The Metamorphosis — Chapter 2 in Spanish
By Franz Kafka
Aunque Gregor no era capaz de escuchar noticias directamente, sí escuchaba mucho de lo que se decía en las habitaciones contiguas, y siempre que oía a alguien hablar, corría rápidamente a la puerta apropiada y presionaba todo su cuerpo contra ella. Although Gregor wasn't able to hear any news directly he did listen to much of what was said in the next rooms, and whenever he heard anyone speaking he would scurry straight to the appropriate door and press his whole body against it. Rara vez había conversación, especialmente al principio, que no fuera sobre él de alguna manera, aunque fuera solo en secreto. There was seldom any conversation, especially at first, that was not about him in some way, even if only in secret. Durante dos días enteros, toda la conversación en cada comida fue sobre qué deberían hacer ahora; pero incluso entre comidas hablaban del mismo tema ya que siempre había al menos dos miembros de la familia en casa - nadie quería estar en casa solo y era imposible dejar el apartamento completamente vacío. For two whole days, all the talk at every mealtime was about what they should do now; but even between meals they spoke about the same subject as there were always at least two members of the family at home - nobody wanted to be at home by themselves and it was out of the question to leave the flat entirely empty. Y en el primer día mismo, la criada se había caído de rodillas y le había suplicado a la madre de Gregor que la dejara ir sin demora. And on the very first day the maid had fallen to her knees and begged Gregor's mother to let her go without delay. No estaba muy claro cuánto sabía de lo que había sucedido, pero se fue dentro de un cuarto de hora, agradeciendo llorosa a la madre de Gregor por su despido como si le hubiera hecho un enorme servicio. It was not very clear how much she knew of what had happened but she left within a quarter of an hour, tearfully thanking Gregor's mother for her dismissal as if she had done her an enormous service. Incluso juró enfáticamente no contarle a nadie ni lo más mínimo sobre lo que había sucedido, aunque nadie se lo había pedido. She even swore emphatically not to tell anyone the slightest about what had happened, even though no-one had asked that of her.
Ahora la hermana de Gregor también tenía que ayudar a su madre con la cocina; aunque eso no era tanta molestia ya que nadie comía mucho. Now Gregor's sister also had to help his mother with the cooking; although that was not so much bother as no-one ate very much. Gregor a menudo escuchaba cómo uno de ellos intentaba sin éxito urgir a otro a comer, y recibía no más respuesta que "no gracias, he comido bastante" o algo similar. Gregor often heard how one of them would unsuccessfully urge another to eat, and receive no more answer than "no thanks, I've had enough" or something similar. Nadie tampoco bebía mucho. No-one drank very much either. Su hermana a veces le preguntaba a su padre si le gustaría una cerveza, esperando tener la oportunidad de ir a traerla ella misma. His sister would sometimes ask his father whether he would like a beer, hoping for the chance to go and fetch it herself. Cuando su padre no decía nada, ella añadía, para que no se sintiera egoísta, que podía enviar al ama de llaves por ella, pero entonces su padre cerraría el asunto con un "No" grande y fuerte, y no se diría más. When his father then said nothing she would add, so that he would not feel selfish, that she could send the housekeeper for it, but then his father would close the matter with a big, loud "No", and no more would be said.
Incluso antes de que el primer día llegara a su fin, su padre le había explicado a la madre y hermana de Gregor cuál era su situación financiera y perspectivas. Even before the first day had come to an end, his father had explained to Gregor's mother and sister what their finances and prospects were. De vez en cuando se levantaba de la mesa y sacaba algún recibo o documento de la pequeña caja de caudales que había guardado de su negocio cuando se había desplomado cinco años antes. Now and then he stood up from the table and took some receipt or document from the little cash box he had saved from his business when it had collapsed five years earlier. Gregor escuchó cómo abría la cerradura complicada y luego la cerraba nuevamente después de haber tomado el artículo que quería. Gregor heard how he opened the complicated lock and then closed it again after he had taken the item he wanted. Lo que escuchó decir a su padre fue algunas de las primeras buenas noticias que Gregor escuchó desde que había sido encarcelado por primera vez en su habitación. What he heard his father say was some of the first good news that Gregor heard since he had first been incarcerated in his room. Había pensado que nada en absoluto quedaba del negocio de su padre, al menos él nunca le había contado nada diferente, y Gregor nunca le había preguntado al respecto de todas formas. He had thought that nothing at all remained from his father's business, at least he had never told him anything different, and Gregor had never asked him about it anyway. Su desgracia empresarial había reducido a la familia a un estado de desesperación total, y la única preocupación de Gregor en ese momento había sido arreglar las cosas para que todos pudieran olvidarlo lo antes posible. Their business misfortune had reduced the family to a state of total despair, and Gregor's only concern at that time had been to arrange things so that they could all forget about it as quickly as possible. Así que entonces comenzó a trabajar especialmente duro, con un vigor ardiente que lo elevó de vendedor junior a representante viajero casi de la noche a la mañana, trayendo consigo la oportunidad de ganar dinero de maneras bastante diferentes. So then he started working especially hard, with a fiery vigour that raised him from a junior salesman to a travelling representative almost overnight, bringing with it the chance to earn money in quite different ways. Gregor convirtió su éxito en el trabajo directamente en efectivo que podía poner sobre la mesa en casa para beneficio de su familia sorprendida y deleitada. Gregor converted his success at work straight into cash that he could lay on the table at home for the benefit of his astonished and delighted family. Habían sido buenos tiempos y nunca volvieron, al menos no con el mismo esplendor, aunque Gregor había ganado tanto después que estaba en posición de asumir los costos de toda la familia, y los asumía. They had been good times and they had never come again, at least not with the same splendour, even though Gregor had later earned so much that he was in a position to bear the costs of the whole family, and did bear them. Incluso se habían acostumbrado a ello, tanto Gregor como la familia, tomaban el dinero con gratitud y él estaba feliz de proporcionarlo, aunque ya no había mucho afecto cálido dado a cambio. They had even got used to it, both Gregor and the family, they took the money with gratitude and he was glad to provide it, although there was no longer much warm affection given in return. Gregor ahora solo se mantenía cerca de su hermana. Gregor only remained close to his sister now. A diferencia de él, ella era muy aficionada a la música y una violinista talentosa y expresiva, su plan secreto era enviarla al conservatorio el próximo año aunque causaría un gran gasto que tendría que compensarse de alguna otra manera. Unlike him, she was very fond of music and a gifted and expressive violinist, it was his secret plan to send her to the conservatory next year even though it would cause great expense that would have to be made up for in some other way. Durante los breves períodos de Gregor en la ciudad, la conversación con su hermana a menudo se volvería hacia el conservatorio, pero solo se mencionaba como un sueño encantador que nunca podría realizarse. During Gregor's short periods in town, conversation with his sister would often turn to the conservatory but it was only ever mentioned as a lovely dream that could never be realised. A sus padres no les gustaba escuchar esta charla inocente, pero Gregor pensó en ello bastante y decidió que les haría saber lo que planeaba con un gran anuncio el día de Navidad. Their parents did not like to hear this innocent talk, but Gregor thought about it quite hard and decided he would let them know what he planned with a grand announcement of it on Christmas day.
Ese era el tipo de cosa totalmente sin sentido que pasaba por su mente en su estado presente, presionado contra la puerta escuchando. That was the sort of totally pointless thing that went through his mind in his present state, pressed upright against the door and listening. Había momentos en que simplemente se cansaba demasiado para continuar escuchando, cuando su cabeza caería cansada contra la puerta y la levantaría nuevamente con un susto, ya que incluso el menor ruido que causaba sería escuchado en la habitación contigua y todos guardarían silencio. There were times when he simply became too tired to continue listening, when his head would fall wearily against the door and he would pull it up again with a start, as even the slightest noise he caused would be heard next door and they would all go silent. "Qué es lo que está haciendo ahora", diría su padre después de un rato, claramente habiendo ido a la puerta, y solo entonces la conversación interrumpida se reanudaría lentamente. "What's that he's doing now", his father would say after a while, clearly having gone over to the door, and only then would the interrupted conversation slowly be taken up again.