K.’s uncle - Leni

           Oneafternoon-K.wasverybusyatthetime,gettingthepostready-K.’sUncleKarl,asmallcountrylandowner,cameintotheroom,pushinghiswaybetweentwoofthestaffwhowerebringinginsomepapers.K.hadlongexpectedhisuncletoappear,butthesightofhimnowshockedK.farlessthantheprospectofithaddonealongtimebefore.Hisunclewasboundtocome,K.hadbeensureofthatforaboutamonth.Healreadythoughtatthetimehecouldseehowhisunclewouldarrive,slightlybowed,hisbatteredpanamahatinhislefthand,hisrighthandalreadystretchedoutoverthedesklongbeforehewascloseenoughasherushedcarelesslytowardsK.knockingovereverythingthatwasinhisway.K.’sunclewasalwaysinahurry,ashesufferedfromtheunfortunatebeliefthathehadanumberofthingstodowhilehewasinthebigcityandhadtosettlealloftheminoneday-hisvisitswereonlyeverforoneday-andatthesametimethoughthecouldnotforgoanyconversationorpieceofbusinessorpleasurethatmightarisebychance.UncleKarlwasK.’sformerguardian,andsoK.wasduty-boundtohelphiminallofthisaswellastoofferhimabedforthenight."I’mhauntedbyaghostfromthecountry",hewouldsay.

           Assoonastheyhadgreetedeachother-K.hadinvitedhimtositinthearmchairbutUncleKarlhadnotimeforthat-hesaidhewantedtospeakbrieflywithK.inprivate."Itisnecessary,"hesaidwithatiredgulp,"itisnecessaryformypeaceofmind."K.