Metamorphosis | Page 6

night, my parents know about it, perhaps
better than me, I had a small symptom of it last night already. They
must have noticed it. I don't know why I didn't let you know at work!
But you always think you can get over an illness without staying at
home. Please, don't make my parents suffer! There's no basis for any of
the accusations you're making; nobody's ever said a word to me about
any of these things. Maybe you haven't read the latest contracts I sent in.
I'll set off with the eight o'clock train, as well, these few hours of rest
have given me strength. You don't need to wait, sir; I'll be in the office
soon after you, and please be so good as to tell that to the boss and
recommend me to him!" And while Gregor gushed out these words,
hardly knowing what he was saying, he made his way over to the chest
of drawers - this was easily done, probably because of the practise he
had already had in bed - where he now tried to get himself upright. He
really did want to open the door, really did want to let them see him
and to speak with the chief clerk; the others were being so insistent, and
he was curious to learn what they would say when they caught sight of
him. If they were shocked then it would no longer be Gregor's
responsibility and he could rest. If, however, they took everything
calmly he would still have no reason to be upset, and if he hurried he
really could be at the station for eight o'clock. The first few times he
tried to climb up on the smooth chest of drawers he just slid down
again, but he finally gave himself one last swing and stood there
upright; the lower part of his body was in serious pain but he no longer
gave any attention to it. Now he let himself fall against the back of a
nearby chair and held tightly to the edges of it with his little legs. By
now he had also calmed down, and kept quiet so that he could listen to
what the chief clerk was saying.
"Did you understand a word of all that?" the chief clerk asked his
parents, "surely he's not trying to make fools of us". "Oh, God!" called
his mother, who was already in tears, "he could be seriously ill and

we're making him suffer. Grete! Grete!" she then cried. "Mother?" his
sister called from the other side. They communicated across Gregor's
room. "You'll have to go for the doctor straight away. Gregor is ill.
Quick, get the doctor. Did you hear the way Gregor spoke just now?"
"That was the voice of an animal", said the chief clerk, with a calmness
that was in contrast with his mother's screams. "Anna! Anna!" his
father called into the kitchen through the entrance hall, clapping his
hands, "get a locksmith here, now!" And the two girls, their skirts
swishing, immediately ran out through the hall, wrenching open the
front door of the flat as they went. How had his sister managed to get
dressed so quickly? There was no sound of the door banging shut again;
they must have left it open; people often do in homes where something
awful has happened.
Gregor, in contrast, had become much calmer. So they couldn't
understand his words any more, although they seemed clear enough to
him, clearer than before - perhaps his ears had become used to the
sound. They had realised, though, that there was something wrong with
him, and were ready to help. The first response to his situation had
been confident and wise, and that made him feel better. He felt that he
had been drawn back in among people, and from the doctor and the
locksmith he expected great and surprising achievements - although he
did not really distinguish one from the other. Whatever was said next
would be crucial, so, in order to make his voice as clear as possible, he
coughed a little, but taking care to do this not too loudly as even this
might well sound different from the way that a human coughs and he
was no longer sure he could judge this for himself. Meanwhile, it had
become very quiet in the next room. Perhaps his parents were sat at the
table whispering with the chief clerk, or perhaps they were all pressed
against the door and listening.
Gregor slowly pushed his way over to the door with the chair. Once
there he let go of it and threw himself onto the door, holding himself
upright against it using the adhesive on the tips of his legs. He rested
there a little while to