Page 39 - the-trial

Chapter Two

First Cross-examination

. was informed by telephone that there would be a small
Khearing concerning his case the following Sunday. He
was made aware that these cross examinations would fol-
low one another regularly, perhaps not every week but quite
frequently. On the one hand it was in everyone’s interest to
bring proceedings quickly to their conclusion, but on the
other hand every aspect of the examinations had to be car-
ried out thoroughly without lasting too long because of the
associated stress. For these reasons, it had been decided to
hold a series of brief examinations following on one after
another. Sunday had been chosen as the day for the hear-
ings so that K. would not be disturbed in his professional
work. It was assumed that he would be in agreement with
this, but if he wished for another date then, as far as possi-
ble, he would be accommodated. Cross-examinations could
even be held in the night, for instance, but K. would prob-
ably not be fresh enough at that time. Anyway, as long as K.
made no objection, the hearing would be left on Sundays. It
was a matter of course that he would have to appear without
fail, there was probably no need to point this out to him. He
would be given the number of the building where he was to
present himself, which was in a street in a suburb well away

The Trial