Превращение
I
Thensheunfoldedherarms,tooktwostepsforwardtowardsGregorandsankdownontothefloorintoherskirtsthatspreadthemselvesoutaroundherasherheaddisappeareddownontoherbreast.Hisfatherlookedhostile,andclenchedhisfistsasifwantingtoknockGregorbackintohisroom.Thenhelookeduncertainlyroundthelivingroom,coveredhiseyeswithhishandsandweptsothathispowerfulchestshook.
SoGregordidnotgointotheroom,butleantagainsttheinsideoftheotherdoorwhichwasstillheldboltedinplace.Inthiswayonlyhalfofhisbodycouldbeseen,alongwithhisheadaboveitwhichheleantovertoonesideashepeeredoutattheothers.Meanwhilethedayhadbecomemuchlighter;partoftheendless,grey-blackbuildingontheothersideofthestreet—whichwasahospital—couldbeseenquiteclearlywiththeaustereandregularlineofwindowspiercingitsfaçade;therainwasstillfalling,nowthrowingdownlarge,individualdropletswhichhitthegroundoneatatime.Thewashingupfrombreakfastlayonthetable;therewassomuchofitbecause,forGregor’sfather,breakfastwasthemostimportantmealofthedayandhewouldstretchitoutforseveralhoursashesatreadinganumberofdifferentnewspapers.OnthewallexactlyoppositetherewasphotographofGregorwhenhewasalieutenantinthearmy,hisswordinhishandandacarefreesmileonhisfaceashecalledforthrespectforhisuniformandbearing.