Превращение
I
IfGregorhadonlybeenallowedtoturnroundhewouldhavebeenbackinhisroomstraightaway,buthewasafraidthatifhetookthetimetodothathisfatherwouldbecomeimpatient,andtherewasthethreatofalethalblowtohisbackorheadfromthestickinhisfather’shandanymoment.Eventually,though,Gregorrealisedthathehadnochoiceashesaw,tohisdisgust,thathewasquiteincapableofgoingbackwardsinastraightline;sohebegan,asquicklyaspossibleandwithfrequentanxiousglancesathisfather,toturnhimselfround.Itwentveryslowly,butperhapshisfatherwasabletoseehisgoodintentionsashedidnothingtohinderhim,infactnowandthenheusedthetipofhissticktogivedirectionsfromadistanceastowhichwaytoturn.Ifonlyhisfatherwouldstopthatunbearablehissing!ItwasmakingGregorquiteconfused.Whenhehadnearlyfinishedturninground,stilllisteningtothathissing,hemadeamistakeandturnedhimselfbackalittlethewayhehadjustcome.Hewaspleasedwhenhefinallyhadhisheadinfrontofthedoorway,butthensawthatitwastoonarrow,andhisbodywastoobroadtogetthroughitwithoutfurtherdifficulty.Inhispresentmood,itobviouslydidnotoccurtohisfathertoopentheotherofthedoubledoorssothatGregorwouldhaveenoughspacetogetthrough.HewasmerelyfixedontheideathatGregorshouldbegotbackintohisroomasquicklyaspossible.NorwouldheeverhaveallowedGregorthetimetogethimselfuprightaspreparationforgettingthroughthedoorway