Процес
First Cross-examination
Infrontofapumpstoodaweak,younggirlinabedjacketwho,asthewaterflowedintohercan,lookedatK.Therewasapieceofropestretchedbetweentwowindowsinacorneroftheyard,withsomewashinghangingonittodry.Amanstoodbelowitcallingoutinstructionstodirecttheworkbeingdone.
K.wentovertothestairwaytogettotheroomwherethehearingwastotakeplace,butthenstoodstillagainasbesidesthesestepshecouldseethreeotherstairwayentrances,andtherealsoseemedtobeasmallpassagewayattheendoftheyardleadingintoasecondyard.Itirritatedhimthathehadnotbeengivenmoreprecisedirectionstotheroom,itmeanttheywereeitherbeingespeciallyneglectfulwithhimorespeciallyindifferent,andhedecidedtomakethatcleartothemveryloudlyandveryunambiguously.Intheendhedecidedtoclimbupthestairs,histhoughtsplayingonsomethingthatherememberedthepoliceman,Willem,sayingtohim;thatthecourtisattractedbytheguilt,fromwhichitfollowedthatthecourtroommustbeonthestairwaythatK.selectedbychance.
Ashewentuphedisturbedalargegroupofchildrenplayingonthestairswholookedathimashesteppedthroughtheirrows."NexttimeIcomehere,"hesaidtohimself,"Imusteitherbringsweetswithmetomakethemlikemeorasticktohitthemwith.
