE 
HAD LIV$ AT ,T>R\'S SIDE1 & ,T>R\ HAD DI$ ?IS EV5+ )\T !IR FRI5D%IP'S 
HAV+ HAD TIME TO 5T] FULLY 9TO ! LIFE ( EI!R4 ,T>R\ HAD 0LO/ ! MAT*10 AS HE PUT 
IT4 ,BUT :AT HAD HE1 ,RIEUX1 WON8 ,NO MORE ?AN ! EXP]I5CE ( HAV+ KN[N PLAGUE 
& REMEMB]+ IT1 ( HAV+ KN[N FRI5D%IP & REMEMB]+ IT1 ( KN[+ 
AFFECTION & BE+ DE/9$ ONE DAY TO REMEMB] IT4 ,SO ALL A MAN C\LD W9 9 ! 
CONFLICT BETWE5 PLAGUE & LIFE WAS KN[L$GE & MEMORIES4 ,BUT ,T>R\1 P]HAPS1 
W\LD HAVE CALL$ ?AT W9N+ ! MAT*4 

,ANO!R C> PASS$1 & ,MME ,RIEUX /IRR$ SLI<TLY4 ,RIEUX SMIL$ T[>D H]4 

,%E ASSUR$ HIM %E WASN'T TIR$ & IMM$IATELY ADD$3 

0,Y\ MU/ GO & HAVE A GOOD LONG RE/ 9 ! M\NTA9S1 OV] !RE40 

0,YES1 ,MO!R40 

,C]TA9LY HE'D TAKE A RE/ 0OV] !RE40 ,IT1 TOO1 W\LD BE A PRETEXT = MEMORY4 

,BUT IF ?AT WAS :AT IT MEANT1 W9N+ ! MAT*1 H[ H>D IT MU/ BE TO LIVE ONLY 
) :AT ONE KN[S & :AT ONE REMEMB]S1 CUT (F FROM :AT ONE HOPES =6 ,IT WAS 
?US1 MO/ PROBABLY1 ?AT ,T>R\ HAD LIV$1 & HE REALIZ$ ! BLEAK /]ILITY ( A LIFE 
)\T ILLUSIONS4 ,!RE CAN BE NO PEACE )\T HOPE1 & ,T>R\1 D5Y+ AS HE DID ! 
RI<T TO CONDEMN ANYONE :OMSOEV]1 ?\< HE KNEW WELL ?AT NO ONE CAN HELP 
CONDEMN+ & IT BEFALLS EV5 ! VICTIM SOMETIMES TO TURN EXECUTION]1 ,T>R\ HAD 
LIV$ A LIFE RIDDL$ ) CONTRADICTIONS & HAD NEV] KN[N HOPE'S SOLACE4 ,DID ?AT 
EXPLA9 HIS ASPIRATION T[>D SA9TL9ESS1 HIS QUE/ ( PEACE BY S]VICE 9 ! CAUSE ( 
O!RS8 ,ACTUALLY ,RIEUX HAD NO IDEA ( ! ANSW] TO ?AT QUE/ION1 & IT MATT]$ LITTLE4 

,! ONLY PICTURE ( ,T>R\ HE W\LD ALWAYS HAVE W\LD BE ! PICTURE ( A MAN :O 
FIRMLY GRIPP$ ! /E]+-:EEL ( HIS C> :5 DRIV+1 OR ELSE ! PICTURE ( ?AT 
/ALW>T BODY1 N[ LY+ MOTIONLESS4 ,KN[+ MEANT ?AT3 A LIV+ W>M?1 & A PICTURE 
( DEA?4 

,?AT1 NO D\BT1 EXPLA9S ,DR4 ,RIEUX'S COMPOSURE ON RECEIV+ NEXT MORN+ ! 
NEWS ( HIS WIFE'S DEA?4 ,HE WAS 9 ! SURG]Y4 ,HIS MO!R CAME 91 ALMO/ RUNN+1 & 
H&$ HIM A TELEGRAM2 !N W5T BACK TO ! HALL TO GIVE ! TELEGRAPH-BOY A TIP4 ,:5 
%E RETURN$1 H] SON WAS HOLD+ ! TELEGRAM OP5 9 HIS H&4 ,%E LOOK$ AT HIM1 BUT 
HIS EYES W]E RESOLUTELY FIX$ ON ! W9D[2 IT WAS FLOOD$ ) ! EFFULG5CE ( ! 
MORN+ SUN RIS+ ABOVE ! H>BOR4 

0,B]N>D10 %E SAID G5TLY4 

,! DOCTOR TURN$ & LOOK$ AT H] ALMO/ AS IF %E W]E A /RANG]4 

0,! TELEGRAM80 

0,YES10 HE SAID1 0?AT'S IT4 ,A WEEK AGO40 

,MME ,RIEUX TURN$ H] FACE T[>D ! W9D[4 ,RIEUX KEPT SIL5T = A :ILE4 

,!N HE TOLD HIS MO!R NOT TO CRY1 HE'D BE5 EXPECT+ IT1 BUT IT WAS H>D ALL ! SAME4 

,& HE KNEW1 9 SAY+ ?IS1 ?AT ?IS SUFF]+ WAS NO?+ NEW4 ,= MANY MON?S1 & 
= ! LA/ TWO DAYS1 IT WAS ! SELFSAME SUFF]+ GO+ ON & ON4 

,A,T LA/1 AT DAYBREAK ON A F9E ,FEBRU>Y MORN+1 ! C]EMONIAL OP5+ ( ! GATES 
TOOK PLACE1 ACCLAIM$ BY ! POPULACE1 ! NEWSPAP]S1 ! RADIO1 & (FICIAL 
COMMUNIQUES4 ,IT ONLY REMA9S = ! N>RATOR TO GIVE :AT ACC\NT HE CAN ( ! 
REJOIC+S ?AT FOLL[$1 ?\< HE HIMSELF WAS ONE ( ?OSE DEB>R$ FROM %>+ 9 
!M :OLEHE>T$LY4 

,ELABORATE DAY & NI<T FETES W]E ORGANIZ$1 & AT ! SAME TIME SMOKE BEGAN 
TO RISE FROM LOCOMOTIVES 9 ! /ATION1 & %IPS W]E ALREADY HEAD+ = \R H>BOR1 
REM9D]S 9 !IR DIV]S WAYS ?AT ?IS WAS ! LONG-AWAIT$ DAY ( REUNIT+1 & ! 
5D ( TE>S = ALL :O HAD BE5 P>T$4 

,WE CAN EASILY PICTURE1 AT ?IS /AGE1 ! CONSEQU5CES ( ?AT FEEL+ ( SEP>ATION 
:I* HAD SO LONG RANKL$ 9 ! HE>TS ( SO MANY ( \R T[NSFOLK4 

,TRA9S COM+ 9 W]E AS CR[D$ AS ?OSE ?AT LEFT ! T[N 9 ! C\RSE ( ! 
DAY4 ,EV]Y PASS5G] HAD RES]V$ HIS SEAT LONG 9 ADVANCE & HAD BE5 ON T5T]HOOKS 
DUR+ ! PA/ =TNI<T LE/ AT ! LA/ MOM5T ! AU?ORITIES %\LD GO BACK ON !IR 
DECISION4 ,SOME ( !SE 9COM+ TRAVEL]S W]E /ILL SOME:AT N]V\S2 ?\< AS A RULE 
!Y KNEW ! LOT ( ?OSE NE>E/ & DE>E/ TO !M1 !Y W]E /ILL 9 ! D>K AB\T 
O!RS & ! T[N ITSELF1 ( :I* !IR IMAG9ATION PA9T$ A GRIM & T]RIFY+ 
PICTURE4 ,BUT ?IS APPLIES ONLY TO PEOPLE :O HAD NOT BE5 EAT+ !IR HE>TS \T DUR+ 
! LONG MON?S ( EXILE1 & NOT TO P>T$ LOV]S4 

,! LOV]S1 9DE$1 W]E :OLLY WRAPP$ UP 9 !IR FIX$ IDEA1 & = !M ONE 
?+ ONLY HAD *ANG$4 

,:]EAS DUR+ ?OSE MON?S ( SEP>ATION TIME HAD NEV] GONE QUICKLY 5\< 
= !IR LIK+ & !Y W]E ALWAYS WANT+ TO SPE$ ITS FLI<T1 N[ ?AT !Y W]E 9 
SI<T ( ! T[N !Y W\LD HAVE LIK$ TO SL[ IT D[N & HOLD EA* MOM5T 9 
SUSP5SE1 ONCE ! BRAKES W5T ON & ! TRA9 WAS 5T]+ ! /ATION4 ,= ! 
S5SATION1 CONFUS$ P]HAPS1 BUT NONE ! LESS POIGNANT = ?AT1 ( ALL ?OSE DAYS & 
WEEKS & MON?S ( LIFE LO/ TO !IR LOVE MADE !M VAGUELY FEEL !Y W]E 5TITL$ TO 
SOME COMP5SATION2 ?IS PRES5T H\R ( JOY %\LD RUN AT HALF ! SPE$ ( ?OSE LONG 
H\RS ( WAIT+4 ,& ! PEOPLE :O AWAIT$ !M AT HOME OR ON ! PLAT=M1 AMONG 
! LATT] ,RAMB]T1 :OSE WIFE1 W>N$ 9 GOOD TIME1 HAD GOT BUSY AT ONCE & WAS 
COM+ BY ! FIR/ TRA91 W]E LIKEWISE FRETT+ ) IMPATI5CE & QUIV]+ ) 
ANXIETY4 ,= EV5 ,RAMB]T FELT A N]V\S TREMOR AT ! ?\<T ?AT SOON HE W\LD HAVE 
TO CONFRONT A LOVE & A DEVOTION ?AT ! PLAGUE MON?S HAD SL[LY REF9$ TO A PALE 
AB/RACTION1 ) ! FLE%-&-BLOOD WOMAN :O HAD GIV5 RISE TO !M4 

,IF ONLY HE C\LD PUT ! CLOCK BACK & BE ONCE MORE ! MAN :O1 AT ! 
\TBREAK ( ! EPIDEMIC1 HAD HAD ONLY ONE ?\<T & ONE DESIRE3 TO ESCAPE & RETURN 
TO ! WOMAN HE LOV$6 ,BUT ?AT1 HE KNEW1 WAS \T ( ! QUE/ION N[2 HE HAD *ANG$ 
TOO GREATLY4 ,! PLAGUE HAD =C$ ON HIM A DETA*M5T :I*1 TRY AS HE MI<T1 HE 
C\LDN'T ?9K AWAY1 & :I* LIKE A =MLESS FE> HAUNT$ HIS M9D4 ,ALMO/ HE ?\<T 
! PLAGUE HAD 5D$ TOO ABRUPTLY1 HE HADN'T HAD TIME TO PULL HIMSELF TOGE!R4 ,HAPP9ESS 
WAS BE>+ D[N ON HIM FULL SPE$1 ! EV5T \TRUNN+ EXPECTATION4 ,RAMB]T 
UND]/OOD ?AT ALL W\LD BE RE/OR$ TO HIM 9 A FLA%1 & JOY BREAK ON HIM LIKE A FLAME 
) :I* !RE IS NO DALLY+4 

,EV]YONE 9DE$1 MORE OR LESS CONSCI\SLY1 FELT AS HE DID1 & IT IS ( ALL ?OSE 
PEOPLE ON ! PLAT=M ?AT WE WI% TO SPEAK4 ,EA* WAS RETURN+ TO HIS P]SONAL LIFE1 YET 
! S5SE ( COMRADE%IP P]SI/$ & !Y W]E EX*ANG+ SMILES & *E]FUL GLANCES 
AMONG !MSELVES4 ,BUT ! MOM5T !Y SAW ! SMOKE ( ! APPROA*+ 5G9E1 ! 
FEEL+ ( EXILE VANI%$ BE=E AN UPRU% ( OV]P[]+1 BEWILD]+ JOY4 ,& :5 
! TRA9 /OPP$1 ALL ?OSE 9T]M9ABLE-SEEM+ SEP>ATIONS :I* (T5 HAD BEGUN ON 
?IS SAME PLAT=M CAME TO AN 5D 9 ONE EC/ATIC MOM5T1 :5 >MS CLOS$ ) HUNGRY 
POSSESSIV5ESS ON BODIES :OSE LIV+ %APE !Y HAD =GOTT54 ,AS = ,RAMB]T1 HE 
HADN'T TIME TO SEE ?AT =M RUNN+ T[>D HIM2 ALREADY %E HAD FLUNG H]SELF UPON HIS 
BREA/4 ,& ) HIS >MS LOCK$ >\ND H]1 PRESS+ TO HIS %\LD] ! HEAD ( :I* 
HE SAW ONLY ! FAMILI> HAIR1 HE LET HIS TE>S FL[ FREELY1 UNKN[+ IF !Y ROSE FROM 
PRES5T JOY OR FROM SORR[ TOO LONG REPRESS$2 AW>E ONLY ?AT !Y W\LD PREV5T HIS 
MAK+ SURE IF ! FACE BURI$ 9 ! HOLL[ ( HIS %\LD] W]E ! FACE ( :I* HE HAD 
DREAM$ SO (T5 OR1 9/EAD1 A /RANG]'S FACE4 ,= ! MOM5T HE WI%$ TO BEHAVE LIKE 
ALL ?OSE O!RS >\ND HIM :O BELIEV$1 OR MADE BELIEVE1 ?AT PLAGUE CAN COME & GO 
)\T *ANG+ ANY?+ 9 M5'S HE>TS4 

,NE/L+ TO ONE ANO!R1 !Y W5T TO !IR HOMES1 BL9D TO ! \TSIDE WORLD & 
SEEM+LY TRIUMPHANT OV] ! PLAGUE1 =GETT+ EV]Y SADNESS & ! PLI<T ( ?OSE 
:O HAD COME BY ! SAME TRA9 & F\ND NO ONE AWAIT+ !M1 & W]E BRAC+ 
!MSELVES TO HE> 9 !IR HOMES A CONFIRMATION ( ! FE> ?AT ! LONG SIL5CE HAD 
ALREADY IMPLANT$ 9 !IR HE>TS4 ,= !SE LA/1 :O HAD N[ = COMPANY ONLY !IR 
NEW-BORN GRIEF1 = ?OSE :O AT ?IS MOM5T W]E D$ICAT+ !MSELVES TO A LIFELONG 
MEMORY ( B]EAVEM5T1 = !SE UNHAPPY PEOPLE MATT]S W]E V]Y DIFF]5T1 ! PANGS 
( SEP>ATION HAD T\*$ !IR CLIMAX4 ,= ! MO!RS1 HUSB&S1 WIVES1 & LOV]S :O 
HAD LO/ ALL JOY1 N[ ?AT ! LOV$ ONE LAY UND] A LAY] ( QUICKLIME 9 A DEA?-PIT OR 
WAS A M]E H&FUL ( 9DI/9CTIVE A%ES 9 A GRAY M\ND1 ! PLAGUE HAD NOT YET 5D$4 

,BUT :O GAVE A ?\<T TO !SE LONELY M\RN]S8 ,R\T+ ! COLD FLAWS ?AT HAD 
BE5 ?RE%+ ! AIR S9CE E>LY-MORN+1 ! SUN WAS P\R+ ON ! T[N A /EADY 
FLOOD ( TRANQUIL LI<T4 ,9 ! =TS ON ! HILLS1 UND] ! SKY ( PURE1 UNWAV]+ BLUE1 
GUNS W]E ?UND]+ )\T A BREAK4 ,& EV]YONE WAS \T & AB\T TO CELEBRATE 
?OSE CR[D$ MOM5TS :5 ! TIME ( ORDEAL 5D$ & ! TIME ( =GETT+ HAD NOT 
YET BEGUN4 

,9 /REETS & SQU>ES PEOPLE W]E DANC+4 ,)9 TW5TY-F\R H\RS ! MOTOR 
TRAFFIC HAD D\BL$ & ! EV] MORE NUM]\S C>S W]E HELD UP AT EV]Y TURN BY 
M]RY-MAK+ CR[DS4 ,EV]Y *UR* BELL WAS 9 FULL PEAL ?R\<\T ! AFT]NOON1 & 
! BELLS FILL$ ! BLUE & GOLD SKY ) !IR REV]B]ATIONS4 

,9DE$1 9 ALL ! *UR*ES ?ANKSGIV+ S]VICES W]E BE+ HELD4 ,BUT AT ! SAME 
TIME ! PLACES ( 5T]TA9M5T W]E PACK$1 & ! CAFES1 C>+ NO?+ = ! 
MORR[1 W]E PRODUC+ !IR LA/ BOTTLES ( LIQUOR4 ,A NOISY CONC\RSE SURG$ R\ND 
EV]Y B>1 9CLUD+ LOV+ C\PLES :O FONDL$ EA* O!R )\T A ?\<T = 
APPE>ANCES4 ,ALL W]E LAU<+ OR %\T+4 ,! RES]VES ( EMOTION P5T UP DUR+ 
?OSE MANY MON?S :5 = EV]YBODY ! FLAME ( LIFE BURN$ L[ W]E BE+ 
RECKLESSLY SQU&]$ TO CELEBRATE ?IS1 ! R$-LETT] DAY ( !IR SURVIVAL4 ,TOMORR[ REAL 
LIFE W\LD BEG9 AGA91 ) ITS RE/RICTIONS4 ,BUT = ! MOM5T PEOPLE 9 V]Y DIFF]5T 
WALKS ( LIFE W]E RUBB+ %\LD]S1 FRAT]NIZ+4 ,! LEVEL+-\T ?AT DEA?'S 
IMM95CE HAD FAIL$ 9 PRACTICE TO ACCOMPLI% WAS REALIZ$ AT LA/1 = A FEW GAY H\RS1 
9 ! RAPTURE ( ESCAPE4 

,BUT ?IS RA!R TAWDRY EXUB]ANCE WAS ONLY ONE ASPECT ( ! T[N ?AT DAY2 NOT A 
FEW ( ?OSE FILL+ ! /REETS AT SUND[N1 AMONG !M ,RAMB]T & HIS WIFE1 HID UND] 
AN AIR ( CALM SATISFACTION SUBTL] =MS ( HAPP9ESS4 ,MANY C\PLES1 9DE$1 & MANY 
FAMILIES1 LOOK$ LIKE PEOPLE \T = A CASUAL /ROLL1 NO MORE ?AN ?AT2 9 REALITY MO/ ( 
!M W]E MAK+ S5TIM5TAL PILGRIMAGES TO PLACES :]E !Y HAD GONE TO S*OOL ) 
SUFF]+4 ,! NEWCOM]S W]E BE+ %[N ! /RIK+ OR OBSCUR] TOK5S ( ! 
PLAGUE1 RELICS ( ITS PASSAGE4 ,9 SOME CASES ! SURVIVOR M]ELY PLAY$ ! P>T ( GUIDE1 
! EYEWITNESS :O HAS 0BE5 ?R\< IT10 & TALK$ FREELY ( ! DANG] )\T 
M5TION+ HIS FE>4 ,!SE W]E ! MILD] =MS ( PLEASURE1 LITTLE MORE ?AN RECREATION4 

,9 O!R CASES1 H[EV]1 !RE WAS MORE EMOTION TO !SE WALKS AB\T ! T[N1 AS :5 
A MAN1 PO9T+ TO SOME PLACE *>G$ = HIM ) SAD YET T5D] ASSOCIATIONS1 W\LD 
SAY TO ! GIRL OR WOMAN BESIDE HIM3 0,?IS IS :]E1 ONE EV5+ JU/ LIKE ?IS1 ,I LONG$ 
= Y\ SO DESP]ATELY1 & Y\ W]5'T !RE60 ,!SE PASSIONATE PILGRIMS C\LD READILY 
BE DI/+UI%$2 !Y =M$ OASES ( :ISP]S1 ALO(1 SELF-C5T]$1 9 ! TURBUL5CE ( 
! CR[D4 ,F> MORE EFFECTIVELY ?AN ! B&S PLAY+ 9 ! SQU>ES !Y V\*$ = 
! VA/ JOY ( LIB]ATION4 ,!SE EC/ATIC C\PLES1 LOCK$ TOGE!R1 H>DLY SPEAK+1 
PROCLAIM$ 9 ! MID/ ( ! TUMULT ( REJOIC+1 ) ! PR\D EGOISM & 9JU/ICE ( 
HAPPY PEOPLE1 ?AT ! PLAGUE WAS OV]1 ! REIGN ( T]ROR 5D$4 ,CALMLY !Y D5I$1 9 
! TEE? ( ! EVID5CE1 ?AT WE HAD EV] KN[N A CRAZY WORLD 9 :I* M5 W]E KILL$ 
(F LIKE FLIES1 OR ?AT PRECISE SAVAG]Y1 ?AT CALCULAT$ FR5ZY ( ! PLAGUE1 :I* 9/ILL$ 
AN ODI\S FRE$OM AS TO ALL ?AT WAS NOT ! H]E & N[2 OR ?OSE *>NEL-H\SE 
/5*ES :I* /UPEFI$ :OM !Y DID NOT KILL4 ,9 %ORT1 !Y D5I$ ?AT WE HAD EV] 
BE5 ?AT HAG-RIDD5 POPULACE A P>T ( :I* WAS DAILY F$ 9TO A FURNACE & W5T UP 9 
OILY FUMES1 :ILE ! RE/1 9 %ACKL$ IMPOT5CE1 WAIT$ !IR TURN4 

,?AT1 ANYH[1 WAS :AT SEEM$ EVID5T TO ,RIEUX :5 T[>DS ! CLOSE ( ! 
AFT]NOON1 ON HIS WAY TO ! \TSKIRTS ( ! T[N1 HE WALK$ ALONE 9 AN UPRO> ( BELLS1 
GUNS1 B&S1 & DEAF5+ %\TS4 ,!RE WAS NO QUE/ION ( HIS TAK+ A DAY (F2 SICK 
M5 HAVE NO HOLIDAYS4 ,?R\< ! COOL1 CLE> LI<T BA?+ ! T[N ROSE ! FAMILI> 
SMELLS ( ROA/+ MEAT & ANISE-FLAVOR$ LIQUOR4 ,ALL >\ND HIM HAPPY FACES W]E 
TURN$ T[>D ! %9+ SKY1 M5 & WOM5 ) FLU%$ *EEKS EMBRAC$ ONE 
ANO!R ) L[1 T5SE CRIES ( DESIRE4 ,YES1 ! PLAGUE HAD 5D$ ) ! T]ROR1 & 
?OSE PASSIONATELY /RA9+ >MS TOLD :AT IT HAD MEANT3 EXILE & DEPRIVATION 9 ! 
PR(\NDE/ MEAN+ ( ! WORDS4 

,= ! FIR/ TIME ,RIEUX F\ND ?AT HE C\LD GIVE A NAME TO ! FAMILY LIK5ESS 
?AT = SEV]AL MON?S HE HAD DETECT$ 9 ! FACES 9 ! /REETS4 ,HE HAD ONLY TO LOOK 
>\ND HIM N[4 ,AT ! 5D ( ! PLAGUE1 ) ITS MIS]Y & PRIVATIONS1 !SE M5 & 
WOM5 HAD COME TO WE> ! ASPECT ( ! P>T !Y HAD BE5 PLAY+ = SO LONG1 ! 
P>T ( EMIGRANTS :OSE FACES FIR/1 & N[ !IR CLO!S1 TOLD ( LONG BANI%M5T FROM A 
DI/ANT HOMEL&4 ,ONCE PLAGUE HAD %UT ! GATES ( ! T[N1 !Y HAD SETTL$ D[N TO A 
LIFE ( SEP>ATION1 DEB>R$ FROM ! LIV+ W>M? ?AT GIVES =GETFULNESS ( ALL4 ,9 
DIFF]5T DEGREES1 9 EV]Y P>T ( ! T[N1 M5 & WOM5 HAD BE5 YE>N+ = A 
REUNION1 NOT ( ! SAME K9D = ALL1 BUT = ALL ALIKE RUL$ \T4 ,MO/ ( !M HAD LONG$ 
9T5SELY = AN ABS5T ONE1 = ! W>M? ( A BODY1 = LOVE1 OR M]ELY = A LIFE ?AT 
HABIT HAD 5DE>$4 ,SOME1 (T5 )\T KN[+ IT1 SUFF]$ FROM BE+ DEPRIV$ ( ! 
COMPANY ( FRI5DS & FROM !IR 9ABILITY TO GET 9 T\* ) !M ?R\< ! USUAL 
*ANNELS ( FRI5D%IP1 LETT]S1 TRA9S1 & BOATS4 ,O!RS1 FEW] !SE1 ,T>R\ MAY HAVE 
BE5 ONE ( !M1 HAD DESIR$ REUNION ) SOME?+ !Y C\LDN'T HAVE DEF9$1 BUT 
:I* SEEM$ TO !M ! ONLY DESIRABLE ?+ ON E>?4 ,= WANT ( A BETT] NAME1 !Y 
SOMETIMES CALL$ IT PEACE4 

,RIEUX WALK$ ON4 ,AS HE PROGRESS$1 ! CR[DS GREW ?ICK]1 ! D9 MULTIPLI$1 
& HE HAD A FEEL+ ?AT HIS DE/9ATION WAS REC$+ AS HE ADVANC$4 ,GRADUALLY HE F\ND 
HIMSELF DRAWN 9TO ! SEE?+1 CLAMOR\S MASS & UND]/&+ MORE & MORE ! 
CRY ?AT W5T UP FROM IT1 A CRY ?AT1 = SOME P>T AT LEA/1 WAS HIS4 ,YES1 !Y HAD SUFF]$ 
TOGE!R1 9 BODY NO LESS ?AN 9 S\L1 FROM A CRUEL LEISURE1 EXILE )\T R$RESS1 ?IR/ 
?AT WAS NEV] SLAK$4 ,AMONG ! HEAPS ( CORPSES1 ! CLANG+ BELLS ( AMBULANCES1 ! 
W>N+S ( :AT GOES BY ! NAME ( FATE1 AMONG UNREMITT+ WAVES ( FE> & 
AGONIZ$ REVOLT1 ! HORROR ?AT SU* ?+S C\LD BE1 ALWAYS A GREAT VOICE HAD BE5 
R++ 9 ! E>S ( !SE =LORN1 PANICK$ PEOPLE1 A VOICE CALL+ !M BACK TO ! L& 
( !IR DESIRE1 A HOMEL&4 

,IT LAY \TSIDE ! WALLS ( ! /IFL$1 /RANGL$ T[N1 9 ! FRAGRANT BRU%WOOD ( 
! HILLS1 9 ! WAVES ( ! SEA1 UND] FREE SKIES1 & 9 ! CU/ODY ( LOVE4 ,& IT WAS 
TO ?IS1 !IR LO/ HOME1 T[>D HAPP9ESS1 !Y LONG$ TO RETURN1 TURN+ !IR BACKS 
DISGU/$LY ON ALL ELSE4 

,AS TO :AT ?AT EXILE & ?AT LONG+ = REUNION MEANT1 ,RIEUX HAD NO IDEA4 ,BUT 
AS HE WALK$ AHEAD1 JO/L$ ON ALL SIDES1 ACCO/$ N[ & !N1 & GRADUALLY MADE HIS 
WAY 9TO LESS CR[D$ /REETS1 HE WAS ?9K+ IT HAS NO IMPORTANCE :E!R SU* ?+S 
HAVE OR HAVE NOT A MEAN+2 ALL WE NE$ CONSID] IS ! ANSW] GIV5 TO M5'S HOPE4 

,H5CE=? HE KNEW ! ANSW]1 & HE P]CEIV$ IT BETT] N[ HE WAS 9 ! 
\TSKIRTS ( ! T[N1 9 ALMO/ EMPTY /REETS4 ,?OSE :O1 CL++ TO !IR LITTLE [N1 HAD 
SET !IR HE>TS SOLELY ON RETURN+ TO ! HOME ( !IR LOVE HAD SOMETIMES !IR REW>D1 
?\< SOME ( !M W]E /ILL WALK+ ! /REETS ALONE1 )\T ! ONE !Y HAD 
AWAIT$4 ,!N1 AGA91 ?OSE W]E HAPPY :O HAD NOT SUFF]$ A TW(OLD SEP>ATION1 LIKE 
SOME ( US :O1 9 ! DAYS BE=E ! EPIDEMIC1 HAD FAIL$ TO BUILD !IR LOVE ON A SOLID 
BASIS AT ! \TSET1 & HAD SP5T YE>S BL9DLY GROP+ = ! PACT1 SO SL[ & H>D TO 
COME BY1 ?AT 9 ! LONG RUN B9DS TOGE!R ILL-ASSORT$ LOV]S4 ,SU* PEOPLE HAD HAD1 LIKE 
,RIEUX HIMSELF1 ! RA%NESS ( C\NT+ OV]MU* ON TIME2 & N[ !Y W]E P>T$ 
=EV]4 ,BUT O!RS1 LIKE ,RAMB]T1 TO :OM ! DOCTOR HAD SAID E>LY ?AT MORN+3 

0,C\RAGE6 ,IT'S UP TO Y\ N[ TO PROVE Y\'RE RI<T01 HAD1 )\T FALT]+1 WELCOM$ 
BACK ! LOV$ ONE :O !Y ?\<T WAS LO/ TO !M4 ,& = SOME TIME1 ANYH[1 !Y 
W\LD BE HAPPY4 ,!Y KNEW N[ ?AT IF !RE IS ONE ?+ ONE CAN ALWAYS YE>N = & 
SOMETIMES ATTA91 IT IS HUMAN LOVE4 ,BUT = ?OSE O!RS :O ASPIR$ BEYOND & ABOVE 
! HUMAN 9DIVIDUAL T[>D SOME?+ !Y C\LD NOT EV5 IMAG9E1 !RE HAD BE5 NO 
ANSW]4 ,T>R\ MI<T SEEM TO HAVE WON ?R\< TO ?AT H>DLY-COME-BY PEACE ( :I* 
HE US$ TO SPEAK2 BUT HE HAD F\ND IT ONLY 9 DEA?1 TOO LATE TO TURN IT TO ACC\NT4 ,IF O!RS1 
H[EV]1 ,RIEUX C\LD SEE !M 9 ! DOORWAYS ( H\SES1 PASSIONATELY EMBRAC+ & 
GAZ+ HUNGRILY AT ONE ANO!R 9 ! FAIL+ SUNSET GL[1 HAD GOT :AT !Y WANT$1 ?IS 
WAS BECAUSE !Y HAD ASK$ = ! ONE ?+ ?AT DEP5D$ ON !M SOLELY4 ,& AS HE 
TURN$ ! CORN] ( ! /REET :]E ,GR& & ,COTT>D LIV$1 ,RIEUX WAS ?9K+ IT WAS 
ONLY RI<T ?AT ?OSE :OSE DESIRES >E LIMIT$ TO MAN & HIS HUMBLE YET =MIDABLE LOVE 
%\LD 5T]1 IF ONLY N[ & !N1 9TO !IR REW>D4 

,?,I,S *RONICLE IS DRAW+ TO AN 5D1 & ?IS SEEMS TO BE ! MOM5T = ,DR4 ,B]N>D 
,RIEUX TO CONFESS ?AT HE IS ! N>RATOR4 ,BUT BE=E DESCRIB+ ! CLOS+ SC5ES1 HE 
W\LD WI% ANYH[ TO JU/IFY HIS UND]TAK+ & TO SET IT D[N ?AT HE EXPRESSLY MADE A 
PO9T ( ADOPT+ ! TONE ( AN IMP>TIAL OBS]V]4 ,HIS PR(ESSION PUT HIM 9 T\* ) 
A GREAT MANY ( \R T[NSPEOPLE :ILE PLAGUE WAS RAG+1 & HE HAD OPPORTUNITIES ( 
HE>+ !IR V>I\S OP9IONS4 ,?US HE WAS WELL PLAC$ = GIV+ A TRUE ACC\NT ( ALL HE 
SAW & HE>D4 ,BUT 9 SO DO+ HE HAS TRI$ TO KEEP )9 ! LIMITS ?AT SEEM$ 
DESIRABLE4 ,= 9/ANCE1 9 A G5]AL WAY HE HAS CONF9$ HIMSELF TO DESCRIB+ ONLY SU* 
?+S AS HE WAS 5ABL$ TO SEE = HIMSELF1 & HAS REFRA9$ FROM ATTRIBUT+ TO HIS 
FELL[ SUFF]]S ?\<TS ?AT1 :5 ALL IS SAID & DONE1 !Y W]E NOT B\ND TO HAVE4 

,& AS = DOCUM5TS1 HE HAS US$ ONLY SU* AS *ANCE1 OR MIS*ANCE1 PUT 9 HIS 
WAY4 

,SUMMON$ TO GIVE EVID5CE REG>D+ :AT WAS A SORT ( CRIME1 HE HAS EX]CIS$ 
! RE/RA9T ?AT BEHOOVES A CONSCI5TI\S WITNESS4 ,ALL ! SAME1 FOLL[+ ! DICTATES ( 
HIS HE>T1 HE HAS DELIB]ATELY TAK5 ! VICTIMS' SIDE & TRI$ TO %>E ) HIS FELL[ 
CITIZ5S ! ONLY C]TITUDES !Y HAD 9 COMMON1 LOVE1 EXILE1 & SUFF]+4 ,?US HE CAN 
TRULY SAY !RE WAS NOT ONE ( !IR ANXIETIES 9 :I* HE DID NOT %>E1 NO PR$ICAM5T ( 
!IRS ?AT WAS NOT HIS4 

,TO BE AN HONE/ WITNESS1 IT WAS = HIM TO CONF9E HIMSELF MA9LY TO :AT PEOPLE 
DID OR SAID & :AT C\LD BE GLEAN$ FROM DOCUM5TS4 ,REG>D+ HIS P]SONAL TR\BLES 
& HIS LONG SUSP5SE1 HIS DUTY WAS TO HOLD HIS PEACE4 ,:5 N[ & !N HE REF]S TO 
SU* MATT]S1 IT IS ONLY = ! LI<T !Y MAY ?R[ ON HIS FELL[ CITIZ5S & 9 ORD] TO 
GIVE A PICTURE1 AS WELL DEF9$ AS POSSIBLE1 ( :AT MO/ ( ! TIME !Y FELT CONFUS$LY4 

,ACTUALLY1 ?IS SELF-IMPOS$ RETIC5CE CO/ HIM LITTLE EF=T4 ,:5EV] TEMPT$ TO ADD HIS 
P]SONAL NOTE TO ! MYRIAD VOICES ( ! PLAGUE-/RICK51 HE WAS DET]R$ BY ! ?\<T 
?AT NOT ONE ( HIS SUFF]+S BUT WAS COMMON TO ALL ! O!RS & ?AT 9 A WORLD :]E 
SORR[ IS SO (T5 LONELY1 ?IS WAS AN ADVANTAGE4 ,?US1 DECID$LY1 IT WAS UP TO HIM TO 
SPEAK = ALL4 

,BUT !RE WAS AT LEA/ ONE ( \R T[NSFOLK = :OM ,DR4 ,RIEUX C\LD NOT SPEAK1 
! MAN ( :OM ,T>R\ SAID ONE DAY TO ,RIEUX3 0,HIS ONLY REAL CRIME IS ?AT ( HAV+ 9 
HIS HE>T APPROV$ ( SOME?+ ?AT KILL$ (F M51 WOM51 & *ILDR54 ,I CAN 
UND]/& ! RE/1 BUT = ?AT ,I AM OBLIG$ TO P>DON HIM40 

,IT IS FITT+ ?AT ?IS *RONICLE %\LD 5D ) SOME REF]5CE TO ?AT MAN1 :O 
HAD AN IGNORANT1 ?AT IS TO SAY LONELY1 HE>T4 

,ON TURN+ \T ( ! MA9 ?OR\<F>ES :]E ! REJOIC+S W]E 9 FULL SW+1 
& 5T]+ ! /REET :]E ,GR& & ,COTT>D LIV$1 ,DR4 ,RIEUX WAS HELD UP BY A POLICE 
CORDON4 ,NO?+ C\LD HAVE SURPRIS$ HIM MORE4 ,?IS QUIET P>T ( ! T[N SEEM$ ALL 
! QUIET] = ! S\NDS ( FE/IVITY 9 ! DI/ANCE1 & ! DOCTOR PICTUR$ IT AS 
DES]T$ AS IT WAS TRANQUIL4 

0,SORRY1 DOCTOR10 A POLICEMAN SAID1 0BUT ,I CAN'T LET Y\ ?R\<4 ,!RE'S A CRAZY 
FELL[ ) A GUN1 %OOT+ AT EV]YBODY4 ,BUT Y\'D BETT] /AY2 WE MAY NE$ Y\40 

,JU/ !N ,RIEUX SAW ,GR& COM+ T[>D HIM4 ,GR&1 TOO1 HAD NO IDEA :AT WAS 
HAPP5+ & ! POLICE HAD /OPP$ HIM1 TOO4 ,HE HAD BE5 TOLD ?AT ! %OTS CAME 
FROM ! H\SE :]E HE LIV$4 ,!Y C\LD SEE1 SOME WAY D[N ! /REET1 ! FRONT ( 
! H\SE1 BA!D 9 COOL EV5+ LI<T4 ,F>!R D[N ! /REET WAS ANO!R L9E ( 
POLICEM5 LIKE ! ONE ?AT HAD PREV5T$ ,RIEUX & ,GR& FROM ADVANC+1 & BEH9D 
! L9E SOME ( ! LOCAL RESID5TS C\LD BE SE5 CROSS+ & RECROSS+ ! /REET 
HA/ILY4 ,! /REET IMM$IATELY 9 FRONT ( ! H\SE WAS QUITE EMPTY & 9 ! MIDDLE ( 
! HOLL[ SQU>E LAY A HAT & A PIECE ( DIRTY CLO?4 ,LOOK+ MORE C>EFULLY1 !Y SAW 
MORE POLICEM51 REVOLV] 9 H&1 %ELT]+ 9 DOORWAYS FAC+ ! H\SE4 ,ALL ! 
%UTT]S 9 ,GR&'S H\SE W]E CLOS$1 EXCEPT ONE ON ! ?IRD FLOOR ?AT SEEM$ TO BE 
HANG+ LOOSE ON ONE H+E ONLY4 ,NOT A S\ND C\LD BE HE>D 9 ! /REET BUT = 
OCCASIONAL SNAT*ES ( MUSIC COM+ FROM ! C5T] ( ! T[N4 

,SUDD5LY TWO REVOLV]-%OTS RANG \T2 !Y CAME FROM ONE ( ! BUILD+S 
OPPOSITE & SOME SPL9T]S FLEW (F ! DISMANTL$ %UTT]4 ,!N SIL5CE CAME AGA94 

,SE5 FROM A DI/ANCE1 AFT] ! TUMULT ( ! DAY1 ! :OLE BUS9ESS SEEM$ TO ,RIEUX 
FANTA/ICALLY UNREAL1 LIKE SOME?+ 9 A DREAM4 

0,?AT'S ,COTT>D'S W9D[10 ,GR& SUDD5LY EXCLAIM$4 0,I CAN'T MAKE IT \T4 ,I 
?\<T HE'D DISAPPE>$40 

0,:Y >E !Y %OOT+80 ,RIEUX ASK$ ! POLICEMAN4 

0,OH1 JU/ TO KEEP HIM BUSY4 ,WE'RE WAIT+ = A C> TO COME ) ! /UFF ?AT'S 
NE$$4 ,HE FIRES AT ANYONE :O TRIES TO GET 9 BY ! FRONT DOOR4 ,HE GOT ONE ( \R M5 
JU/ N[40 

0,BUT :Y DID HE FIRE80 

0,ASK ME ANO!R6 ,SOME FOLKS W]E HAV+ FUN 9 ! /REET1 & HE LET (F AT !M4 

,!Y C\LDN'T MAKE IT \T AT FIR/4 ,:5 HE FIR$ AGA91 !Y />T$ YELL+1 ONE MAN WAS 
W\ND$1 & ! RE/ TOOK TO !IR HEELS4 ,SOME FELL[ \T ( HIS HEAD1 ,I %\LD SAY40 

,! M9UTES SEEM$ 9T]M9ABLE 9 ! SIL5CE ?AT HAD RETURN$4 ,!N !Y 
NOTIC$ A DOG1 ! FIR/ DOG ,RIEUX HAD SE5 = MANY MON?S1 EM]G+ ON ! O!R SIDE 
( ! /REET1 A DRAGGL$-LOOK+ SPANIEL ?AT ITS [N]S HAD1 PRESUMABLY1 KEPT 9 HID+4 ,IT 
AMBL$ ALONG ! WALL1 /OPP$ 9 ! DOORWAY1 SAT D[N1 & BEGAN TO DIG AT ITS FLEAS4 

,SOME ( ! POLICEM5 :I/L$ = IT TO COME AWAY4 

,IT RAIS$ ITS HEAD1 !N WALK$ \T 9TO ! ROAD & WAS SNIFF+ AT ! HAT :5 A 
REVOLV] B>K$ FROM ! ?IRD-FLOOR W9D[4 ,! DOG DID A SOM]SAULT LIKE A TOSS$ 
PANCAKE1 LA%$ ! AIR ) ITS LEGS1 & FL\ND]$ ON TO ITS SIDE1 ITS BODY WRI?+ 9 
LONG CONVULSIONS4 ,AS IF BY WAY ( REPRISAL FIVE OR SIX %OTS FROM ! OPPOSITE H\SE 
KNOCK$ MORE SPL9T]S (F ! %UTT]4 ,!N SIL5CE FELL AGA94 ,! SUN HAD MOV$ A LITTLE 
& ! %AD[-L9E WAS NE>+ ,COTT>D'S W9D[4 ,!RE WAS A L[ SQUEAL ( BRAKES 9 
! /REET1 BEH9D ! DOCTOR4 

0,H]E !Y >E10 ! POLICEMAN SAID4 

,A NUMB] ( POLICE (FIC]S JUMP$ \T ( ! C> & UNLOAD$ COILS ( ROPE1 A 
LADD]1 & TWO BIG OBLONG PACKAGES WRAPP$ 9 OILCLO?4 ,!N !Y TURN$ 9TO A /REET 
BEH9D ! R[ ( H\SES FAC+ ,GR&'S4 ,A M9UTE OR SO LAT] !RE W]E SIGNS ( 
MOVEM5T1 ?\< LITTLE C\LD BE SE51 9 ! DOORWAYS ( ! H\SES4 

,!N CAME A %ORT SPELL ( WAIT+4 ,! DOG HAD CEAS$ MOV+2 IT N[ WAS LY+ 
9 A SMALL1 D>K1 GLI/5+ POOL4 

,SUDD5LY FROM ! W9D[ ( ONE ( ! H\SES ?AT ! POLICE (FIC]S HAD 
5T]$ FROM BEH9D !RE CAME A BUR/ ( MA*9E-GUN FIRE4 ,!Y W]E /ILL AIM+ AT ! 
%UTT]1 :I* LIT]ALLY %R$D$ ITSELF AWAY1 DISCLOS+ A D>K GAP 9TO :I* NEI!R 
,GR& NOR ,RIEUX C\LD SEE FROM :]E !Y /OOD4 ,:5 ! FIR/ MA*9E-GUN /OPP$ 
FIR+1 ANO!R OP5$ UP FROM A DIFF]5T ANGLE1 9 A H\SE A LITTLE F>!R UP ! /REET4 

,! %OTS W]E EVID5TLY DIRECT$ 9TO ! W9D[ SPACE1 & A FRAGM5T ( ! 
BRICKWORK CLATT]$ D[N UPON ! PAVEM5T4 

,AT ! SAME MOM5T ?REE POLICE (FIC]S *>G$ ACROSS ! ROAD & DISAPPE>$ 
9TO ! DOORWAY4 ,! MA*9E-GUN CEAS$ FIRE4 ,!N CAME ANO!R WAIT4 ,TWO MUFFL$ 
DETONATIONS S\ND$ 9SIDE ! H\SE1 FOLL[$ BY A CONFUS$ HUBBUB GR[+ /EADILY 
L\D] UNTIL !Y SAW A SMALL MAN 9 HIS %IRT-SLEEVES1 SCREAM+ AT ! TOP ( HIS VOICE1 
BE+ C>RI$ MORE ?AN DRAGG$ \T BY ! DOORWAY4 

,AS IF AT AN EXPECT$ SIGNAL ALL ! %UTT]S 9 ! /REET FLEW OP5 & EXCIT$ FACES 
L9$ ! W9D[S1 :ILE PEOPLE /REAM$ \T ( ! H\SES & JO/L$ ! L9ES ( 
POLICE4 ,RIEUX HAD A BRIEF GLIMPSE ( ! SMALL MAN1 ON HIS FEET N[1 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! 
ROAD1 HIS >MS P9ION$ BEH9D HIM BY TWO POLICE (FIC]S4 ,HE WAS /ILL SCREAM+4 ,A 
POLICEMAN W5T UP & DEALT HIM TWO H>D BL[S ) HIS FI/S1 QUITE CALMLY1 ) A SORT 
( CONSCI5TI\S ?OR\<NESS4 

0,IT'S ,COTT>D60 ,GR&'S VOICE WAS %RILL ) EXCITEM5T4 0,HE'S GONE MAD60 

,COTT>D HAD FALL5 BACKW>DS1 & ! POLICEMAN LAUN*$ A VIGOR\S KICK 9TO 
! CRUMPL$ MASS SPRAWL+ ON ! GR\ND4 ,!N A SMALL1 SURG+ GR\P BEGAN TO MOVE 
T[>D ! DOCTOR & HIS OLD FRI5D4 

0,/& CLE>60 ! POLICEMAN BAWL$4 

,RIEUX LOOK$ AWAY :5 ! GR\P1 ,COTT>D & HIS CAPTORS1 PASS$ HIM4 

,! DUSK WAS ?ICK5+ 9TO NI<T :5 ,GR& & ! DOCTOR MADE A MOVE AT 
LA/4 ,! ,COTT>D 9CID5T SEEM$ TO HAVE %AK5 ! NEI<BORHOOD \T ( ITS NORMAL 
LE?>GY & EV5 !SE REMOTE /REETS W]E BECOM+ CR[D$ ) NOISY M]RY-MAK]S4 

,ON HIS DOOR/EP ,GR& BADE ! DOCTOR GOOD NI<T2 HE WAS GO+ TO PUT 9 AN EV5+'S 
WORK1 HE SAID4 ,JU/ AS HE WAS />T+ UP ! /AIRS HE ADD$ ?AT HE'D WRITT5 TO ,JEANNE 
& WAS FEEL+ MU* HAPPI]4 ,ALSO HE'D MADE A FRE% />T ) HIS PHRASE4 0,I'VE CUT \T 
ALL ! ADJECTIVES40 

,&1 ) A TW9KLE 9 HIS EYE1 HE TOOK HIS HAT (F1 BR++ IT L[ 9 A C\RTLY 
SWEEP4 ,BUT ,RIEUX WAS ?9K+ ( ,COTT>D1 & ! DULL ?UD ( FI/S BELABOR+ ! 
WRET*$ MAN'S FACE HAUNT$ HIM AS HE W5T TO VISIT HIS OLD A/HMA PATI5T4 ,P]HAPS IT 
WAS MORE PA9FUL TO ?9K ( A GUILTY MAN ?AN ( A DEAD MAN4 

,IT WAS QUITE D>K BY ! TIME HE REA*$ HIS PATI5T'S H\SE4 ,9 ! B$ROOM ! 
DI/ANT CLAMOR ( A POPULACE REJOIC+ 9 ITS NEW-WON FRE$OM C\LD BE FA9TLY HE>D1 & 
! OLD FELL[ WAS AS USUAL TRANSPOS+ PEAS FROM ONE PAN TO ANO!R4 

0,!Y'RE QUITE RI<T TO AMUSE !MSELVES10 HE SAID4 0,IT TAKES ALL SORTS TO MAKE A 
WORLD1 AS !Y SAY4 ,& Y\R COLLEAGUE1 DOCTOR1 H['S HE GETT+ ON80 

0,HE'S DEAD40 ,RIEUX WAS LI/5+ TO HIS PATI5T'S RUMBL+ *E/4 

0,AH1 REALLY80 ,! OLD FELL[ S\ND$ EMB>RASS$4 

0,( PLAGUE10 ,RIEUX ADD$4 

0,YES10 ! OLD MAN SAID AFT] A MOM5T'S SIL5CE1 0IT'S ALWAYS ! BE/ :O GO4 

,?AT'S H[ LIFE IS4 ,BUT HE WAS A MAN :O KNEW :AT HE WANT$40 

0,:Y DO Y\ SAY ?AT80 ,! DOCTOR WAS PUTT+ BACK HIS /E?OSCOPE4 

0,OH1 = NO P>TICUL> REASON4 ,ONLY1 WELL1 HE NEV] TALK$ JU/ = TALK+'S SAKE4 

,I'D RA!R COTTON$ TO HIM4 ,BUT !RE Y\ >E6 ,ALL ?OSE FOLKS >E SAY+3 

',IT WAS PLAGUE4 ,WE'VE HAD ! PLAGUE H]E4' ,Y\'D ALMO/ ?9K !Y EXPECT$ TO BE 
GIV5 M$ALS = IT4 ,BUT :AT DOES ?AT MEAN1 'PLAGUE'8 ,JU/ LIFE1 NO MORE ?AN ?AT40 

0,DO Y\R 9HALATIONS REGUL>LY40 

0,DON'T WORRY AB\T ME1 DOCTOR6 ,!RE'S LOTS ( LIFE 9 ME YET1 & ,I'LL SEE 'EM ALL 
9TO !IR GRAVES4 ,I KN[ H[ TO LIVE40 

,A BUR/ ( JOYFUL %\TS 9 ! DI/ANCE SEEM$ AN E*O ( HIS BOA/4 ,HALFWAY 
ACROSS ! ROOM ! DOCTOR HALT$4 

0,W\LD Y\ M9D IF ,I GO UP ON ! T]RACE80 

0,( C\RSE NOT4 ,Y\'D LIKE TO HAVE A LOOK AT 'EM1 ?AT IT8 ,BUT !Y'RE JU/ ! SAME 
AS EV]1 REALLY40 ,:5 ,RIEUX WAS LEAV+ ! ROOM1 A NEW ?\<T CROSS$ HIS M9D4 0,I 
SAY1 DOCTOR4 ,IS IT A FACT !Y'RE GO+ TO PUT UP A MEMORIAL TO ! PEOPLE :O DI$ ( 
PLAGUE80 

0,SO ! PAP]S SAY4 ,A MONUM5T1 OR JU/ A TABLET40 

0,I C\LD HAVE SWORN IT6 ,& !RE'LL BE SPEE*ES40 ,HE *UCKL$ ?ROATILY4 0,I CAN 
ALMO/ HE> !M SAY+3 ',\R DE> DEP>T$444' ,& !N !Y'LL GO (F & HAVE A GOOD 
SNACK40 

,RIEUX WAS ALREADY HALFWAY UP ! /AIRS4 ,COLD1 FA?OMLESS DEP?S ( SKY 
GLIMM]$ OV]HEAD1 & NE> ! HILLTOPS />S %ONE H>D AS FL9T4 ,IT WAS MU* LIKE ! 
NI<T :5 HE & ,T>R\ HAD COME TO ! T]RACE TO =GET ! PLAGUE4 

,ONLY1 TONI<T ! SEA WAS BREAK+ ON ! CLIFFS MORE L\DLY & ! AIR WAS CALM 
& LIMPID1 FREE ( ! TANG ( BR9E ! AUTUMN W9D HAD BR\<T4 ,! NOISES ( ! T[N 
W]E /ILL BEAT+ LIKE WAVES AT ! FOOT ( ! LONG L9E ( T]RACES1 BUT TONI<T !Y TOLD 
NOT ( REVOLT1 BUT ( DELIV]ANCE4 ,9 ! DI/ANCE A R$DI% GL[ HUNG ABOVE ! BIG C5TRAL 
/REETS & SQU>ES4 ,9 ?IS NI<T ( NEW-BORN FRE$OM DESIRES KNEW NO LIMITS1 & IT WAS 
!IR CLAMOR ?AT REA*$ ,RIEUX'S E>S4 

,FROM ! D>K H>BOR SO>$ ! FIR/ ROCKET ( ! FIREWORK DISPLAY ORGANIZ$ BY 
! MUNICIPALITY1 & ! T[N ACCLAIM$ IT ) A LONG-DRAWN SI< ( DELI<T4 ,COTT>D4 

,T>R\1 ! M5 & ! WOMAN ,RIEUX HAD LOV$ & LO/1 ALL ALIKE1 DEAD OR GUILTY1 
W]E =GOTT54 ,YES1 ! OLD FELL[ HAD BE5 RI<T2 !SE PEOPLE W]E 0JU/ ! SAME AS 
EV]40 ,BUT ?IS WAS AT ONCE !IR /R5G? & !IR 9NOC5CE1 & IT WAS ON ?IS LEVEL1 
BEYOND ALL GRIEF1 ?AT ,RIEUX C\LD FEEL HIMSELF AT ONE ) !M4 ,& IT WAS 9 ! MID/ 
( %\TS ROLL+ AGA9/ ! T]RACE WALL 9 MASSIVE WAVES ?AT WAX$ 9 VOLUME & 
DURATION1 :ILE CAT>ACTS ( COLOR$ FIRE FELL ?ICK] ?R\< ! D>KNESS1 ?AT ,DR4 ,RIEUX 
RESOLV$ TO COMPILE ?IS *RONICLE1 SO ?AT HE %\LD NOT BE ONE ( ?OSE :O HOLD !IR 
PEACE BUT %\LD BE> WITNESS 9 FAVOR ( ?OSE PLAGUE-/RICK5 PEOPLE2 SO ?AT SOME 
MEMORIAL ( ! 9JU/ICE & \TRAGE DONE !M MI<T 5DURE2 & TO /ATE QUITE SIMPLY 
:AT WE LE>N 9 A TIME ( PE/IL5CE3 ?AT !RE >E MORE ?+S TO ADMIRE 9 M5 ?AN TO 
DESPISE4 

,NONE ! LESS1 HE KNEW ?AT ! TALE HE HAD TO TELL C\LD NOT BE ONE ( A F9AL 
VICTORY4 ,IT C\LD BE ONLY ! RECORD ( :AT HAD HAD TO BE DONE1 & :AT ASSUR$LY W\LD 
HAVE TO BE DONE AGA9 9 ! NEV] 5D+ FI<T AGA9/ T]ROR & ITS REL5TLESS 
ONSLAU<TS1 DESPITE !IR P]SONAL AFFLICTIONS1 BY ALL :O1 :ILE UNABLE TO BE SA9TS BUT 
REFUS+ TO B[ D[N TO PE/IL5CES1 /RIVE !IR UTMO/ TO BE HEAL]S4 

,&1 9DE$1 AS HE LI/5$ TO ! CRIES ( JOY RIS+ FROM ! T[N1 ,RIEUX 
REMEMB]$ ?AT SU* JOY IS ALWAYS IMP]IL$4 ,HE KNEW :AT ?OSE JUBILANT CR[DS DID 
NOT KN[ BUT C\LD HAVE LE>N$ FROM BOOKS3 ?AT ! PLAGUE BACILLUS NEV] DIES OR 
DISAPPE>S = GOOD2 ?AT IT CAN LIE DORMANT = YE>S & YE>S 9 FURNITURE & L95- 
*E/S2 ?AT IT BIDES ITS TIME 9 B$ROOMS1 CELL>S1 TRUNKS1 & BOOK%ELVES2 & ?AT 
P]HAPS ! DAY W\LD COME :51 = ! BANE & ! 5LI<T5+ ( M51 IT W\LD 
R\SE UP ITS RATS AGA9 & S5D !M =? TO DIE 9 A HAPPY CITY4 

 ,! ,5D 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#d1 #bba 3 ,P>T #e -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/