1984

           ‘‘Ecould’adrawedmeoffapint,’grumbledtheoldmanashesettleddownbehindaglass. ‘A’alflitreain’tenough. Itdon’tsatisfy. Anda’olelitre’stoomuch. Itstartsmybladderrunning. Letalonetheprice.’ 

           ‘Youmusthaveseengreatchangessinceyouwereayoungman,’saidWinstontentatively. 

           Theoldman’spaleblueeyesmovedfromthedartsboardtothebar,andfromthebartothedooroftheGents,asthoughitwereinthebar-roomthatheexpectedthechangestohaveoccurred. 

           ‘Thebeerwasbetter,’hesaidfinally. ‘Andcheaper! WhenIwasayoungman,mildbeer—wallopweusedtocallit—wasfourpenceapint. Thatwasbeforethewar,ofcourse.’ 

           ‘Whichwarwasthat?’saidWinston. 

           ‘It’sallwars,’saidtheoldmanvaguely. Hetookuphisglass,andhisshouldersstraightenedagain. ‘‘Ere’swishingyoutheverybestof’ealth!’ 

           Inhisleanthroatthesharp-pointedAdam’sapplemadeasurprisinglyrapidup-and-downmovement,andthebeervanished. Winstonwenttothebarandcamebackwithtwomorehalf-litres. Theoldmanappearedtohaveforgottenhisprejudiceagainstdrinkingafulllitre. 

           ‘YouareverymucholderthanIam,’saidWinston. ‘YoumusthavebeenagrownmanbeforeIwasborn. Youcanrememberwhatitwaslikeintheolddays,beforetheRevolution. Peopleofmyagedon’treallyknowanythingaboutthosetimes. Wecanonlyreadabouttheminbooks,andwhatitsaysinthebooksmaynotbetrue.