Превращение

           Underhissister’sexperiencedhand,thepillowsandcoversonthebedsflewupandwereputintoorderandshehadalreadyfinishedmakingthebedsandslippedoutagainbeforethethreegentlemenhadreachedtheroom.Gregor’sfatherseemedsoobsessedwithwhathewasdoingthatheforgotalltherespectheowedtohistenants.Heurgedthemandpressedthemuntil,whenhewasalreadyatthedooroftheroom,themiddleofthethreegentlemenshoutedlikethunderandstampedhisfootandtherebybroughtGregor’sfathertoahalt.“Ideclarehereandnow”,hesaid,raisinghishandandglancingatGregor’smotherandsistertogaintheirattentiontoo,“thatwithregardtotherepugnantconditionsthatprevailinthisflatandwiththisfamily”—herehelookedbrieflybutdecisivelyatthefloor—“Igiveimmediatenoticeonmyroom.ForthedaysthatIhavebeenlivinghereIwill,ofcourse,paynothingatall,onthecontraryIwillconsiderwhethertoproceedwithsomekindofactionfordamagesfromyou,andbelievemeitwouldbeveryeasytosetoutthegroundsforsuchanaction.”Hewassilentandlookedstraightaheadasifwaitingforsomething.Andindeed,histwofriendsjoinedinwiththewords:“Andwealsogiveimmediatenotice.”Withthat,hetookholdofthedoorhandleandslammedthedoor.

           Gregor’sfatherstaggeredbacktohisseat,feelinghiswaywithhishands,andfellintoit;itlookedasifhewasstretchinghimselfoutforhisusualeveningnapbutfromtheuncontrolledwayhisheadkeptnoddingitcouldbeseenthathewasnotsleepingatall.