Page 268 - the-trial

cleaned them, passing over the corners of their eyes, rub-
bing at their upper lips, scratching out the creases on those
chins.
When K. noticed that, he stopped, which meant the oth-
ers had to stop too; they were at the edge of an open square,
devoid of people but decorated with flower beds. “Why did
they send you, of all people!” he cried out, more a shout than
a question. The two gentleman clearly knew no answer to
give, they waited, their free arms hanging down, like nurses
when the patient needs to rest. “I will go no further,” said K.
as if to see what would happen. The gentlemen did not need
to make any answer, it was enough that they did not loosen
their grip on K. and tried to move him on, but K. resisted
them. “I’ll soon have no need of much strength, I’ll use all
of it now,” he thought. He thought of the flies that tear their
legs off struggling to get free of the flypaper. “These gentle-
man will have some hard work to do”.
Just then, Miss Burstner came up into the square in front
of them from the steps leading from a small street at a lower
level. It was not certain that it was her, although the similar-
ity was, of course, great. But it did not matter to K. whether
it was certainly her anyway, he just became suddenly aware
that there was no point in his resistance. There would be
nothing heroic about it if he resisted, if he now caused trou-
ble for these gentlemen, if in defending himself he sought
to enjoy his last glimmer of life. He started walking, which
pleased the gentlemen and some of their pleasure conveyed
itself to him. Now they permitted him to decided which di-
rection they took, and he decided to take the direction that