Червона чума
Chapter 4
ButtheChemistryBuildingwaslarge,and,standingbyitself,wasinnodangerofbeingburnedbythegreatfiresthatragedeverywhereinthecity.
“Alargequantityofprovisionshadbeengathered,andafoodcommitteetookchargeofit,issuingrationsdailytothevariousfamiliesandgroupsthatarrangedthemselvesintomesses. Anumberofcommitteeswereappointed,andwedevelopedaveryefficientorganization. Iwasonthecommitteeofdefence,thoughforthefirstdaynoprowlerscamenear. Wecouldseetheminthedistance,however,andbythesmokeoftheirfiresknewthatseveralcampsofthemwereoccupyingthefaredgeofthecampus. Drunkennesswasrife,andoftenweheardthemsingingribaldsongsorinsanelyshouting. Whiletheworldcrashedtoruinaboutthemandalltheairwasfilledwiththesmokeofitsburning,theselowcreaturesgavereintotheirbestialityandfoughtanddrankanddied. Andafterall,whatdiditmatter? Everybodydiedanyway,thegoodandthebad,theefficientsandtheweaklings,thosethatlovedtoliveandthosethatscornedtolive. Theypassed. Everythingpassed.
“Whentwenty-fourhourshadgonebyandnosignsoftheplaguewereapparent,wecongratulatedourselvesandsetaboutdiggingawell. Youhaveseenthegreatironpipeswhichinthosedayscarriedwatertoallthecity-dwellers. Wefearedthatthefiresinthecitywouldburstthepipesandemptythereservoirs.
