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