Превращение
III
Father,look,justlook”,shesuddenlyscreamed,“he’sstartingagain!”Inheralarm,whichwastotallybeyondGregor’scomprehension,hissisterevenabandonedhismotherasshepushedherselfvigorouslyoutofherchairasifmorewillingtosacrificeherownmotherthanstayanywherenearGregor.Sherushedovertobehindherfather,whohadbecomeexcitedmerelybecauseshewasandstooduphalfraisinghishandsinfrontofGregor’ssisterasiftoprotecther.
ButGregorhadhadnointentionoffrighteninganyone,leastofallhissister.Allhehaddonewasbegintoturnroundsothathecouldgobackintohisroom,althoughthatwasinitselfquitestartlingashispain-wrackedconditionmeantthatturningroundrequiredagreatdealofeffortandhewasusinghisheadtohelphimselfdoit,repeatedlyraisingitandstrikingitagainstthefloor.Hestoppedandlookedround.Theyseemedtohaverealisedhisgoodintentionandhadonlybeenalarmedbriefly.Nowtheyalllookedathiminunhappysilence.Hismotherlayinherchairwithherlegsstretchedoutandpressedagainsteachother,hereyesnearlyclosedwithexhaustion;hissistersatnexttohisfatherwithherarmsaroundhisneck.
“Maybenowthey’llletmeturnround”,thoughtGregorandwentbacktowork.Hecouldnothelppantingloudlywiththeeffortandhadsometimestostopandtakearest.No-onewasmakinghimrushanymore,everythingwasleftuptohim.Assoonashehadfinallyfinishedturningroundhebegantomovestraightahead.
