Chapter 28 Chapter 27 The Strange Cottard

But just when the plague seemed to be far away, returning to its unknown lair, according to Tarrou's notes, at least one person in the city was very alarmed by it. This is Cottard. The notes have gotten rather weird since the numbers started dropping.Probably due to fatigue, the handwriting of the notes was illegible, and its content was often rambling.Moreover, Tarrou's notes, which had always been dominated by objective facts, were now, for the first time, full of personal opinions.For example, among the lengthy pages recorded about Cottard, one can read a small report on the old cat-playing man.According to Tarrou's own account, during the plague, he always had a great respect for the old man. Whether it was before the plague or after the plague, the old man had always interested him. It was a pity, of course, that the old man could no longer interest him, but Tarrou could not be blamed for his insincerity, since he had managed to find the old man.A few days after they parted on the night of January 25, Tarrou had stood at the entrance of the alley, hoping to see the old man.The cats have returned to their original places without any hesitation, and have been warming in several sunny places.But the shutters remained tightly closed at the hour when the old man was accustomed to appear, and Tarrou never saw them opened again in the following days.Tarrou then came to the strange conclusion that the little old man was either angry or dead.If he is annoyed, it is because the old man thinks he is right, and that the plague has entrapped him; Not a saint.Tarrou did not consider him a saint, but considered his condition a "revelation."Tarrou wrote in his notebook: "Perhaps one can only reach certain near-saint standards. In this case, one has to be a humble and benevolent evil god."

In these notes one can also find many comments about other people, but these comments are always mixed with Cottard's affairs, and often written in a scattered manner.Some were about Grand, who had now recovered and resumed his work as if nothing had happened; some were about Dr. Rieux's mother.Tarrou lived in the same house as the old lady, and they talked sometimes.Tarrou carefully recorded these fragmentary conversations, the attitude of the old lady, her smile, and her thoughts on the plague.He focused on the old lady's humility, her simple and clear way of expressing her speech, and her preference for a certain window: this window faced the quiet street, and she sat alone by the window in the evening, Stretching slightly upright, with her hands rested securely, and her eyes gazing straight ahead, she sat like this until the twilight, which gradually descended on her room, turned her into a shadow and finally her motionless silhouette. drowned in darkness.Tarrou also emphasized the lightness of her steps from one room to another in the room, and her kindness-although she never showed it clearly in Tarrou's presence, it was always in her eyes. He can vaguely appreciate this virtue everywhere in his words and deeds.Finally, Tarrou thought that she possessed a faculty of understanding everything without much thought, despite her silence.Humble, but she is not inferior to any kind of "light", even the "light" of the plague god.However, it was found that Tarrou's handwriting began to crooked when he wrote this point in his notes, which seemed very strange.The next few lines he wrote were difficult to discern.The last few sentences, which are personal for the first time, show once again that he has lost control of his pen: "That's what my mother was, and she was equally humble, and I liked that quality in her." , I've always wanted to be with her. I can't say she died eight years ago, she just hid more humbly than usual, and when I looked back, she wasn't there anymore."

Without further ado, it's time to talk about Cottard.He had visited Rieux several times, under various pretexts, since the statistics had fallen.But in fact, every time he always asked Rieux to predict the epidemic situation. "Do you think the plague will end like this without a word of hello?" He doubted it, or at least he said so.But his repetition of these questions seems to indicate that his faith is not strong enough.In mid-January, Rieux had already answered his question with optimism.But each time, instead of delighting Cottard, these answers produced reactions that varied from moment to moment, sometimes annoyed, sometimes frustrated.Later, the doctor had to tell him that although the statistical results showed that the situation had improved, he could not immediately shout victory.

"That is to say," Cottard went on, "that people are not at all sure that the plague will return someday, are they not?" "Yes, just as the cure rate may also be getting higher and higher." This uncertainty, which was worrying to everyone, was evidently a relief to Cottard.In Tarrou's presence he had talked to the merchants of his district and tried to spread Rieux's views.Indeed, he had no difficulty in convincing his words, for now that the enthusiasm for these preliminary victories had passed, doubts had returned to the minds of many; The wave of excitement passed, and the shadow of doubt returned to the people.Cottard felt relieved when he saw the uneasiness of everyone.But sometimes he gets frustrated too. "Yes," he said to Tarrou, "the gates will always open in the end. Then, you see, I will be deserted!"

Before January 25, Cottard's character was observed to be erratic.For a long time he tried to please the people and acquaintances of his district, but suddenly for days he kept talking back to them.On the surface, at least, he withdrew from social situations and, overnight, began to live a life of recluse.In restaurants, in theaters, in the cafés he frequented, he was no longer seen.However, he does not seem to have resumed the sober, unobtrusive life he had led before the plague.He shut himself up in his suite all day and asked a nearby restaurant to bring him meals every day.Only at night did he sneak out to buy what he needed, and as soon as he was out of the shop he ran into the streets where there were few people.Although Tarrou had met Cottard at that time, he could only extract a few simple words from the latter's mouth.It was not long before Cottard was noticed to be sociable again: he talked endlessly about the plague, asked everyone for advice, and happily haunted the crowd every night.

On the day the provincial announcement was made, Cottard disappeared without a trace.Two days later, Tarrou met him in the street, where he was wandering.Cottard asked Tarrou to accompany him back to the suburbs.Tarrou hesitated for a moment because he was feeling particularly tired after get off work that day.But Cottard insisted on his plea.At that time, he seemed very excited, spoke quickly, in a high voice, and gestured incessantly.He asked Tarrou if he thought that the provincial proclamation would really end the plague.Tarrou, of course, thought that a proclamation by itself would not be enough to prevent a disaster, but it was reasonable to think that the plague would end, barring unexpected circumstances.

Cottard said, "Unless there is an accident, yeah. But there are always accidents." Tarrou had pointed out to him that the province had ordered the gates to remain closed for another two weeks, which proved that the province had more or less anticipated the unexpected. Cottard's expression was still so gloomy and disturbed. He said: "The province is doing the right thing, because judging from the development trend of the situation, it is likely that the announcement it issued was not said for a long time." Tarrou thinks it's possible, but says it's best to prepare for the city to open up and life to return to normal in the not-too-distant future.

"All right, as you say," said Cottard, "but what do you mean by normal life?" "There are new films in the cinema," replied Tarrou, smiling. But Cottard did not laugh.He wondered if people would think that the plague would not change the city at all, and that everything would start over as before, that is, as if nothing had happened.According to Tarrou: the plague will change the city again, but it will not change it; In one sense nothing changes, but in another it is impossible to forget everything, even if one wanted to, because the plague leaves traces, at least in people's hearts.The little pensioner was outspoken about his disinterest in minds, and that he didn't even care about their problems at all.All he was concerned with was whether the administrative organization itself would change, i.e. whether all the institutions would function as before.Then Tarrou had to admit that he had a lot on his mind.In Tarrou's opinion, all these institutions, devastated during the plague, could conceivably have had some difficulty in getting back to work.One can also think that a host of new problems will arise, so that old institutions will inevitably have to be readjusted, to say the least.

Cottard said: "Ah! It's possible, in fact, that we all have to start all over again." By this time the two had reached the vicinity of Cottard's house.The latter looked very excited and tried to look optimistic.He imagined that the city would return to normal life, that it would forget its past in order to start over from scratch. Tarrou said: "Yes. Anyway, for you too, things will get better. In a way, a new life is about to begin." They stood at the door and shook hands. "You're right," said Cottard, with increasing agitation, "it would be nice to start over from scratch."

But at this moment, two people suddenly ran out from the darkness of the corridor.Tarrou had hardly heard Cottard asking what the two fellows were up to, when the two well-dressed men, who looked like civil servants, asked the dwarf if his name was Cottard, and the latter let out a low voice. There was an exclamation, and before the two men and Tarrou had time to react, he turned and ran, disappearing into the night.After a little composure, Tarrou asked the two men what they wanted.They replied with a cautious yet courteous air that they wanted to know what had happened, and they walked calmly in the direction in which Cottard had just fled.

Returning home, Tarrou took notes of what had just happened, but immediately mentioned that he was tired (his handwriting was sufficient to show this).He went on to write that he still had a lot to do, but that was not a reason not to be mentally prepared, so he asked himself if he was really prepared.Finally—and Tarrou's notes ended here—he answered himself that there were moments, both day and night, when man was cowardly, and he was afraid of this moment.