Процес
Lawyer - Manufacturer - Painter
Downbythestaircasetherewasasmallchildlyingonitsbellycrying,butitcouldhardlybeheardbecauseofthenoisefromametal-workshopontheothersideoftheentrancehall,drowningoutanyothersound.Thedoortotheworkshopwasopen,threeworkersstoodinacirclearoundsomepieceofworkthattheywerebeatingwithhammers.Alargetinplatehungonthewall,castingapalelightthatpusheditswayinbetweentwooftheworkers,lightinguptheirfacesandtheirwork-aprons.K.didnomorethanglanceatanyofthesethings,hewantedtogetthingsoverwithhereassoonaspossible,toexchangejustafewwordstofindouthowthingsstoodwiththepainterandgostraightbacktothebank.Evenifhehadjustsometinysuccesshereitwouldstillhaveagoodeffectonhisworkatthebankforthatday.Onthethirdfloorhehadtoslowdownhispace,hewasquiteoutofbreath-thesteps,justliketheheightofeachfloor,weremuchhigherthantheyneededtobeandhe’dbeentoldthatthepainterlivedrightupintheattic.Theairwasalsoquiteoppressive,therewasnoproperstairwellandthenarrowstepswereclosedinbywallsonbothsideswithnomorethanasmall,highwindowhereandthere.JustasK.pausedforawhilesomeyounggirlsranoutofoneoftheflatsandrushedhigherupthestairs,laughing.K.
