Превращение
II
Hebecamenoticeablyshortofbreath,eveninhisearlierlifehislungshadnotbeenveryreliable.Now,ashelurchedaboutinhiseffortstomusterallthestrengthhecouldforrunninghecouldhardlykeephiseyesopen;histhoughtsbecametooslowforhimtothinkofanyotherwayofsavinghimselfthanrunning;healmostforgotthatthewallswerethereforhimtousealthough,here,theywereconcealedbehindcarefullycarvedfurniturefullofnotchesandprotrusions—then,rightbesidehim,lightlytossed,somethingflewdownandrolledinfrontofhim.Itwasanapple;thenanotheroneimmediatelyflewathim;Gregorfrozeinshock;therewasnolongeranypointinrunningashisfatherhaddecidedtobombardhim.Hehadfilledhispocketswithfruitfromthebowlonthesideboardandnow,withouteventakingthetimeforcarefulaim,threwoneappleafteranother.Theselittle,redapplesrolledaboutonthefloor,knockingintoeachotherasiftheyhadelectricmotors.AnapplethrownwithoutmuchforceglancedagainstGregor’sbackandslidoffwithoutdoinganyharm.Anotheronehowever,immediatelyfollowingit,hitsquarelyandlodgedinhisback;Gregorwantedtodraghimselfaway,asifhecouldremovethesurprising,theincrediblepainbychanginghisposition;buthefeltasifnailedtothespotandspreadhimselfout,allhissensesinconfusion