Превращение
I
Andevenifhedidcatchthetrainhewouldnotavoidhisboss’sangerastheofficeassistantwouldhavebeentheretoseethefiveo’clocktraingo,hewouldhaveputinhisreportaboutGregor’snotbeingtherealongtimeago.Theofficeassistantwastheboss’sman,spineless,andwithnounderstanding.Whataboutifhereportedsick?ButthatwouldbeextremelystrainedandsuspiciousasinfiveyearsofserviceGregorhadneveronceyetbeenill.Hisbosswouldcertainlycomeroundwiththedoctorfromthemedicalinsurancecompany,accusehisparentsofhavingalazyson,andacceptthedoctor’srecommendationnottomakeanyclaimasthedoctorbelievedthatno-onewaseverillbutthatmanywereworkshy.Andwhat’smore,wouldhehavebeenentirelywronginthiscase?Gregordidinfact,apartfromexcessivesleepinessaftersleepingforsolong,feelcompletelywellandevenfeltmuchhungrierthanusual.
Hewasstillhurriedlythinkingallthisthrough,unabletodecidetogetoutofthebed,whentheclockstruckquartertoseven.Therewasacautiousknockatthedoornearhishead.“Gregor”,somebodycalled—itwashismother—“it’squartertoseven.Didn’tyouwanttogosomewhere?”Thatgentlevoice!Gregorwasshockedwhenheheardhisownvoiceanswering,itcouldhardlyberecognisedasthevoicehehadhadbefore.Asiffromdeepinsidehim,therewasapainfulanduncontrollablesqueakingmixedinwithit,thewordscouldbemadeoutatfirstbutthentherewasasortofechowhichmadethemunclear,leavingthehearerunsurewhetherhehadheardproperlyornot.
