In the empty Courtroom - The Student - The Offices
Everydayoverthefollowingweek,K.expectedanothersummonstoarrive,hecouldnotbelievethathisrejectionofanymorehearingshadbeentakenliterally,andwhentheexpectedsummonsreallyhadnotcomebySaturdayeveninghetookittomeanthathewasexpected,withoutbeingtold,toappearatthesameplaceatthesametime.SoonSunday,hesetoutoncemoreinthesamedirection,goingwithouthesitationupthestepsandthroughthecorridors;someofthepeoplerememberedhimandgreetedhimfromtheirdoorways,buthenolongerneededtoaskanyonethewayandsoonarrivedattherightdoor.Itwasopenedassoonasheknockedand,payingnoattentiontothewomanhehadseenlasttimewhowasstandingatthedoorway,hewasabouttogostraightintotheadjoiningroomwhenshesaidtohim"There’snosessiontoday"."Whatdoyoumean;nosession?"heasked,unabletobelieveit.Butthewomanpersuadedhimbyopeningthedoortothenextroom.Itwasindeedempty,andlookedevenmoredismalemptythanithadthepreviousSunday.Onthepodiumstoodthetableexactlyasithadbeenbeforewithafewbookslayingonit."CanIhavealookatthosebooks?"askedK.,notbecausehewasespeciallycuriousbutsothathewouldnothavecomefornothing."No,"saidthewomanasshere-closedthedoor,"that’snotallowed.Thosebooksbelongtotheexaminingjudge.""Isee,"saidK.