Page 83 - the-trial

for K., she took a window pole that was leaning against the
wall and pushed open a small hatch directly above K.’s head
that led to the outside. But so much soot fell in that the girl
had to immediately close the hatch again and clean the soot
off K.’s hands with her handkerchief, as K. was too tired to
do that for himself. He would have liked just to sit quietly
where he was until he had enough strength to leave, and
the less fuss people made about him the sooner that would
be. But then the girl said, “You can’t stay here, we’re in peo-
ple’s way here …” K. looked at her as if to ask whose way
they were impeding. “If you like, I can take you to the sick
room,” and turning to the man in the doorway said, “please
help me”. The man immediately came over to them, but K.
did not want to go to the sick room, that was just what he
wanted to avoid, being led further from place to place, the
further he went the more difficult it must become. So he
said, “I am able to walk now,” and stood up, shaking after
becoming used to sitting so comfortably. But then he was
unable to stay upright. “I can’t manage it,” he said shaking
his head, and sat down again with a sigh. He remembered
the usher who, despite everything, would have been able to
lead him out of there but who seemed to have gone long be-
fore. K. looked out between the man and the young woman
who were standing in front of him but was unable to find the
usher. “I think,” said the man, who was elegantly dressed
and whose appearance was made especially impressive with
a grey waistcoat that had two long, sharply tailored points,
“the gentleman is feeling unwell because of the atmosphere
here, so the best thing, and what he would most prefer,

The Trial