FRANZ KAFKA

METAMORFOZ

TRADIKSION/ADAPTASION

PAR

DEV VIRAHSAWMY

APARTIR VERSION ANGLE

PAR

David Wyllie

Remersiman: The Project Gutenberg Collection

www.gutenberg.org

(enn ti extre)

Enn gramaten, ler Gregor Samsa so somey, trouble par kosmar terib, ti kase, li ti dekouver ki, lor so lili, li ti finn vinn enn bebet kouma enn kankretorti zean. Li ti alonze lor so ledo-lakok, e ler li ti lev so latet enn tigit li ti kapav get so vant maron ki ti enpe sorti e ki ti akot kouma tol kannle. So dra ti vinn tro tipti pou kouver so gro vant e koumadir li ti pre pou glise, tonbe. So bann lapat meg-meg konpare ar so lekor ti pe bat fol dan ler.

"Ki finn ariv mwa?" li ti panse. Pa ti enn rev sa. So lasam, enn lasam normal, enpe tipti kikfwa, ti pe repoz anpe ant kat miray familie. Lor latab ti ena enn koleksion santiyon latwal - Samsa ti enn revander anbilan - e lao lor miray ti ena enn foto ki li ti koupe dan enn revi e ki li ti met dan enn kad kouler larzan. Foto la ti montre enn madam ki ti ena enn sapo fourir, enn esarp fourir otour so likou. Li ti asiz drwat e li ti pe ris enn fouro fourir otour so lame ek avanbra ki ti leve ver dimoun ki pe get foto la.

Lerla Gregor get letan mosad par lafnet. Lapli ti pe tap lor vit e sa ti fer li tris. "Si mo redormi e bliye tousa", li ti panse, me li ti enkapab fer sa parski li ti abitie dormi lor so kote drwat e li pa ti pe kapav tourn so lekor. Mem li sey tourn so lekor ar tou so lafors adrwat, li ti pe retourn lor so ledo. Li ti finn seye omwen san fwa, ti ferm so lizie pou pa get so bann lapat mol-mol, e li ti arete ler li ti koumans santi, premie fwa kot so lapat, enn ti douler mat.

"Ayo Bondie", li ti panse, "ki kalite karyer fatigan mo finn swazir! Vwayaze, vwayaze toulezour. Fer biznes sa mannyer la li plis difisil ki fer biznes dan ou lakaz; azout lor la malediksion kan ou toultan lor larout, traka ki ou rat tren ki ou bizen pran, fay nouritir ki pa manze dan ler, zwenn toutsort kalite dimoun nenport ki ler me ar ki pa kapav etablir relasion dirab. Mo bien anvi avoy tousa ferfout." Li ti santi enn ti grate lor so vant; dousma, li ti ris so lekor lor so ledo pou apiy so latet lor dosie lili la; li ti trouv kot grate la ti ete; li ti kouver ar tipti pwen blan san konpran ki sa ti kapav ete; e ler li ti rod tous li ar enn so lapat, li ti bizen retir li deswit parski kouma li ti tous li, li ti gagn enn frison ki ti fer li tranble.

Li ti glise, retourn dan pozision avan. "Labitid lev boner touletan fer nou vinn kouyon." Li ti pe panse. "Enn dimoun bizen so somey. Ena revander anbilan ki pe viv dan lix. Souvan ler mo retourn dan pansiondfami gramaten pou fer kopi enn kontra, sa bann bon misie la pe ankor pe ennjoy zot tidezene. Si mwa mo fer sa mo patron koutpie mwa. Ki kone? Kikfwa samem mo bizen fer. Si mo pa ti ena pou okip mo paran, lontan mo ti pou fini demisione, mo ti pou rant dan so biro, dir li ki mo panse, dir li tou, dir li mo pli profon. Mo fer li sap lor sez tonbe. Komik sa! Asiz lor enn oter, koz ar sibaltern anba - sirtou ki bizen parfwa koz pre kot so zorey parski misie la li ase sourd. Ena lespwar. Kan mo'nn fini pey det mo paran dwa li - dan senk, sis an - samem ki mo pou fer. Lerla mo vir tou anbalao. Me aster mo bizen leve. Mo tren kit lagar senk-er."

Li get revey lor komod. "Bondie Mama!" li dir limem. Ti finn fini sizer-edmi e zegwi revey ti pe kontinie marse, ti fini depas sizer-edmi e ti ariv preske set-er mwen kenz. Revey la ti sone? Depi so lili li ti trouv bien kler ki li ti regle li lor kat-rer kouma ti dwatet; sirman li ti sone. Sa li sir me kimanier li ti dormi mem malgre tapaz ki li fer, fer meb tranble? Ti vre ki so somey ti bien trouble. Akoz samem kikfwa enn ti peryod somey profon ti anpes li tann revey sone. Ki li kapav fer la? Prosen tren pase set-er. Si li ti ole pran li, li ti bizen leve deswit, fer extra vit; me bann esantiyon ti an dezord lor latab e li pa ti santi li fit. Mem si li ti reysi pran tren set-er li pa ti pou evit koler so patron parski asistan-sef dan biro ti lagar e ti kone ki tren senk-er ti ale san Gregor e sir-sir depi lontan li ti finn fini fer so rapor. Asistan-sef ti mous misie la e li ti enn los servo lan. Si li ti pran enn sik. Sa ti pou paret bien lous parski pandan kenz an servis zame li ti finn pran enn sel zour sik. Apre, patron la ti pou vinn kot li ar dokter Lasirans Medikal; ti pou akiz so paran ki finn donn nesans enn fay pares; ti pou aksepte konsey dokter ki ti pou dir zot pa fer okenn kleym parski personn pa malad, ena zis bann zeb ki rod gagn kas san travay. Eski ti pou kapav dir li ti pe fer fos? Anfet Gregor ti ankor somey-somey parski li ti tro dormi me li ti fit e enn lafen loulou ti pe fer so vant grogne.

Pandan ki li ti pe reflesi lor tousa e ki li pa ti pe kapav pran desizion pou leve, pandil ti sonn set-er mwen kenz. Kikenn ti tap dousman lor laport pre kot so latet. "Gregor", kikenn ti dir - ti so mama sa - "Finn set-er mwen kenz. To pa ti ena pou sorti?" Touzour mem lavwa dou e zanti! Gregor ti gagn sok ler li ti tann so prop lavwa reponn; pa ti ditou kouma so lavwa normal. Koumadir depi profonder so lestoma ti ena enn grensman douler enkontrolab ki ti melanze ar so lavwa; bann mo, toufe dan enn eko, ti perdi klarte e ti vinn enkonpreansib dan zorey seki pe ekoute. Gregor ti anvi donn enn repons konple ar tou detay me ti prefer zis dir: "Wi, 'Ma, wi. Mersi! Mo pe leve la." Kikfwa sanzman dan so lavwa pa ti paret drol lot kote laport dibwa parski so mama, satisfe, ti trenn so lipie, ale. Me sa ti konversasion la ti fer lezot manm so fami realize ki Gregor ti ankor dan lakaz kan sa pa ti bizen koumsa e lor vites so papa vinn tap lor enn laport akote, zantiman me ar so koutpwen. "Gregor, Gregor", li ti kriye, "ki pe ariv twa?" Enpe pli tar li ti revini e sannfwala ti ena enn ton avertisman dan so lavwa: "Gregor! Gregor!" Kot lot laport so ser ti pe mirmire: "Gregor? To malad? Kapav ed twa? Gregor ti reponn toulede: "Mo'nn pare"; e li ti pe fer enn zefor spesial pou fer so lavwa paret normal par so fason koze e lespas ki li ti pe mete ant sak mo. So papa ti al terminn so tidezene, me so ti ser koz dousman kot zwen laport: "Gregor, ouver sa laport la, mo sipliy twa." Gregor pa ti ena okenn lentansion ouver laport la. Okontrer li ti pe felisit limem pou so bon labitid ki li ti devlope pandan so bann vwataz. Li ti toultan ferm so laport akle aswar, mem kan li ti kot li.

Premie zafer ki li ti kontan se leve anpe san ki dimoun deranz li, abiye e pran so tidezene. Apre naste ki li ti deside ki pou fer answit parski li ti bien konsian ki li pa ti pou kapav organiz so lespri si li ti res lor lili. Li ti rapel ki li ti finn souvan santi enn douler lor lili, koze kikfwa par dormi dan enn move pozision me sa ti dan so limazinasion. Li ti anvi kone ki manier so bann problem imaziner ti pou trouv lizour zordi. Li ti sir ki sa sanzman dan so lavwa ti zis premie sign ki li ti pe koumans gagn lerim, enn maladi ki souvan afekte bann revander anbilan.

Tir dra lor li ti enn zafer senp; li ti zis bizen gonfle so lestoma e li ti pou tonbe par limem. Me apre, tou ti vinn pli difisil parski li ti vinn bien-bien larz. Dan lepase li ti pou servi so de lebra ek lame pou soulev so lekor; me aster li ti ena zis enn ta ti lapat ki ti pe bat fol dan ler e ki li pa ti pe kapav kontrole. Si li ti ole kabos enn lapat, samem anpremie ti pou drese; ler li ti reysi kontrol enn, tou lezot ti pou fer seki zot anvi dan enn manier ki ti pe fer li dimal. "Sa pa kapav fer lor lili," Gregor ti panse, "alor, mo aret perdi letan".

Premie kiksoz li ti anvi se fer so lamwatie lekor anba sorti lor lili me kouma zame li ti finn trouv sa parti so lekor la, li pa ti kapav mazine kouma li ti ete; li ti koumadir sitan red ki pa ti kapav bouz li; li ti pe avanse dousman-dousman mem; finalman dan enn lelan kan brit-brit li ti sakouy so lekor ar enn extra gran lafors so lamwatie anba desann olie monte e ti tap for ar dosie anba; douler atros ki li ti santi ti fer li konpran ki kikfwa sa parti so lekor la ti plis sansib.

Sannkoutla li ti sey fer lamwatie so lekor lao sorti lor lili anpremie e ar boukou prekosion li ti tourn so latet sirlekote. Sa li ti reysi ase fasilman e malgre so larzer ek so pwa, lamas so lekor ti pe swiv direksion so latet. Me ler so latet ti andeor lili dan ler fre, li ti realize ki si li ti larg so lekor, peyna zes li ti pou bles so latet. Li ti blok so mouvman sek. Fale pa aster li nokawte limem; meyer res lor lili ki tom san konesans.

Li ti bizen fer boukou zefor pou kapav retourn dan pozision ki li ti ete okoumansman, me ler li ti pe repran so souf, e li ti pe get so bann lapat bat fol, may-may ant zot pli fouka ki avan, si sa ti posib, li ti kas so latet pou met enpe lord ek trankilite dan sa toufann la me abba. Li ti rapel limem ki li ti enn move zafer res lor lili e ki li ti bizen kapav liber limem nenport ki manier, e nenport ki pri ki bizen peye. Anmemtan li pa ti bliye fer limem rapel ki li ti bizen gard so kalm e pa fons dan nanye brit-brit kouma fouka. Normalman, dan bann sitiasion koumsa, li ti pou get dan direksion lafnet e explor lanvironnman pli lwen ki so lizie ti pou kapav amenn li, me pa pli lwen ki lot kote sime tou ti pe vinn flou akoz brouyar gramaten, e vi divan so lizie ti ni kapav konsol li, ni egey so lespri. "Finn deza set-er," li panse kan pandil sonn set-er, "set-er e brouyar ankor pe asiz lor lavil." Li ti res alonze lor lili ankor enn tipe letan, respir lantman koumadir enn silans-san-mouvman total ti pou fer tou revinn seki zot ti ete.

Me li ti dir limem: "Avan set-er kenz sone, peyna zes, mo pou finn fini kit sa lili la. E ver sa ler la, kikenn depi biro pou finn fini vinn get mo nouvel parski biro li ouver avan set-er." E la li ti koumans organiz li pou lans so lekor net e enn sel kou andeor lili. Si li reysi tom andeor lili la e gard so latet ot, li ti kapav pa bles li. Kouma so ledo ti bien dir, bien posib ki li pa ti pou gagn dimal ler li ti pou tom lor karpet. So gran traka se tapaz ki li ti pou fer, e malgre laport ferme, ti pou sirman boulvers lezot, sipa plis. Me pa ti ena lot sime; ti bizen pran risk.

Kan Gregor ti deza lamwatie andeor lili - nouvo metod la ti plis kouma enn badinaz ki veritab zefor; tou seki li ti'ena pou fer se roul gos, drwat - enn kou li ti reflesi ki kantite tousa ti pou pli fasil si kikenn ti vinn ed li. De dimoun for - li ti pe mazinn so papa ek so servant - ti pou plis ki ase; zot nek ti pou bizen pas zot lame anba so lakok torti, detas li ar lili, bes zot fardo ver sali, atann ar pasians ek swen ki li balans so lekor, sot lor sali kot, si tou pas bien, so bann ti lapat pou tini li. Eski vremem li ti bizen apel osekour memsi bann laport ferme akle? Malgre so sitiasion difisil, li pa ti kapav anpes enn sourir ler li ti pans tousa.

Apre enn tibout letan, li ti ariv telman dan bor ki li ti pou bien difisil tini lekilib si li ti bouz tro for. Ti finn ariv set-er dis e bien-bien vit li ti pou bizen pran enn desizion final. Lerlamem sonet kot laport lantre flat ti sone. "Sirman enn koleg travay", li ti panse, e li ti bouz fix malgre ki so bann lapat ti pe dans fol otour so lekor. Pandan enn tibout letan silans ti chombo tou. "Zot pa pe ouver laport", Gregor ti pe dir limem ar boukou lespwar fouka net. Normal, apre ti tann pa servant al ver laport e ouver li. Kouma li ti tann bann premie parol polites, Gregor ti kone kisannla sa - sef-komi limem. Kifer Gregor ti oblize travay pou enn konpagni kot zot tir lay lor tou ti detay? Eski tou travayer, san exsepsion, ti bann vwayou; eski pa ti ena omwen enn ki ti sitan lwayal ek devwe ki so konsians ti pou tortir li telman ki li ti pou enkapab kit so lili si li pa ti okip travay biro omwen de zertan dan gramaten? Ti kapav avoy enn treyni vinn gete - si tousa ti vremem neseser. Eski sef-komi limem ti bizen vini? Eski zot ti bizen dir enn fami antie, pov inosan, ki sitiasion la ti telman delika ki ti bizen dispach enn sef-komi pou fer lanket? Sa ti boulvers li telman ki san panse li ti balans so lekor telman for ki li ti sap lor lili. Ti ena enn son toufe me pa ti enn gran tapaz. Karpet la ti amorti sok la enpe e ledo Gregor ti plis soup ki li ti panse e tapaz so tonbe ti toufe e neglizab. Me li pa ti tini so latet lao ki ti tap for lor sali ler li ti tonbe. Tousa ti agas li e anplis douler ti pe pens li, li ti tourn so latet e frot li lor karpet.

"Kiksoz finn tonbe ladan, sef-komi ti dir dan lasam agos. Gregor sey mazine si enn zafer kouma ti finn ariv li ti kapav ariv sef-komi la; bizen aksepte ki sa ti bien posib. Kouma enn repons sovaz, ti tann pa misie la dan so bot glase dan lasam akote. Dan lasam adrwat so ser ti pe mirmire pou enform li: "Gregor, sef-komi finn vini." "Wi, mo kone", Gregor ti dir limem me li pa ti oze lev so lavwa pou ki so ser tande.

"Gregor", so papa ti pe koze dan lasam agos, "Misie Komi Ansef finn vinn gete kifer to pa finn pran tren pli boner. Nou pa kone ki pou dir li. Detout fason se ar twa ki li anvi koze. Ouver laport mo garson. Mo sir li pa pou mayn dezord dan to lasam." Lerla sef-komi ti dir "Bonzour Misie Samsa". "Li pa bien", so mama ti dir sef-komi la pandan ki so papa ti pe kontinie koze atraver laport. "Kwar mwa, li pa bien. Sinon li pa ti pou rat so tren. Sa piti la toultan nek pans so travay. Parfwa mo ankoler ar li parski zame li sorti; li la depi enn semenn e touletanto li res lakaz, asiz ar nou dan lakaz, lir lagazet ou etidie taymteble tren. So obi se travay ar so sizo-fen. Li finn fer enn kad anbwa; ase vit, de, trwa lapremidi; zoli mo dir ou; li lor miray so lasam; ou pou trouve ler li ouver so laport. Mo kontan ou la; nou, nou pa ti pou kapav fer Gregor ouver so laport; ala li teti la; mo sir li pa bien; gramaten li ti dir li korek, mwa mo pa kwar." "Enn timama mo vini", Gregor ti dir lantman, aplenn reflexion me li pa ti bouze pou kapav tann tou bann mo dan konversasion ki ti pe deroule. "Sel explikasion posib, Madam Samsa", sef-komi la ti dir, "Mo zis espere li pa tro grav. Me mo bizen dir ki si enn dimoun dan nou biznes pa santi li tro bien, erezman ou malerezman, kouma ou'le, nou oblize sirmont nou endispozision parski biznes pas avan tou." "Eski Komi Ansef kapav rantre pou get twa?", so papa ti dimande avek ensistans e anmemtan li ti pe tap lor laport la for-for. "Non", Gregor ti dir. Dan lasam adrwat ti ena enn silans anbarasan; dan lasam adrwat so ser ti koumans plore.

Kifer so ser pa ti al zwenn bannla? Kikfwa li ti fek leve e li pa ti prezantab. Be kifer li ti pe plore? Eski se parski li, Gregor, pa ti leve pou fer sef-komi rantre, parski li ti pou perdi so job e si sa ti arive, patron Gregor ti pou tom lor so paran ar bann reklamasion ki li ti abitie fer? Pa neseser fatig latet ar bann zafer koumsa. Gregor ti touzour la e li pa ti pou abandonn so fami. Pou lemoman li ti lor karpet e seki ti kone dan ki douk li ti ete pa ti pou expek li al ouver laport pou fer sef-komi rantre. Sa li pa ti enn mankman grav, e ti bien fasil pou trouv enn exkiz pli tar; Gregor pa ti pou perdi so travay anplas akoz sa. Pou Gregor li ti pli rezonab fou li lape olie deranz li ar zot koze ek zot plore. Me bannla pa ti kone ki pe arive, zot ti pe trakase. Kapav konpran.

Sef-komi ti lev so lavwa, "Misie Samsa", li ti dir, "ki pe arive? Ou ferm ou dan ou lasam; reponn par wi ek non, ou pe fer ou paran trakase pou nanye e ou pa pe - mo pe dir sa anpasan - fer seki ou travay dimann ou fer; enn veritab skandal. Mo pe koz ar ou onom ou paran ek ou patron e mo oblize dimann ou enn explikasion kler ek direk. Mo etone, extra etone. Mo ti toultan panse ki ou ti enn dimoun kalm ek rezonab e ki mo dekouver? Ou kaprisie. Zordi gramaten ou patron ti ensinie ki rezon kifer ou ti finn absan, kwar mwa, se parski ti donn ou enn som enportan pou garde, me mo ti pare pou fer serman ki ou pa sa kalite dimoun la. Me aster ki mo finn temwen ou antetman ridikil, mo pa anvi ditou defann ou. Mo kwar osi ki ou job li dan koutvan. Mo ti anvi dir ou tousa an prive me kouma ou anvi fer mwa perdi mo letan mo trouv normal ki mo met ou paran okouran. Resaman ou reset finn bien move; mo dakor ki li enn move moman pou fer bilan, dakor; me Misie Samsa, li pa enn rezon pou ki biznes bat lamok; sa nou pa pou tolere".

"Ekout mwa Misie", Gregor dir, - li ti sap lor kal e li ti bliye tou leres dan so eksitasion - atann mo pe ouver la. Mo pa tro bien, vertiz, mo pa ti pe kapav leve, mo ankor lor lili. Me mo pe redrese. Bien drol seki kapav ariv kikenn enn kou antret. Pourtan yer swar mo ti foul korek, dimann mo paran, zot pli kone ki mwa, yer swar mo ti santi enn ti febles. Sirman zot ti remarke. Pa kone kifer mo pa ti les zot dan biro kone. Nou toultan kwar ki nou pou bien san bizen absan dan travay. Silvouple pa fer mo paran soufer! Ou bann akizasion zot pa repoz lor nanye; personn pa finn koz sa kalite koze la ar mwa. Kikfwa ou pa finn lir bann dernie kontra ki mo finn avoy biro. Mo pe pran tren wit-er, mo dir ou, sa ti repo anplis la finn redonn mwa lafors. Misie, pa neseser atann; mo pou ariv biro zis apre ou; rann mwa enn servis pas sa mesaz la nou patron e dir li mo fer li konpliman!"

Pandan ki Gregor ti pe vomi sa bann mo la, san kone ki li ti pe dir, li ti ariv kot komod la - sa pa ti difisil avek lantrennman ki li ti fer lor lili - kot li ti sey dibout drwat. Li ti bien anvi ouver laport la; bien anvi les zot trouv li kouma li ete e koz ar sef-komi; bann lezot ti pe telman ensiste e li ti bien anvi kone ki zot ti pou dir ler zot ti finn trouve ki li ti finn devini. Si zot ti gagn sok, lerla li pa ti pou responsabilite Gregor e li ti pou kapav al repoze. Me si toutfwa zot ti gard zot kalm, li ,Gregor, pa ti pou gagn drwa boulverse e si li ti fer vit li ti pou kapav pran tren wit-er. Okoumansman ler li ti pe sey akros ar komod verni la, li ti pe glise, tonbe, me finalman li ti fer enn mouvman sek e li ti reysi dibout drwat; so lamwatie anba ti pe fermal me li ti desid pou pa pran kont. Lerla li ti les so lekor tom kont dosie enn sez ki ti pre kot li e ar so bann ti lapat li ti may for rebor sez la. Tousa ti ed li pou kalme limem e res trankil pou ki li ti kapav tann seki sef-komi ti pe dir.

"Zot finn konpran kiksoz, zot?" sef-komi ti dimann paran Gregor, "mo espere li pa pe fer boufon ar nou". "Ayo Bondie!" so mama ti dir; li ti pe plore; "kikfwa li bien malad e nou nou pe minn so boyo. Grete! Grete!" li ti kriye for. "Wi 'Ma!" so ser ti reponn lot kote lasam la. Zot ti pe koze atraver lasam Gregor. "Al sers enn dokter deswit. Gregor malad. Vit, vit amenn enn dokter. To ti tande ki manier li ti koze fekla?" "Vadire lavwa zanimo", sef-komi ti dir avek enn kalm ki ti lekontrer isteri so mama. "Anna! Anna!" papa Gregor ti kriye depi koulwar dan direksion lakwizinn, li ti bat lame pou atir latansion, "al sers enn serirye lor vites". De tifi la rebor zot zip ti balye sali ler zot ti sorti lor vites, al ver laport santral, ti ris li for pou ouver e ti al deor. Drol sa vites ki so ser ti met so lenz! Pa ti tann laport la referme; sirman zot ti finn bliye referm li; souvan dimoun fer sa kan enn zafer grav finn arive.

Gregor so kote ti vinn bien kalm. Anbon, zot pa ti konpran kan li ti koze; me pou li, Gregor, koze la ti paret kler, pli kler ki avan - kikfwa so zorey ti finn abitie ar so lavwa. Me zot ti realize ki ti ena enn zafer pa korek ar li; zot ti pe fer demars pou ede. Premie reaksion lor so sitiasion ti bien pozitif e sa ti fer li plezir. Li ti santi ki li ti pe retourn dan lemonn dimoun e li ti panse ki dokter ek serirye pou fer enn louvraz serye - mem si li pa ti kapav fer okenn diferans ant sa de la. Kouma nenport ki koze ki li ti pou koze ti pou enportan, pou fer so lavwa osi kler ki posib, li ti touse, me li ti fer atansion pa tous tro for parski dimoun ti kapav panse ki so touse pa ti paret ditou kouma touse dimoun e limem li pa ti tro sir si li ti kapav pas enn bon zizman. Letansa dan lot lasam tou ti vinn trankil. Kikfwa so paran ti otour latab, pe mirmire ar sef-komi ousa zot tou zot zorey ti kole ar laport, pe sey ekoute seki pe pase.

Dousman, Gregor, ar led sez la ti avans ver laport. Ler li ti ariv laba, li ti larg sez la pou al apiy lor laport, tini drwat ar led vantouz ki ti dan bout so lapat. Li ti repoz enpe pou repran so souf e lerla koumans sey tourn lakle la ar so labous. Me problem se ki li pa ti ena ledan normal - kouma li ti pou chombo lakle la? - pa ti ena ledan me so lamaswar ti for; ar so lamaswar li ti koumans tourn lakle la me li ti pe bles limem parski enn likid maron ti pe koumans koule depi so labous, tom lor lakle la avan al koul lor sali. "Ekoute", sef-komi ti dir dan lasam lot kote, "li pe tourn lakle." Sa ti ankouraz Gregor enn ta; me zot tou ti bizen pe kriye ar lazwa, so papa ek so mama 'si: "Bravo Gregor", zot ti bizen pe kriye, "manz ar li, fann ar serir la!" Akoz li ti panse ki zot tou ti pe swiv so zefor, li ti pez lakle la ar plis lafors san pran kont dimal ki li ti fer limem. Amizir lakle la ti pe tourne, li ti pe tourn otour serir la; li ti pe tini drwat ar so labous, anpandan ar lakle la ou pez li anba ar pwa so lekor. Enn kou tak! Gregor ti kone ki serir ti ouver e ki li ti kapav rilax e ler li ti pe regagn so souf li ti dir ar limem: "Rayt! Mo pa ti bizen serirye". Apre li ti poz so latet lor pwagne e ouver laport la net.

Akoz so manier ouver laport la, li ti bizen fini ouver net avan ki ti kapav trouv li. Dabor li ti bizen tourn lor batan ferme avek boukou swen si li pa ti ole tom pouf lor so ledo avan li rant dan lot lasam la. Li ti ankor pe reflesi kouma pou fer sa, kan li ti tann sef-komi la larg enn "Aryooo" kouma enn ti labriz ki pe soufle. Gregor 'si ti trouv li - limem ti pli pre ar laport - lame lor labous pe kile koumadir enn lafors envizid, for e konstan ti pe ris li ver miray.

MENI TRADIKSION   MENI ZENERAL   LAKAZ   LAO

Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka

Translated by David Wyllie

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections. The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

"What's happened to me?" he thought. It wasn't a dream. His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table - Samsa was a travelling salesman - and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.

Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. "How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense", he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn't get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was. He must have tried it a hundred times, shut his eyes so that he wouldn't have to look at the floundering legs, and only stopped when he began to feel a mild, dull pain there that he had never felt before.

"Oh, God", he thought, "what a strenuous career it is that I've chosen! Travelling day in and day out. Doing business like this takes much more effort than doing your own business at home, and on top of that there's the curse of travelling, worries about making train connections, bad and irregular food, contact with different people all the time so that you can never get to know anyone or become friendly with them. It can all go to Hell!" He felt a slight itch up on his belly; pushed himself slowly up on his back towards the headboard so that he could lift his head better; found where the itch was, and saw that it was covered with lots of little white spots which he didn't know what to make of; and when he tried to feel the place with one of his legs he drew it quickly back because as soon as he touched it he was overcome by a cold shudder.

He slid back into his former position. "Getting up early all the time", he thought, "it makes you stupid. You've got to get enough sleep. Other travelling salesmen live a life of luxury. For instance, whenever I go back to the guest house during the morning to copy out the contract, these gentlemen are always still sitting there eating their breakfasts. I ought to just try that with my boss; I'd get kicked out on the spot. But who knows, maybe that would be the best thing for me. If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago, I'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what I think, tell him everything I would, let him know just what I feel. He'd fall right off his desk! And it's a funny sort of business to be sitting up there at your desk, talking down at your subordinates from up there, especially when you have to go right up close because the boss is hard of hearing. Well, there's still some hope; once I've got the money together to pay off my parents' debt to him - another five or six years I suppose - that's definitely what I'll do. That's when I'll make the big change. First of all though, I've got to get up, my train leaves at five."

And he looked over at the alarm clock, ticking on the chest of drawers. "God in Heaven!" he thought. It was half past six and the hands were quietly moving forwards, it was even later than half past, more like quarter to seven. Had the alarm clock not rung? He could see from the bed that it had been set for four o'clock as it should have been; it certainly must have rung. Yes, but was it possible to quietly sleep through that furniture-rattling noise? True, he had not slept peacefully, but probably all the more deeply because of that. What should he do now? The next train went at seven; if he were to catch that he would have to rush like mad and the collection of samples was still not packed, and he did not at all feel particularly fresh and lively. And even if he did catch the train he would not avoid his boss's anger as the office assistant would have been there to see the five o'clock train go, he would have put in his report about Gregor's not being there a long time ago. The office assistant was the boss's man, spineless, and with no understanding. What about if he reported sick? But that would be extremely strained and suspicious as in fifteen years of service Gregor had never once yet been ill. His boss would certainly come round with the doctor from the medical insurance company, accuse his parents of having a lazy son, and accept the doctor's recommendation not to make any claim as the doctor believed that no-one was ever ill but that many were workshy. And what's more, would he have been entirely wrong in this case? Gregor did in fact, apart from excessive sleepiness after sleeping for so long, feel completely well and even felt much hungrier than usual.

He was still hurriedly thinking all this through, unable to decide to get out of the bed, when the clock struck quarter to seven. There was a cautious knock at the door near his head. "Gregor", somebody called - it was his mother - "it's quarter to seven. Didn't you want to go somewhere?" That gentle voice! Gregor was shocked when he heard his own voice answering, it could hardly be recognised as the voice he had had before. As if from deep inside him, there was a painful and uncontrollable squeaking mixed in with it, the words could be made out at first but then there was a sort of echo which made them unclear, leaving the hearer unsure whether he had heard properly or not. Gregor had wanted to give a full answer and explain everything, but in the circumstances contented himself with saying: "Yes, mother, yes, thank-you, I'm getting up now." The change in Gregor's voice probably could not be noticed outside through the wooden door, as his mother was satisfied with this explanation and shuffled away. But this short conversation made the other members of the family aware that Gregor, against their expectations was still at home, and soon his father came knocking at one of the side doors, gently, but with his fist. "Gregor, Gregor", he called, "what's wrong?" And after a short while he called again with a warning deepness in his voice: "Gregor! Gregor!" At the other side door his sister came plaintively: "Gregor? Aren't you well? Do you need anything?" Gregor answered to both sides: "I'm ready, now", making an effort to remove all the strangeness from his voice by enunciating very carefully and putting long pauses between each, individual word. His father went back to his breakfast, but his sister whispered: "Gregor, open the door, I beg of you." Gregor, however, had no thought of opening the door, and instead congratulated himself for his cautious habit, acquired from his travelling, of locking all doors at night even when he was at home.

The first thing he wanted to do was to get up in peace without being disturbed, to get dressed, and most of all to have his breakfast. Only then would he consider what to do next, as he was well aware that he would not bring his thoughts to any sensible conclusions by lying in bed. He remembered that he had often felt a slight pain in bed, perhaps caused by lying awkwardly, but that had always turned out to be pure imagination and he wondered how his imaginings would slowly resolve themselves today. He did not have the slightest doubt that the change in his voice was nothing more than the first sign of a serious cold, which was an occupational hazard for travelling salesmen.

It was a simple matter to throw off the covers; he only had to blow himself up a little and they fell off by themselves. But it became difficult after that, especially as he was so exceptionally broad. He would have used his arms and his hands to push himself up; but instead of them he only had all those little legs continuously moving in different directions, and which he was moreover unable to control. If he wanted to bend one of them, then that was the first one that would stretch itself out; and if he finally managed to do what he wanted with that leg, all the others seemed to be set free and would move about painfully. "This is something that can't be done in bed", Gregor said to himself, "so don't keep trying to do it".

The first thing he wanted to do was get the lower part of his body out of the bed, but he had never seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly; and finally, almost in a frenzy, when he carelessly shoved himself forwards with all the force he could gather, he chose the wrong direction, hit hard against the lower bedpost, and learned from the burning pain he felt that the lower part of his body might well, at present, be the most sensitive.

So then he tried to get the top part of his body out of the bed first, carefully turning his head to the side. This he managed quite easily, and despite its breadth and its weight, the bulk of his body eventually followed slowly in the direction of the head. But when he had at last got his head out of the bed and into the fresh air it occurred to him that if he let himself fall it would be a miracle if his head were not injured, so he became afraid to carry on pushing himself forward the same way. And he could not knock himself out now at any price; better to stay in bed than lose consciousness.

It took just as much effort to get back to where he had been earlier, but when he lay there sighing, and was once more watching his legs as they struggled against each other even harder than before, if that was possible, he could think of no way of bringing peace and order to this chaos. He told himself once more that it was not possible for him to stay in bed and that the most sensible thing to do would be to get free of it in whatever way he could at whatever sacrifice. At the same time, though, he did not forget to remind himself that calm consideration was much better than rushing to desperate conclusions. At times like this he would direct his eyes to the window and look out as clearly as he could, but unfortunately, even the other side of the narrow street was enveloped in morning fog and the view had little confidence or cheer to offer him. "Seven o'clock, already", he said to himself when the clock struck again, "seven o'clock, and there's still a fog like this." And he lay there quietly a while longer, breathing lightly as if he perhaps expected the total stillness to bring things back to their real and natural state.

But then he said to himself: "Before it strikes quarter past seven I'll definitely have to have got properly out of bed. And by then somebody will have come round from work to ask what's happened to me as well, as they open up at work before seven o'clock." And so he set himself to the task of swinging the entire length of his body out of the bed all at the same time. If he succeeded in falling out of bed in this way and kept his head raised as he did so he could probably avoid injuring it. His back seemed to be quite hard, and probably nothing would happen to it falling onto the carpet. His main concern was for the loud noise he was bound to make, and which even through all the doors would probably raise concern if not alarm. But it was something that had to be risked.

When Gregor was already sticking half way out of the bed - the new method was more of a game than an effort, all he had to do was rock back and forth - it occurred to him how simple everything would be if somebody came to help him. Two strong people - he had his father and the maid in mind - would have been more than enough; they would only have to push their arms under the dome of his back, peel him away from the bed, bend down with the load and then be patient and careful as he swang over onto the floor, where, hopefully, the little legs would find a use. Should he really call for help though, even apart from the fact that all the doors were locked? Despite all the difficulty he was in, he could not suppress a smile at this thought.

After a while he had already moved so far across that it would have been hard for him to keep his balance if he rocked too hard. The time was now ten past seven and he would have to make a final decision very soon. Then there was a ring at the door of the flat. "That'll be someone from work", he said to himself, and froze very still, although his little legs only became all the more lively as they danced around. For a moment everything remained quiet. "They're not opening the door", Gregor said to himself, caught in some nonsensical hope. But then of course, the maid's firm steps went to the door as ever and opened it. Gregor only needed to hear the visitor's first words of greeting and he knew who it was - the chief clerk himself. Why did Gregor have to be the only one condemned to work for a company where they immediately became highly suspicious at the slightest shortcoming? Were all employees, every one of them, louts, was there not one of them who was faithful and devoted who would go so mad with pangs of conscience that he couldn't get out of bed if he didn't spend at least a couple of hours in the morning on company business? Was it really not enough to let one of the trainees make enquiries - assuming enquiries were even necessary - did the chief clerk have to come himself, and did they have to show the whole, innocent family that this was so suspicious that only the chief clerk could be trusted to have the wisdom to investigate it? And more because these thoughts had made him upset than through any proper decision, he swang himself with all his force out of the bed. There was a loud thump, but it wasn't really a loud noise. His fall was softened a little by the carpet, and Gregor's back was also more elastic than he had thought, which made the sound muffled and not too noticeable. He had not held his head carefully enough, though, and hit it as he fell; annoyed and in pain, he turned it and rubbed it against the carpet.

"Something's fallen down in there", said the chief clerk in the room on the left. Gregor tried to imagine whether something of the sort that had happened to him today could ever happen to the chief clerk too; you had to concede that it was possible. But as if in gruff reply to this question, the chief clerk's firm footsteps in his highly polished boots could now be heard in the adjoining room. From the room on his right, Gregor's sister whispered to him to let him know: "Gregor, the chief clerk is here." "Yes, I know", said Gregor to himself; but without daring to raise his voice loud enough for his sister to hear him.

"Gregor", said his father now from the room to his left, "the chief clerk has come round and wants to know why you didn't leave on the early train. We don't know what to say to him. And anyway, he wants to speak to you personally. So please open up this door. I'm sure he'll be good enough to forgive the untidiness of your room." 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.

"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 recover from the effort involved and then set himself to the task of turning the key in the lock with his mouth. He seemed, unfortunately, to have no proper teeth - how was he, then, to grasp the key? - but the lack of teeth was, of course, made up for with a very strong jaw; using the jaw, he really was able to start the key turning, ignoring the fact that he must have been causing some kind of damage as a brown fluid came from his mouth, flowed over the key and dripped onto the floor. "Listen", said the chief clerk in the next room, "he's turning the key." Gregor was greatly encouraged by this; but they all should have been calling to him, his father and his mother too: "Well done, Gregor", they should have cried, "keep at it, keep hold of the lock!" And with the idea that they were all excitedly following his efforts, he bit on the key with all his strength, paying no attention to the pain he was causing himself. As the key turned round he turned around the lock with it, only holding himself upright with his mouth, and hung onto the key or pushed it down again with the whole weight of his body as needed. The clear sound of the lock as it snapped back was Gregor's sign that he could break his concentration, and as he regained his breath he said to himself: "So, I didn't need the locksmith after all". Then he lay his head on the handle of the door to open it completely.

Because he had to open the door in this way, it was already wide open before he could be seen. He had first to slowly turn himself around one of the double doors, and he had to do it very carefully if he did not want to fall flat on his back before entering the room. He was still occupied with this difficult movement, unable to pay attention to anything else, when he heard the chief clerk exclaim a loud "Oh!", which sounded like the soughing of the wind. Now he also saw him - he was the nearest to the door - his hand pressed against his open mouth and slowly retreating as if driven by a steady and invisible force.