Превращение

           Gregorhadwantedtogiveafullanswerandexplaineverything,butinthecircumstancescontentedhimselfwithsaying:“Yes,mother,yes,thank-you,I’mgettingupnow.”ThechangeinGregor’svoiceprobablycouldnotbenoticedoutsidethroughthewoodendoor,ashismotherwassatisfiedwiththisexplanationandshuffledaway.ButthisshortconversationmadetheothermembersofthefamilyawarethatGregor,againsttheirexpectationswasstillathome,andsoonhisfathercameknockingatoneofthesidedoors,gently,butwithhisfist.“Gregor,Gregor”,hecalled,“what’swrong?”Andafterashortwhilehecalledagainwithawarningdeepnessinhisvoice:“Gregor!Gregor!”Attheothersidedoorhissistercameplaintively:“Gregor?Aren’tyouwell?Doyouneedanything?”Gregoransweredtobothsides:“I’mready,now”,makinganefforttoremoveallthestrangenessfromhisvoicebyenunciatingverycarefullyandputtinglongpausesbetweeneach,individualword.Hisfatherwentbacktohisbreakfast,buthissisterwhispered:“Gregor,openthedoor,Ibegofyou.”Gregor,however,hadnothoughtofopeningthedoor,andinsteadcongratulatedhimselfforhiscautioushabit,acquiredfromhistravelling,oflockingalldoorsatnightevenwhenhewasathome.

           Thefirstthinghewantedtodowastogetupinpeacewithoutbeingdisturbed,togetdressed,andmostofalltohavehisbreakfast.Onlythenwouldheconsiderwhattodonext,ashewaswellawarethathewouldnotbringhisthoughtstoanysensibleconclusionsbylyinginbed.