bernard rieux · the plague · albert camus · physician · existentialism · weary · dutiful · algiers · historical fiction · human solidarity
The August heat in Oran clung like a suffocating shroud. Dr. Bernard Rieux, weary from the plague’s relentless toll, shuffled through deserted, sun-scorched streets. His eyes, dulled by tragedy, struggled to focus as he felt a sudden jolt—a collision. Turning, he faced a silhouette against the fading twilight. The city held its breath, buildings looming like silent sentinels over the desolation. Rieux’s voice emerged soft and rasping, cutting through the hushed symphony of despair.