Page 63 - the-trial

to do so. And I will be glad to do so not only for the sake of
charity but also because you can be of some help to me.”
“How could I help you, then?” said the woman. “You could,
for example, show me the books on the table there.” “Yes,
certainly,” the woman cried, and pulled K. along behind her
as she rushed to them. The books were old and well worn,
the cover of one of them had nearly broken through in its
middle, and it was held together with a few threads. “Every-
thing is so dirty here,” said K., shaking his head, and before
he could pick the books up the woman wiped some of the
dust off with her apron. K. took hold of the book that lay on
top and threw it open, an indecent picture appeared. A man
and a woman sat naked on a sofa, the base intent of who-
ever drew it was easy to see but he had been so grossly
lacking in skill that all that anyone could really make out
were the man and the woman who dominated the picture
with their bodies, sitting in overly upright postures that
created a false perspective and made it difficult for them to
approach each other. K. didn’t thumb through that book
any more, but just threw open the next one at its title page,
it was a novel with the title, What Grete Suffered from her
Husband, Hans. “So this is the sort of law book they study
here,” said K., “this is the sort of person sitting in judgement
over me.” “I can help you,” said the woman, “would you like
me to?” “Could you really do that without placing yourself
in danger? You did say earlier on that your husband is whol-
ly dependent on his superiors.” “I still want to help you,”
said the woman, “come over here, we’ve got to talk about it.
Don’t say any more about what danger I’m in, I only fear

The Trial