Превращение
I
WhydidGregorhavetobetheonlyonecondemnedtoworkforacompanywheretheyimmediatelybecamehighlysuspiciousattheslightestshortcoming?Wereallemployees,everyoneofthem,louts,wastherenotoneofthemwhowasfaithfulanddevotedwhowouldgosomadwithpangsofconsciencethathecouldn’tgetoutofbedifhedidn’tspendatleastacoupleofhoursinthemorningoncompanybusiness?Wasitreallynotenoughtoletoneofthetraineesmakeenquiries—assumingenquirieswereevennecessary—didthechiefclerkhavetocomehimself,anddidtheyhavetoshowthewhole,innocentfamilythatthiswassosuspiciousthatonlythechiefclerkcouldbetrustedtohavethewisdomtoinvestigateit?Andmorebecausethesethoughtshadmadehimupsetthanthroughanyproperdecision,heswanghimselfwithallhisforceoutofthebed.Therewasaloudthump,butitwasn’treallyaloudnoise.Hisfallwassoftenedalittlebythecarpet,andGregor’sbackwasalsomoreelasticthanhehadthought,whichmadethesoundmuffledandnottoonoticeable.Hehadnotheldhisheadcarefullyenough,though,andhititashefell;annoyedandinpain,heturneditandrubbeditagainstthecarpet.
“Something’sfallendowninthere”,saidthechiefclerkintheroomontheleft.Gregortriedtoimaginewhethersomethingofthesortthathadhappenedtohimtodaycouldeverhappentothechiefclerktoo;youhadtoconcedethatitwaspossible.Butasifingruffreplytothisquestion,thechiefclerk’sfirmfootstepsinhishighlypolishedbootscouldnowbeheardintheadjoiningroom.
