Превращение

           Atfirstshewouldcalltohimasshedidsowithwordsthatsheprobablyconsideredfriendly,suchas“comeonthen,youolddung-beetle!”,or“lookattheolddung-beetlethere!”Gregorneverrespondedtobeingspokentointhatway,butjustremainedwherehewaswithoutmovingasifthedoorhadneverevenbeenopened.Ifonlytheyhadtoldthischarwomantocleanuphisroomeverydayinsteadoflettingherdisturbhimfornoreasonwhenevershefeltlikeit!Oneday,earlyinthemorningwhileaheavyrainstruckthewindowpanes,perhapsindicatingthatspringwascoming,shebegantospeaktohiminthatwayonceagain.Gregorwassoresentfulofitthathestartedtomovetowardher,hewasslowandinfirm,butitwaslikeakindofattack.Insteadofbeingafraid,thecharwomanjustlifteduponeofthechairsfromnearthedoorandstoodtherewithhermouthopen,clearlyintendingnottoclosehermouthuntilthechairinherhandhadbeenslammeddownintoGregor’sback.“Aren’tyoucominganycloser,then?”,sheaskedwhenGregorturnedroundagain,andshecalmlyputthechairbackinthecorner.

           Gregorhadalmostentirelystoppedeating.Onlyifhehappenedtofindhimselfnexttothefoodthathadbeenpreparedforhimhemighttakesomeofitintohismouthtoplaywithit,leaveitthereafewhoursandthen,moreoftenthannot,spititoutagain.Atfirsthethoughtitwasdistressatthestateofhisroomthatstoppedhimeating,buthehadsoongotusedtothechangesmadethere.