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Page 4
Then the chief clerk called "Good morning, Mr. Samsa".
"He isn't well", said his mother to the chief clerk, while
his father continued to speak through the door. "He isn't
well, please believe me. Why else would Gregor have missed
a train! The lad only ever thinks about the business. It
nearly makes me cross the way he never goes out in the
evenings; he's been in town for a week now but stayed home
every evening. He sits with us in the kitchen and just
reads the paper or studies train timetables. His idea of
relaxation is working with his fretsaw. He's made a little
frame, for instance, it only took him two or three evenings,
you'll be amazed how nice it is; it's hanging up in his
room; you'll see it as soon as Gregor opens the door.
Anyway, I'm glad you're here; we wouldn't have been able to
get Gregor to open the door by ourselves; he's so stubborn;
and I'm sure he isn't well, he said this morning that he is,
but he isn't."
"I'll be there in a moment", said Gregor slowly and
thoughtfully, but without moving so that he would not miss
any word of the conversation. "Well I can't think of any
other way of explaining it, Mrs. Samsa", said the chief
clerk, "I hope it's nothing serious. But on the other hand,
I must say that if we people in commerce ever become
slightly unwell then, fortunately or unfortunately as you
like, we simply have to overcome it because of business
considerations." "Can the chief clerk come in to see you
now then?", asked his father impatiently, knocking at the
door again. "No", said Gregor. In the room on his right
there followed a painful silence; in the room on his left
his sister began to cry.
So why did his sister not go and join the others? She had
probably only just got up and had not even begun to get
dressed. And why was she crying? Was it because he had not
got up, and had not let the chief clerk in, because he was
in danger of losing his job and if that happened his boss
would once more pursue their parents with the same demands
as before? There was no need to worry about things like
that yet. Gregor was still there and had not the slightest
intention of abandoning his family. For the time being he
just lay there on the carpet, and no-one who knew the
condition he was in would seriously have expected him to let
the chief clerk in. It was only a minor discourtesy, and a
suitable excuse could easily be found for it later on, it
was not something for which Gregor could be sacked on the
spot. And it seemed to Gregor much more sensible to leave
him now in peace instead of disturbing him with talking at
him and crying. But the others didn't know what was
happening, they were worried, that would excuse their
behaviour. The chief clerk now raised his voice, "Mr.
Samsa", he called to him, "what is wrong? You barricade
yourself in your room, give us no more than yes or no for an
answer, you are causing serious and unnecessary concern to
your parents and you fail - and I mention this just by the
way - you fail to carry out your business duties in a way
that is quite unheard of. I'm speaking here on behalf of
your parents and of your employer, and really must request a
clear and immediate explanation. I am astonished, quite
astonished. I thought I knew you as a calm and sensible
person, and now you suddenly seem to be showing off with
peculiar whims. This morning, your employer did suggest a
possible reason for your failure to appear, it's true - it
had to do with the money that was recently entrusted to you
- but I came near to giving him my word of honour that that
could not be the right explanation. But now that I see your
incomprehensible stubbornness I no longer feel any wish
whatsoever to intercede on your behalf. And nor is your
position all that secure. I had originally intended to say
all this to you in private, but since you cause me to waste
my time here for no good reason I don't see why your parents
should not also learn of it. Your turnover has been very
unsatisfactory of late; I grant you that it's not the time
of year to do especially good business, we recognise that;
but there simply is no time of year to do no business at
all, Mr. Samsa, we cannot allow there to be."
"But Sir", called Gregor, beside himself and forgetting all
else in the excitement, "I'll open up immediately, just a
moment. I'm slightly unwell, an attack of dizziness, I
haven't been able to get up. I'm still in bed now. I'm
quite fresh again now, though. I'm just getting out of bed.
Just a moment. Be patient! It's not quite as easy as I'd
thought. I'm quite alright now, though. It's shocking,
what can suddenly happen to a person! I was quite alright
last 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.
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