Превращение
III
Wecan’tallworkashardaswehavetoandthencomehometobetorturedlikethis,wecan’tendureit.Ican’tendureitanymore.”Andshebrokeoutsoheavilyintearsthattheyfloweddownthefaceofhermother,andshewipedthemawaywithmechanicalhandmovements.
“Mychild”,saidherfatherwithsympathyandobviousunderstanding,“whatarewetodo?”
Hissisterjustshruggedhershouldersasasignofthehelplessnessandtearsthathadtakenholdofher,displacingherearliercertainty.
“Ifhecouldjustunderstandus”,saidhisfatheralmostasaquestion;hissistershookherhandvigorouslythroughhertearsasasignthatofthattherewasnoquestion.
“Ifhecouldjustunderstandus”,repeatedGregor’sfather,closinghiseyesinacceptanceofhissister’scertaintythatthatwasquiteimpossible,“thenperhapswecouldcometosomekindofarrangementwithhim.Butasitis...”
“It’sgottogo”,shoutedhissister,“that’stheonlyway,Father.You’vegottogetridoftheideathatthat’sGregor.We’veonlyharmedourselvesbybelievingitforsolong.HowcanthatbeGregor?IfitwereGregorhewouldhaveseenlongagothatit’snotpossibleforhumanbeingstolivewithananimallikethatandhewouldhavegoneofhisownfreewill.Wewouldn’thaveabrotheranymore,then,butwecouldcarryonwithourlivesandrememberhimwithrespect.Asitisthisanimalispersecutingus,it’sdrivenoutourtenants,itobviouslywantstotakeoverthewholeflatandforceustosleeponthestreets.
