Процес
In the Cathedral
Itwouldnothavebeendifficultforhimtoturndownmostofthesejobs,buthedidnotdaretodosobecause,ifhisfearshadtheslightestfoundation,turningthejobsdownwouldhavebeenanacknowledgementofthem.Forthisreason,heneverdemurredfromacceptingthem,andevenwhenhewasaskedtogoonatiringbusinesstriplastingtwodayshesaidnothingabouthavingtogooutintherainyautumnweatherwhenhehadaseverechill,justinordertoavoidtheriskofnotbeingaskedtogo.When,witharagingheadache,hearrivedbackfromthistriphelearnedthathehadbeenchosentoaccompanytheItalianbusinesscontactthefollowingday.Thetemptationforoncetoturnthejobdownwasverygreat,especiallyasithadnodirectconnectionwithbusiness,buttherewasnodenyingthatsocialobligationstowardsthisbusinesscontactwereinthemselvesimportantenough,onlynotforK.,whoknewquitewellthatheneededsomesuccessesatworkifhewastomaintainhispositionthereandthat,ifhefailedinthat,itwouldnothelphimevenifthisItaliansomehowfoundhimquitecharming;hedidnotwanttoberemovedfromhisworkplaceforevenoneday,asthefearofnotbeingallowedbackinwastoogreat,heknewfullwellthatthefearwasexaggeratedbutitstillmadehimanxious.However,inthiscaseitwasalmostimpossibletothinkofanacceptableexcuse,hisknowledgeofItalianwasnotgreatbutstillgoodenough;thedecidingfactorwasthatK.
