Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

No sooner had everyone gone than K. said to the two assistants: "Get out!" Hearing this order unexpectedly, they obeyed in a panic, but K. opened the door as soon as they had left the room. It was locked, and when they wanted to enter the house again, they sobbed outside and knocked on the door. "I've dismissed you," cried K. "I don't want you to work for me anymore!" Of course, that's exactly what they didn't want to happen, so they kept punching the door. Kick. "Let us go back to you, sir!" They seemed about to be swept away by a torrent, and K was the land.But K. had no pity for them, and he waited eagerly for the deafening knock on the door to compel the teacher to come out and intervene.This happened very quickly. "Let your two precious helpers come in!" he yelled. "I've dismissed them both," shouted K. in return; this had the unexpected effect of showing the teacher not only his strong right to dismiss, but also his Same strong execution.So the teacher had no choice but to comfort the two assistants with kind words, telling them to just wait quietly, and K. would let them in sooner or later.Saying that he walked away.If K. had stopped yelling at them now that they were dismissed for good and that there was no chance of reinstatement, the matter might have been settled, but as soon as they heard his words, they beat and kicked the door again. stand up.The teacher came out again, but this time he stopped reasoning with them, and simply drove them out of the school with his terrible stick.

They reappeared in front of the windows of the gymnasium before long, knocking on the panes and shouting, but their words were no longer intelligible.They didn't stay there long either, it was inconvenient to jump around in the deep snow.So they rushed to the railing of the campus and jumped onto the wall. Although they were a little farther away, they could see the scene in the room more clearly; There, both hands stretched out to K. clasped together in supplication.They begged like this for a long time, not thinking about the futility of their efforts; they seemed possessed, and they kept on begging even when K. drew the shutters so that he did not want to see them. . In the dark room K went to the parallel bars to look for Frieda.As soon as Frieda caught his eye, she stood up, brushed her hair, wiped away her tears, and silently prepared coffee.Although she knew everything, he announced to her solemnly that he had fired the two assistants.She just nodded. K. sat down at a desk and followed her weary movements with his eyes.She used to have infinite vitality and perseverance, and her ordinary body was beautiful because of it, but now this beauty has disappeared.Living with K. in just a few days had ruined her beauty, and her previous work in the bar was not easy, but it was obviously more suitable for her.Is it true that she described being haggard because she left Krum?Her inconceivable seductiveness, which had been drawn to K. because of her closeness to Klamm, was now withering in his arms.

"Frieda," said K., who immediately put down the coffee grinder and went to K.'s desk. "Are you mad at me?" she asked. "No," replied K., "I think you have to say that. You had a good time at the Hotel Herrenhof. I should have let you stay there." "Yes," Frieda said sadly. Looking ahead, she said, "You should have let me stay there, I don't deserve to live with you. If you get rid of me, maybe you can get all your wishes. For me, you Had to suffer the master's tyranny, accepted this humble position, and is doing all I can to get Klamm to see him. It's all for my sake, but I can't repay your kindness very much." "No, no," stretched K. He put his arms around her and said happily. "These are all insignificant things, and they can't hurt me in the slightest. I want to see Klamm, and it's not just because of you. Besides, think about everything you have done for me! Before I knew you, I was like Walking around in the mist, no one is willing to take me in. If I get involved with someone, I will be kicked out soon. When someone is willing to entertain me, I often avoid those people People who are afraid, like the Barnabas family..." "Did you want to avoid them? Really? My dear!" Frieda shouted impatiently, and K. hesitated for a while before answering. After a "yes", she was as indifferent as before.But K. also decided not to explain to her that it was because of his acquaintance with Frieda that things had turned in his favor.He slowly withdrew his arm around her, and they sat together for a while in silence, and at last—his arm seemed to give her warmth and comfort, without which she could not bear now—Frieda said: "I can't stand life here. If you want me to stay with you, we'll have to go somewhere else, to the south of France or to Spain." "I can't leave here," replied K. "I came here to stay here. I have to stay here." Then he said something contradictory, but he didn't want to explain it, as if what he said next was right. He said to himself: "What is it that lured me to this desolate place? Is it just to stay here?" Then he went on to say: "But you have to stay here, after all. It's your own homeland. You're only depressed because of the loss of Klamm." "I've lost Klamm?" said Frieda. "I need Klamm, I have enough here, Klamm is too much; it is to avoid him that I want to go away. It is not Klamm that I have lost, but you. I want to go away for you, Because I can't have you all here, everything disturbs me here, and I'd rather lose my beauty, get sick, and suffer if I can live in peace with you." K. Noticed one thing, so he asked hastily: "So, is Klamm still in touch with you? Has he sent for you?" "I don't know anything about Klamm," replied Frieda Say, "Now I'm talking about other people, I mean the two assistants." "Oh, assistant," said K. disappointedly, "are they bullying you?" "Well, didn't you notice? ' asked Frieda. "No," replied K., recalling a moment, but could not remember anything. "Though they were two nasty little perverts, I never noticed that they dared to lift their eyelids to look at you." Didn't you?" Frieda said, "didn't you notice that they stayed in our room at the Bridge Inn and wouldn't go out, just watched our every move jealously, and one of them even slept on my straw mattress Come on, didn't they report on you just now, trying to drive you away and destroy you, so that they can leave me alone with them? Didn't you pay attention to all this?" K. stared at Frieda without answering.Her accusations against her assistants were true, but they could also be interpreted as utterly innocent, and the two lads were so innocent, absurd, irresponsible, and ill-bred.Besides, they always wanted to go with K. wherever he went and never wanted to stay with Frieda. Wouldn't that also justify their guilt? K. made this point of view dubiously. "It's a deliberate trick on their part," said Frieda. "Don't you see it? Well, if it weren't for their covetousness, why did you drive them away?" And she went to the window , opened the shutter a little, looked out, and then told K to come over.The two assistants were still clinging to the railing; although they must be very tired now, they still exerted all their strength, stretching out their arms from time to time to beg the school.One of them even hooked the hem of his overcoat to the rail behind so he didn't have to keep grabbing it with his hands.

"Poor fellow! Poor fellow!" said Frieda. "Are you asking me why I drove them away?" asked K. "It's all because of you." "Me?" Frieda asked, but she didn't take her eyes off the assistants. "Because you are too polite to the assistants," said K., "you always take a lenient attitude towards their insolence, show them smiling faces, stroke their hair, express sympathy to them all the time-- Poor fellow! Poor fellow! That's what you were saying just now--at last it happened that you sacrificed me without hesitation to save the two assistants from a beating ""Yes, that's true, that's what I want to tell you, that's what makes me unhappy, that's what keeps me from staying with you, though I admit there's nothing worse than being with you. Greater happiness together—together forever, never to be apart—even though I feel that there is no quiet place in this world where we can live in love with each other, no matter in this village or in the There is nowhere else; so I long for some grave, deep and narrow, where we two embrace, as if bound with iron bars, so that my face is hidden in yours. In my arms, your face is hidden in my arms, and no one will see us anymore. Not here... You see, there are these two assistants! When they clasped their fists and begged, they were not thinking of you, but of you. Me." "It's not I, but you who's been looking at them all this time," said K. "Indeed it is I," said Frieda, who was on the point of losing her temper, "and that's all I've been talking about; even if they were Klamm's emissaries, they wouldn't need to keep pestering me, would they?" Klamm's emissary?" repeated K., greatly surprised by Frieda's pointing it out, even though it seemed quite natural. "Of course they are emissaries from Klamm," said Frieda. "Although they are messengers, they are still naughty children who need someone to put a little reason into their brains. Two little devils with ugly and dark faces; two completely different faces. How ugly they are, people will say they are They look like grown-ups, quite like college students, but their behavior is so childish and ridiculous. Do you think I didn't see it? I'm really ashamed of them. Well, that's the thing, I don't Don't hate them, but I'm ashamed of them. So I can't help but look at them. I just laugh at them when they're mad at them. I just touch their hair when they want to hit them At night, when I lie beside you, I can’t fall asleep. I always want to lie on your body and look at them. One fell asleep wrapped in a blanket, and the other knelt in front of the stove door to add firewood. Leaning out so far that it almost wakes you up. It's not the cat I'm afraid of--oh, I'm used to cats, and I'm used to the noisy night life in bars,--I'm not afraid of it The cat, I was afraid of myself. No, no beast the size of a cat was needed to waken me, the slightest noise made me jump with fright. At first I was afraid of waking you, afraid of waking everything up Destroyed, but I got up again and lit the candle, forcing you to wake up immediately and protect me." "I don't know anything about these things," said K., "I only had a vague suspicion, so I put them and now that they're gone, maybe things will go well." "Yes, they're gone at last," said Frieda, but she was sad and unhappy, "but we don't know What kind of people. I call them Klamm's emissaries in my mind. I can't take it seriously, but maybe they are. Their eyes--innocent and bright eyes--remind me of Klamm's Eyes; yes, that's it, sometimes it's Klamm's eyes that pass through their eyes and into me. So it wasn't true when I said I was ashamed of them. I wish it was true It always seemed to me that their behavior would have seemed ridiculous and annoying if it happened to other places or people, but it was another matter when it happened to them. I watched their ridiculous tricks, Always with respect and admiration. If they were Klamm's emissaries, who would give us a way to get rid of them? Besides, is getting rid of them a good thing at all? If getting rid of them is not good, you will call immediately Are they coming back? Would you be happy if they wanted to come back anyway?" "You want me to call them back?" asked K. "No, no!" said Frieda. "I never want them to come back. If they run in now, I'll see their joy in seeing me again, bouncing around me like a child, and reaching out for a hug like a grown-up Me; no, I don't believe I can stand this kind of behavior. But when I think that if you go on treating them like this hard-heartedly, you might never see Klamm, I'll pay any price. to help you avoid such consequences. My only wish in such a case is to let them in, for your sake, at once. Do not worry about me; what am I afraid of? I will defend myself as persistently as I can, If I have to give in, I will realize that I am also doing it for your sake." "You only strengthen my resolve to expel the two assistants," said K. "I will never let them back. The fact that I have driven them out proves at least that in certain circumstances there is nothing that can be done against them, and therefore that they have no real connection with Klamm. Last night I also accepted I have received a letter from Kramm, from which it can be seen that although someone reported to Kramm the situation of the two assistants which was completely untrue, it can also be concluded from this that Kramm Klamm was completely indifferent to them, because otherwise he would undoubtedly have received a correct report on both of them. As for the fact that you see Klamm in them, that is not true, because very Unfortunately, you are still under the influence of the landlady, and that is why you see Klamm everywhere. You are still Klamm's mistress, not at all my wife. Sometimes this makes me very depressed, I feel as if everything is lost, I felt as if I had just come to this village, but not with the hope that I had when I had actually come here, and now knowing that my future was nothing but constant disappointments, and to swallow them all, one by one. But this This kind of feeling only happens occasionally." Seeing Frieda's dejected expression on his face, K said with a smile: "In fact, this kind of feeling also proves a good thing, that is, you are very good to me. How important. If you told me to choose between you and these two assistants now, it would be enough to decide the fate of these two assistants. What a muddled idea, to choose between you and these two assistants! Now I'm going to say it again, get rid of them forever, and I say it and I think it. Besides, who knows if it's because we haven't had breakfast by now, both of us are so weak?" "It might be." That's why," said Frieda, laughing wearily, and went off to her work. K also picked up the broom again.

After a while, someone knocked lightly on the door. "Barnabas!" cried K., throwing down the broom in his hand, and hurried up to the door.Frieda looked directly at him, more surprised by the name than by anything else. K.'s hands trembled, and for a moment he could not unscrew the old lock on the door. "It will open soon," he said repeatedly without asking who was outside.But then he had to face the fact that it was not Barnabas who had entered through the open door, but the child who had tried to speak to him in the first place.But K. did not want to remember the child any more. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "All the classes are in the next door. I'm from there," replied the child calmly, raising his big dark brown eyes to K., and standing at attention with his hands down. "Then what do you want? Get out!" said K., leaning slightly forward, for the child's voice was low. "Can I help you a little?" asked the child. "He wants to help us," said K. to Frieda.Then he said to the boy, "What's your name?" "Hans Brunswick," replied the boy, "a fourth grader, son of Otto Brunswick, a shoemaker from Madreingas. ""Oh, your name is Brunswick," said K., now in a softer voice.It turned out that Hans was very angry when he saw that the female teacher drew blood from K's hand, and immediately decided to support K.He had just risked severe punishment by slipping boldly from the adjoining room like a deserter to the enemy.In fact, it was mostly his childishness that probably drove him to this behavior.The solemnity with which he did everything seemed to speak for it.At first he was a little restrained because of his shyness, but he soon got to know K. and Frieda, and when they gave him a cup of hot coffee he became lively and won their confidence.He began to question them urgently and firmly, as if he wanted to know the essence of the problem as soon as possible, so that he could think independently and decide what they should do.His personality was a bit bossy, but there was something innocent about him, so they were half joking and half serious at his mercy.In any case, he demanded their undivided attention; work ceased altogether, and breakfast was imperceptibly delayed.Although Hans was sitting at a desk, and K. and Frieda sat side by side in a chair on the podium, Hans looked rather like a teacher, as if he were examining them and evaluating their answers. .There was a slight smile on the corner of his gentle mouth, which seemed to indicate that he knew full well that this was just a game, but the thought only made him direct the game more seriously; maybe it wasn't really a smile on his lips , but his childhood happiness.It was very strange that he only admitted after talking to them for a long time that he had known K. since he had gone to the Raisman's. K was very happy. "Are you the one playing at the lady's feet?" K. asked him. "Yes," replied Hans, "that's my mother." He was obliged to speak of his mother now, but hesitatingly, he had to be asked several times before he spoke; it was now clear that he was only a Son, from his tone—especially the questions he asked—sometimes it seems like an adult with perseverance and foresight is speaking; He also misunderstood the meaning of others, and because of his childishness, he didn't know how to be considerate of others, and his words were too light. Although he pointed out the flaws to him again and again, he stubbornly refused to answer other questions, and there was no embarrassment. Adults can't do it like this.It seemed to him that he alone had the right to ask the question, and that it would be a violation of the rules and a waste of time if K. and Frieda asked the question.He would sit for a long time in silence, straightening himself up, with his head bowed, and his lower lip pursed.At that time Frieda was fascinated by his expression, and sometimes asked him a few questions deliberately, trying to tease him into making this expression.Several times she succeeded, but K. was only unhappy.They inquired for a long time, but did not get much.Hans' mother was not very well, but what ailment she was suffering from was not clear; the child on her lap was Hans' sister, named Frieda I am not happy that the wife has the same name), the family lives in the village, but not with the Reisman's - they just go there and take a bath, because Raisman has a big The tub, in which the young children loved to bathe and splash, except Hans.Hans spoke of his father, now with reverence, now with fear, but only when he did not speak of his mother; the father was obviously unimportant compared with his mother, but the question As to the state of life of the Brunswick family, though they expended many words, they never got an answer. K knew that his father owned the biggest shoe shop in the area, and that no one could compete with him, so he asked again and again about this well-known fact; in fact, his father gave the work to other shoemakers. Do, let's say, give it to Barnabas' father, who of course gave it away as a special favor--this can be seen only from the way Hans tilts his head back so triumphantly, this gesture Frieda ran over and kissed him.He was asked again if he had ever been in the castle, and it was only after they had asked the question several times that he answered "No".When asked whether his mother had ever been in the castle, he simply ignored it.At last K. got tired of it, and the questions seemed of no use to him, and he admitted that the boy was right; besides, it is a disgrace to use a child to pry into family secrets; It would be even more embarrassing if you put in so much effort but didn't come up with anything.So, in closing, he asked the children what help he intended to give them, and Hans said he only wanted to help them with a little school work, so that the teacher and his assistants would not scold him so badly, and he was no longer surprised. up. K explained to Hans that he didn't need this kind of help, that cursing is part of the teacher's personality, that even if you work hard, you will still be scolded by him, that the work itself is not hard work, but that it is due to special circumstances. He was up so late in the morning, and besides, scolding had a different effect on him than it did on a student, he hardly took it seriously, he had long since forgotten it, and he hoped to leave this place soon. teacher.Although Hans only wanted to help him with the teacher, he thanked him sincerely, but now he had better go back to class, and if he went back at once, he might be lucky and not be punished.Although K. did not emphasize it, but only inadvertently stated that he did not need his help with dealing with the teacher, but withheld his help in other respects, Hans understood his meaning clearly and asked K. if there was anything else he needed. Help; he is very willing to help him, and if he cannot help himself, he is willing to ask his mother to help, so that the problem can be guaranteed to be solved.When my father encountered difficulties, he also asked his mother for help.His mother once asked K. that she rarely went out herself, and it was very rare for her to go to the Raisman's on that day.But he, Hans, used to go there to play with the Raisman children, and once his mother asked him if the land surveyor had been at the Raisman's again.But he guessed that Mamma couldn't talk much, because she was weak and tired, so he just replied: He didn't see the land surveyor, so he didn't say anything; but now he saw K. at school and Talk to him, and he can tell his mother the news.Because when mom has no urgent things for you to do, she likes you to tell her some news. K thought for a while and said that he didn't need any help at the moment, he had everything he needed, and Hans was willing to help him, of course there was nothing better than that, and he thanked him for his kindness; in the future he might need someone for something Help, he'll find Hans then, he knows his address.As a token of gratitude, he, K., might be able to help him a little too; he was disturbed to hear that Hans' mother was ill, and apparently no one in the village knew what ailment she was suffering from; It can also have serious consequences.And he, K., had some knowledge of medicine and, what was more rare, experience in nursing patients.There are many cases where the doctor can't do anything, but he has a cure.Because of his ability to cure diseases, people in his hometown call him "bitter herb".In any case, he would be happy to see Hans' mother and talk to her.Perhaps he could offer her some useful advice, for he would be happy to do so, if only for Hans' sake.At first Hans' eyes lit up when he heard that K. was willing to see his mother, and K was even more eager to see him, but the result was not satisfactory, because Hans did not respond to several questions afterwards. He replied apologetically that strangers were not allowed to visit his mother at home, and that she was carefully guarded by everyone; that although K. had hardly said anything to her that day, she remained in bed for several days afterward, and such things It does happen quite often.But father was still very angry with K. at that time, he would never allow K. to come to their house; he really wanted to settle with K. and punish him for his insolence, but mother dissuaded him.But in any case, mother never wanted to talk to anyone, whoever it was, she asked about K., which was not out of the ordinary; on the contrary, when someone mentioned him, she would express She would have liked to see him, but she hadn't actually seen him, and from this it was clear what she meant.She just wanted to hear something about K., but she absolutely didn't want to talk to him.Besides, she wasn't really sick at all, she knew why she was, and actually often told everyone about it; it was obviously because she couldn't stand the climate, but nevertheless, for the sake of her husband and children Ladies and gentlemen, she still doesn't want to leave this place, besides, her body is much better than usual.Hearing him say this, K. noticed that Hans's powers of thinking had improved markedly in order to protect his mother from K., from this K. who apparently wanted to help; To prevent K. from visiting his mother with justifiable reasons, he even contradicted what had just been said in several respects, especially with regard to his mother's illness.However, K. thought that even so, Hans still had a crush on him, but as soon as his mother was mentioned, he forgot everything else; anyone who was compared with his mother was immediately at a disadvantage; , that was the case with K, but also, for example, with his father. K. wanted to test whether this hypothesis was true, and said that Hans's father did not let his mother be disturbed, which indeed showed that he was very considerate, and if he, K., had known about this situation that day, he would never have Having taken the liberty of speaking to her, he now asked Hans to apologize to his mother on his behalf.On the other hand, since the cause of her illness was so clear, as Hans said, he could not understand why Hans' father would keep her from going elsewhere for convalescence; He wouldn't let her go, because she stayed only for him and the children, but she could take the children, and she didn't have to be away for a long time, or go far, even in On the hill of the castle, the air is already very different.Since Hans's father was the biggest shoemaker in the country, he didn't have to worry about the cost of the holiday travel at all, and he or she must have relatives or acquaintances in the castle who would be happy to invite her to live in the castle.Why didn't he let her go?He should not have underestimated her condition. K. had only glanced at Hans' mother, but it was the astonishment of her haggardness and weakness that compelled him to talk to her.Even then he wondered how her husband could have her sitting steaming in the bath and laundry room while she was ill, and would not at all lower his ability to speak loudly to others. What about the sound?Hans's father really had no idea what was really going on; if her condition improved in the last few weeks, it was only a temporary ups and downs, and if you don't get rid of the symptoms of the ups and downs, In the end, the relapse will intensify, and the patient will be hopeless at that time.Even if K. could not speak to Hans' mother, it would perhaps be beneficial if he could speak to his father to bring all this to his attention.

Hans listened intently, he understood most of what was said, and was deeply moved by the menacing meaning of this pessimistic advice.But his reply was that K. could not go and talk to his father, because his father didn't like him and might treat him like a teacher.When he said this, he smiled shyly when he mentioned K., but sadly and bitterly when he mentioned his father.But he added that K. might be able to talk to his mother, as long as his father didn't know about it.Then Hans looked ahead, thought for a while--like a woman looking for a chance to do something bad, but wants to get away with it--and said that his father was going to the Herrenhof Hotel the night after tomorrow. To a meeting; he, Hans, came that very evening to take K. to his mother, assuming, of course, that her mother agreed, but that was unlikely.She never did anything that his father disagreed with, and she obeyed him in everything, even some things that Hans could see as unreasonable, she also obeyed him.

K. had called Hans up to the stage long ago, pulled him into his arms, and continued to caress him happily.Although Hans was still stubborn at times, this kind of intimacy finally helped them get an understanding.In the end they agreed on the following: Hans first told his mother the truth, but, in order to obtain her consent more easily, he had to tell her that K. would also go to Brunswick for a talk, not Not about her, but about his own.Moreover, this is also true; because in the course of the conversation K. remembered Brunswick, and although he was a bad and dangerous character, he was not yet his enemy, if it was true, as the village chief said. He was in favor of recruiting the chief of the land surveyors, though only for political reasons.Brunswick should therefore have welcomed K.'s visit to the village.But the first icy greeting and Hans' statement of the ill feeling he felt toward him was almost puzzling—perhaps it was because K. had hurt his pride by not asking him for help first, perhaps there was something else. If there is a misunderstanding, then it can be explained clearly in a few words.If this could be achieved, K. would be able to enlist the support of Brunswick against the teacher and, yes, also against the village headman, who would force him to accept the post of porter by denying him access to the castle authorities. Political Conspiracy - What is it if it is not a political conspiracy? --and it might also be completely exposed for this; if there was a new struggle for K. between Brunswick and the village chief, Brunswick would be able to count K on his side, K. As soon as he becomes a guest of Brunswick's family, Brunswick's combat resources can be at his disposal without having to worry about any village chief; with these conditions, who can say what else he has to do? less than?In any case, he could always be with his wife in this way—K. was dreaming these sweet dreams indifferently, and these sweet dreams teased him indifferently, while Hans, who was only thinking of his mother, was in pain. Looking at him silently, is like looking at a doctor who is thinking hard about a prescription for a serious illness.Hans agreed with K.'s proposal to talk to Brunswick about the job of land surveyor, but only because it would protect his mother from his father's reprimands, and because, with luck, it was only a matter of time. Strategies not to be used.He merely asked how K. would explain the visit to his father. K said that the work at the school and the persecution by the teachers made him unbearable and he fell into despair, so he went to interview him regardless of his own interests.After hearing this explanation, Hans was finally satisfied, although his face was still a little gloomy.

Now, since it seemed that everything was in place, at least there was a possibility of success, Hans relieved his worries, became cheerful, chatted with K., and then chatted with Frieda for a while. She had been sitting there thinking, and only now resumed their conversation.在谈话中间她问起他将来打算做一个什么样的人；他略一思索便说他愿意做一个像Ｋ这样的人。再问他理由时，他又讲不出道理来，问他是不是愿意当个看门人，他一口回答不愿意。后来经过进一步追问，他们才明白他怎么会有这个愿望的。就Ｋ眼前的处境而论，可以说又狼狈又屈辱，实在没有什么可羡慕的；这一点汉斯不用问旁人也看得清清楚楚。他自己也一定要保卫妈妈，别让她听到Ｋ说的哪怕是一句最轻的话，甚至连看也不要看到他。可是尽管这样，他还是上Ｋ这儿来，请Ｋ允许他帮他的忙，在得到了Ｋ的同意以后又感到非常高兴；他还认为别人也会跟他一样想；最突出的例子就是他的妈妈自己也亲口提到Ｋ的名字。这些矛盾在他的脑子里产生了一种信念，那就是尽管Ｋ眼前的处境又狼狈又受人轻视，然而在不可思议的遥远的未来，他一定会出人头地。而吸引着汉斯的也正是这个可笑的遥远的未来和通向未来的飞黄腾达；这就是在目前情况下他为什么还是愿意接近Ｋ的原因。这种特别幼稚而又特别成熟的精明打算，还由于事实上汉斯把Ｋ看成好像是一个年龄远比自己幼小，但是前途却比自己远大的弟弟一样。他最后承认这些事情是因为给弗而达的许多问题逼得没有办法，才不很乐意地一本正经说出来的。当Ｋ说他知道汉斯羡慕他的是什么，他才又快活起来；Ｋ说他羡慕的是他的那根放在桌子上的漂亮手杖，汉斯在谈话时无意中一直在玩着的那根手杖。 Ｋ会做这样的手杖，要是他们的计划成功了，他一定给汉斯做一根比这更漂亮的手杖。现在已经弄不清楚到底汉斯是不是真的就只想那根手杖，可是Ｋ这个诺言使他乐开了；他满脸喜色地跟Ｋ道别，一面紧紧地握了握Ｋ的手，一面说："那么，后天再见啦！"

汉斯走得正是时候，因为没有多久，教师就一下推开了门，看见Ｋ和弗丽达悠闲自在地在桌边坐着，便喊道："原谅我闯进来！可是你们能否告诉我，到底什么时候这儿才能整理好？我们的坐位挤得像沙丁鱼一样，课也上不成啦。你们却在这间大健身房里懒洋洋地躺着，还嫌不够宽畅，连两个助手也给撵走啦。现在总该站起来干点什么了吧！"接着又对Ｋ说道："现在你给我到桥头客栈去把我的午饭拿来。"这些话虽然比较起来说得还算客气，但仍然是怒气冲冲的大喊大叫。Ｋ完全准备服从教师的指挥，但是有心要逗他一下，便说："可是你已经把我辞退了。""不管辞退不辞退，去给我把午饭拿来。"教师回答说。"我要弄清楚，我到底给辞退了没有。"Ｋ说。"你说这些废话干什么？"教师问。"你自己知道，你根本没有接受我的解雇通知。""那么，这样是不是就可以把它宣告无效呢？"Ｋ问。"这不是由我来决定的，"教师说，"你信我的话，看来得由村长来决定，尽管我不懂得是什么道理。你现在赶快去吧，要不然，我可当真要把你撵出去了。"Ｋ心里感到很满意，教师大概跟村长谈过了，也可能根本没有谈过，只是仔细考虑了村长可能表示的意见，而村长的意见是袒护Ｋ的。于是Ｋ连忙动身去拿午饭，可是刚走到门口，教师又把他喊了回来，一来是因为他想用这样出尔反尔的命令来试验Ｋ愿意为他效劳的程度，以便掌握将来使用他的分寸；二来是因为他心血来潮，喜欢把Ｋ呼来喊去地当作一个侍者那样来使唤。在Ｋ这方面呢，他知道如果对教师过分地百般依顺，他就会沦为教师的奴隶和替罪羊，不过他决定，在一定限度以内，目前还是顺着这个家伙的性子再说，因为尽管已经知道教师没有辞退他的权利，可是他完全可以给他的工作制造困难，教他干不下去。现在这个差事在Ｋ的眼里显得比过去重要得多了。跟汉斯谈了那番话，在他心里产生了新的希望，他自己也承认，这些希望未必能实现，甚至是完全没有根据的，可他还是没有办法把这些希望从脑子里赶跑；这些希望几乎取代了巴纳巴斯。假使他一心抱着这些希望--除此以外他也没有别的选择，--他就得节省自己的全部精力，什么事情都别去操心，吃食，住所，乡村当局，甚至连弗丽达都可以撇开不管--而事实上整个事情的关键就是弗丽达，只有同弗丽达有关的事情他才关心。为了这个缘故，他就必须想方设法保住这份差事，这多少能给弗丽达一点安全的感觉，要是为了这个目的，他要在教师的手里忍受一般所不能忍受的苦痛，他也绝无怨言。这一类事都可以容忍，这是生活里不断出现的平淡无奇的、微不足道的烦恼，跟Ｋ所追求的事业对比之下，根本算不了什么，他并不是仅仅为了要过养尊处优的生活而到这儿来的。

所以，他现在表示愿意接受他的第二个命令，就像他愿意上客栈去一样，首先把屋子收拾整齐，好让女教师和孩子们回来上课。可是得赶快收抬好，因为Ｋ接着还得去拿午饭，教师已经饿极了。Ｋ向他保证一切都照办不误；Ｋ便急忙动手把稻草垫子搬走，把运动器械放回原处，在弗丽达洗刷讲台的时候，并把屋子打扫干净。教师站在旁边看了一会儿，他们的于劲似乎平息了教师的怒气，他只叫他们注意堆在柴门外生火炉用的木柴--当然，他不容许Ｋ再上披屋里去拿柴了，--说罢便回到他的教室去了，临走时还吓唬着说他很快就要回来检查他们的工作。 弗而达默默地于了几分钟活儿以后，便问Ｋ为什么他现在对教师这样俯首帖耳。她问这句话的口气是同情的和迫切的，但是Ｋ正在想弗丽达当初的诺言，她本来答应要保护他，不让教师支配他和侮辱他，但是结果她并没有做到，因此，他只是简短地回答说，他既然当了一个看门人，他就得于看门人的工作。接着他们默默无语了，后来还是这短短的交谈引起了Ｋ的注意，原来弗丽达一直在埋头想心事--特别是在他跟汉斯谈话的整个过程中，--他便一面直率地问她有什么不乐意的事，一面把门外的木柴搬进屋子里来。她慢慢地把目光转到Ｋ的身上，回答说，她也说不上到底是在想什么，她只是在想那个客栈老板娘和她说的那许多很有道理的话。在Ｋ逼问之下，她踌躇了几次才说下去，但是她没有停止工作抬起头来看--并不是她专心工作，因为工作并没有进展，只是借此可以不必望着Ｋ讲话罢了。于是她告诉他说，在他跟汉斯谈话的时候，开头她原是静静地听着的，可是接着她就给他说的某几句话吓住了，于是开始搞清楚他这些话的意思，从那以后她就不断地从他的话里证实了老板娘一度给她提出的警告，而这种警告她本来是一直不相信的。 Ｋ听了这种吞吞吐吐的话已经生气了，再听到她那副哭鼻子抹眼泪的抱怨声调，非但没有感动，反而更冒火了--最气人的是因为老板娘又插手到他的事务中来了，尽管只是一种回忆，而迄今为止就她本人来说也没有赢得什么胜利，--他便把怀里抱着的木柴猛地往地上一扔，在木柴上面坐了下来，用严肃的口气要求她把全部事实都说出来。 "不止一次，"弗丽达又开始说道，"是的，打从开头起，老板娘就撺掇我怀疑你，她倒不是说你撒谎骗人，相反，她说你坦率得像孩子，可是你的个性跟我们截然不同，她说，甚至在你说得很坦白的时候，我们还是很难相信你；要是我们不听取人家的忠告，我们就得通过惨痛的经验才能学会怎样相信你。甚至像她这么一个见过世面的人，也几乎上了你的当。可是她在桥头客栈跟你作了最后一次谈话以后--我只是重复她的原话，--她才清醒过来，看出了你的阴谋诡计，她说，从此以后，不管你怎样竭力想把你的本意掩盖起来，你也骗不过她了。但是你并没有掩盖什么，这一点她是一再声明的，后来她接着说：今后但凡碰到第一个有利机会，就得试着仔细地听他说些什么，不要泛泛地听，而是要仔细又仔细地听。她说的就是这些，谈到我本人，她说是你自己告诉她的：你搞上了我--她用的就是这样的字眼，--只是因为你正巧碰上了我，因为我没有真正拒绝你，因为你完全错误地以为酒吧间的女招待原是任何客人可以随意伸手猎取的对象。老板娘还在赫伦霍夫旅馆里打听到，那天晚上你出于某种原因要在那儿过夜，这样，也只有通过我才能达到目的，否则你就没有别的办法。这一切就使你在一夜之间变成了我的情人，然而要使这一下成为更严肃的事情却还需要一些别的什么。这就是克拉姆。老板娘没说她知道你要从克拉姆那儿得到什么，她只是一再说你在认识我以前就一心想接近克拉姆，认识以后也同样如此。所不同的只是在认识我以前，你没有一线希望，而现在你既稳妥又迅速地在我身上取得了接近克拉姆的可靠手段，连你自己也处于有利的地位了。今天你说你在认识我以前，好像在五里雾中瞎闯，我听了这话多么吃惊--不过这还是没有充分根据的表面上的吃惊而已。这些话简直跟老板娘说的完全一样，她也说你只是在认识我以后，才认清了你的目标。这是因为你认为你从我的身上获得了克拉姆的情妇，你就拥有了一个只有用高昂代价才能赎取的人质了。你的奋斗目标就是用这个人质去跟克拉姆打交道。在你的眼睛里，我是无足轻重的东西，而这笔代价却是你的一切。所以，凡是与我有关的，你都准备作出任何让步，而对这笔代价，却寸步不让。所以，我失去了赫伦霍夫旅馆的职业，对你来说是一件无所谓的事情，我离开桥头客栈也无所谓，我在这个学校里于着这种繁重的活儿，在你看来，同样也是无所谓的事。你对我没有一点温存，连跟我在一起的时间也几乎没有，你把我交给两个助手，你从来也没有起过妒忌的念头，在你看来，我惟一的价值就是我一度是克拉姆的情妇，你在无意中拼命教我别忘记克拉姆，这样，一旦决定的时刻到来，我就无法抗拒了；可是同时你跟老板娘大吵大闹，你认为她是惟一能把咱们两个分开的人，这就是你要跟她吵翻的原因，这样你就得跟我一起离开桥头客栈了；但是就我来说，不论发生什么事情，我都是属于你的，这一点你是毫不怀疑的。你把自己同克拉姆的会见当作了一桩买卖，一场现金交易。你估计一切可能性；假使你能达到目的，你就准备什么都于；如果克拉姆要我，你就准备把我献给他，如果他要你缠住我，你就缠住我；如果他要你扔掉我，你也就会扔掉我，你自己也准备好扮演一种角色的；要是对你有利的话，你会声明你是爱我的，你会用强调你的渺小来对抗他的满不在乎，然后再用你是他的后继者这一事实去羞辱他，或者随时准备把你听我说过的我对他的爱情的表白告诉他，央求他重新跟我相好，当然，须得按照你的条件；假使得不到任何答复，那你就于脆用你Ｋ和妻子的名义跑去求他答复。老板娘最后还说，一旦你发现你在每一件事情上--在你的傲慢、你的希望、你对克拉姆和他同我的关系的看法上--都打错了主意，那么，我的炼狱生活也就开始了，因为到那个时候，我才头一遭真正变成了你非依靠不可的惟一资产，然而已经证明是一份毫无价值的资产了，你当然也会视若敝屣，因为你对我并没有什么感情，只是一种所有权的感情罢了。 "

Ｋ嘴唇闭得紧紧地凝神谛听着，连坐着的那堆木柴已经滚散也没有发觉，他几乎坐在地板上了，后来他终于站了起来，坐到讲台上去，握住了弗丽达的手，她无力地想把手抽回去，他说："你说的这些话，我始终分不清这是老板娘的意思还是你自己的意思。""全都是老板娘的意思，"弗丽达说，"我听她的话，只因为我尊敬她，然而这次她说的话我一句也不听，还是生平第一遭呢。她说的这些话在我听来显得非常可笑，跟咱们两个人之间的实际情况差得多远。我觉得实际情况正好跟她所说的相反。我想起咱们第一夜在一起以后的那个阴郁的早晨。你跪在我的身边，你的神气好像一切都完了。从那以后，尽管我竭尽所能地干着，然而真的好像我不是在帮助你，而是在妨碍你。为了我的缘故，老板娘才变成了你的敌人，一个强有力的敌人，甚至到现在你还是把她估计得过低了；为了我的缘故，你才心事重重，你才要争取职位，你才会在村长的面前陷于不利的处境，你才会在教师的面前俯首帖耳，你才会落在那两个助手的手里，但是，最糟的是，也是为了我的缘故，你也许就此失去了会见克拉姆的机会。你至今还在想方设法要接近克拉姆，这不过是企图争取他谅解的无力挣扎罢了。所以我自己思忖，老板娘当然比我懂事得多，她只是想用她的劝告来提醒我，免得我自己后悔莫及。这是一种出于善意然而是多余的企图。我对你的爱情使我经受得住一切考验，到头来也会给你以鼓舞的力量，假使不在这个村子里，也会在别的地方；它已经证明了它的威力，它已经把你从巴纳巴斯的家庭里拯救了出来。""这是你当时的看法，那么，"Ｋ说，"从那时候起，你的爱情变了没有呢？""我不知道，"弗丽达回答道，垂下眼睛看了一下Ｋ的手，Ｋ的两只手仍旧握着她的手，"也许什么都没有变；现在你跟我挨得这么近，这么安详地问我，我就觉得什么都没有改变。可是，事实上……"她把手从Ｋ的手里抽回来，挺直了身子跟他面对面地坐着，默默地啜泣着，却并没有掩着脸；她满面泪痕地望着他，好像她并不是在为自己而哭，因此不用掩饰，而是为Ｋ的忘恩负义而哭，如果他看到她的眼泪而痛苦，那是他罪有应得，"可是，事实上，自从我听了你跟这个孩子的谈话以后，一切就全都变啦。你开始打听他们家里的事情的时候，你那副神气是多么天真呀，问这问那的！在我看来，就跟你那天晚上走进酒吧间的那副又冒昧又坦率的神气一模一样，你是想用这种孩子气的热情来引起我的注意。当时你的情形就像那个样子，我但愿老板娘当时也在场，让她听听你说的话，咱们就可以知道她是否还要坚持自己的看法了。可是，突然之间--我自己也不知道是怎么搞的--我注意到你是抱着一种诡秘的意图在跟他说话的。你用充满了同情的话语赢得了他的信任--要赢得他的信任可真不容易，--这样一来，你就可以轻而易举地达到你的目的，你的目的我也开始看得越来越清楚了。你的目的就是要那个女人。听了你那些显然是很热心的打听她的话，我能够一目了然地看到你的肺腑，你只是在打算你自己的事情。甚至还没有赢得她，你就在欺骗她了。从你说的那些话，我不但认清了我的过去，而且看到了我的将来，就好像老板娘坐在我的旁边给我解释着这一切，我却还要用全身的力气把她撵走一样，但是我又明明知道这是无济于事的，不过，真正要被出卖的不是我，真正在被出卖的也不是我，而是那个陌生女人。后来我恢复了镇定，我问汉斯他将来想做一个什么样的人，他说他想做一个像你这样的人，于是，我知道他已经完全受了你的影响，现在这个可怜的孩子在这儿被你利用，跟我那时在酒吧间里被你利用，这两者之间又有多大区别呢？ " "所有这一切，"Ｋ说，他已经恢复了镇静，平心静气地听着她说话。"你说的这一切，从某种意义上说，是有道理的，也不是虚妄的，不过只是一种偏见罢了。这些全是老板娘的想法，我的敌人的想法，尽管你以为这是你自己的想法；这么一想，我就宽心了。可是这些话颇能发人深思，人们能从老板娘那儿学到很多东西。她本人没有给我说这些话，虽说她在别的方面并不顾惜我的感情；很明显，她把这件武器放到你的手里，希望你对准我的弱点或者要害之处袭击。如果说我欺骗你，那么她也同样是在欺骗你。可是，弗丽达，你不妨想一想，即使全都像老板娘所说的那样，她的那个假设总是可耻的，那就是说你并不爱我。这样，只有这样，才好像我真是为了想从中渔利而且施用了阴谋诡计把你骗上手的。这么说来，连那天晚上我跟奥尔珈手挽手地在你面前出现，也可以说是我为了博得你的爱怜而有意安排的了，老板娘历数我的罪状可偏偏忘记了这一条。不过，要是事实并不是像她说的那么坏，那天晚上并不是你给一只狡猾的凶兽逮住了，而只是你爱上了我，正像我爱上了你一样，我们情不自禁地互相爱上了对方，在这样的情况下，弗丽达，请你告诉我，事情又将如何呢？如果真像你说的那样，那么，我为自己打算，那也是为了你，这里没有什么区别，只有敌人才能从中看出什么区别来。事情就是这样，甚至我跟汉斯的谈话也是这样。况且，在你谴责我跟汉斯的谈话中，你已经神经过敏得把事情夸张到了惊人的地步，因为如果汉斯的意图跟我的并不一致，那也决不能说我和他的意图就处于对立的地位，而且你我之间的分歧也不会在汉斯的身上消失，如果你相信这一点，那你就大大地误解了这个小心谨慎的小家伙了，即使我们之间的矛盾因为汉斯而得到了解决，我想，那也不会有谁因此而更倒霉。" "看清一个人的脾性有多么困难啊，Ｋ，"弗而达叹了一口气说。"我自然并不怀疑你，要是我真从老板娘那儿学会这种本领的话，那我宁愿把它扔掉，跪下来恳求你宽恕我，就像我平素那样，请相信我，哪怕我说着这些教人厌恶的事情的时候，我也是这样。可是到底你还是有许多事情瞒着我；你一会儿来了，一会儿又去了，我不知道你往哪儿去，也不知道你打哪儿来。刚才汉斯敲门的时候，你又喊出了巴纳巴斯的名字来。我不懂为什么那个可恨的名字，你却喊得那么亲热，但愿我的名字也能有一次让你喊得那么亲热就好了。要是你不信任我，那教我怎么能不起疑心呢？这样就把我完全交给老板娘了，你的行动似乎证明她说对了。不是样样事情，我不是说样样事情你都证明她说对了，你把两个助手打发走，不就是为了我的缘故吗？啊，我是多么渴望能从你的言行找到一点一滴给我安慰的东西，即使因此忍受痛苦我也心甘情愿，如果你能知道我这份苦心就好了。""我只说这一遍了，弗丽达，"Ｋ说，"我没有一丁点儿的事情瞒着你。你看老板娘是多么恨我，她又是怎样千方百计地想把你从我身边拉走，她用的是多么卑鄙的手段，而你，弗丽达，对她又是多么俯首帖耳，多么俯首帖耳啊！现在告诉我，我有哪方面的事情瞒着你呢？你知道我要见克拉姆，你又帮不了我的忙，因此，我只好靠自己去努力了，这你也是知道的；你也知道我直到现在还没有成功。这一切枉费心机的企图也许已经把我自己屈辱得够受的了，难道我还要把这些都告诉你，这样来加倍屈辱自己吗？那天在克拉姆的雪橇的车门前白白地守了整整一个下午，冻得浑身发抖，这难道也要我来自吹自擂吗？正是因为我实在不愿意再去想这些事情，我才匆匆地跑回到你身边来，可是迎接我的却又是你给我的这许多谴责。你说巴纳巴斯吗？不错，我是在等他。他是克拉姆的使者，可不是我让他当克拉姆的使者的。""又是巴纳巴斯！"弗丽达叫了起来。"我不相信他是一个好使者。""也许你说得对，"Ｋ说，"可是他们给我派来的只有他这么一个使者。""这对你更不利，"弗丽达说，"这一切更有理由说明为什么你应该提防他。""不幸，直到今天，他还没有给我任何需要提防他的理由，"Ｋ笑着说。"他很少来，带来的信息也是无关紧要的；只是因为那是从克拉姆那儿来的，才有一些价值罢了。""可是你听我说，"弗丽达说，"这是因为现在就连克拉姆也不是你的目标了，也许就是这一点使我心里最不安了；你原先跟我在一起的时候，总是惦记着克拉姆，这已经够糟了，可是现在你好像连克拉姆也不想见了，那就更糟了，这一点连老板娘也没有预见到。据老板娘说，有一天当你终于发现你寄托在克拉姆身上的希望落空了，你的幸福，一种靠不住的然而是非常真实的幸福，也就完结了。可现在你连那一天也不再等待了，一个小孩子突然出现了，你就为了他的母亲开始跟他周旋，仿佛是为了自己的生命在作斗争似的。""我跟汉斯的谈话，你理解得完全正确，"Ｋ说，"真是这样。可是你过去的全部生活难道都忘掉了吗（当然，老板娘除外，她的过去的生活是不愿意忘掉的），难道你忘记了一个人应该努力往上爬，特别是在他处于底层的时候？一个人难道不应该利用一切可能给他带来希望的机会吗？我到这儿的第一天，偶尔闯到了雷斯曼家里，就在他家里，这个女人亲口告诉我说她是从城堡里来的。向她请教或者甚至向她求助，那是再自然也不过的事；假使老板娘只知道接近克拉姆的重重障碍，那么，这个女人可能就知道通向克拉姆的道路，因为她自己就是打那条路上来到这儿的。""到克拉姆那儿去的道路？"弗丽达问道。"当然，到克拉姆那儿去，不到他那儿去，还上哪儿去呢？"Ｋ说。接着，他跳了起来："可现在正是我去拿午饭的时候了。"弗丽达怀着一种不合时宜的渴望，迫切地央求他留下来，仿佛只有他跟她呆在一起，才能证实他所说的一切安慰她的话。但是Ｋ想到了那位教师，他指了指那扇随时都会霹雳一声打开的房门，并答应她马上就回来，告诉她连炉子也不用生，他自己会回来料理的。最后弗丽达默默地让步了。当Ｋ踩着积雪出门时--这条路上的积雪早该铲除了，真奇怪，工作进行得多慢！--他看见一个助手这会儿还筋疲力尽地抓住了栏杆不放。只有他一个人，还有一个上哪儿去了呢？这么说，他至少已经挫败了其中一个人的耐心了。这留下来的一个却还是满腔热诚，这是一眼就看得出的，他一看见Ｋ就更活跃了，比以前更狂热地向Ｋ伸出了两只手臂，翻着眼睛。"他倒是固执得惊人，"Ｋ暗自思忖着，可是他不禁又想，"要是他再这样扶下去，他要冻死在栏杆旁的。"但是表面上他没有向助手作任何表示，只是威胁地向他扬了扬拳头，不让他挨近一步；助手也就真的往后退了好几步。弗丽达为了要在生火以前让房间里通一下风（这是她答应Ｋ的），这时正巧打开了窗子。助手的注意力立刻从Ｋ的身上转移到那边去了，仿佛禁不住吸引似地往窗子那边爬去。弗丽达的脸上露出了可怜助手的神色，又对Ｋ投来了无益的求情的目光，她犹豫地把一只手伸到窗外，不知道是在招呼他呢，还是叫他走开，助手却并不因此而打消向她走近来的决心。于是，弗丽达急忙关上了外面的一道窗子，但是她仍旧在窗子后面站着，把手搁在窗沿上，侧着头，眼睛睁得大大的，脸上一直含着笑容。难道她不知道，她这样站着只会吸引助手而不会赶走他吗？但是Ｋ不再掉头去望了，他想，他最好还是速去速回。