1984
Chapter 2
‘Whatisyourname?’saidWinston.
‘Julia.Iknowyours.It’sWinston—WinstonSmith.’
‘Howdidyoufindthatout?’
‘IexpectI’mbetteratfindingthingsoutthanyouare,dear. Tellme,whatdidyouthinkofmebeforethatdayIgaveyouthenote?’
Hedidnotfeelanytemptationtotellliestoher. Itwasevenasortoflove-offeringtostartoffbytellingtheworst.
‘Ihatedthesightofyou,’hesaid. ‘Iwantedtorapeyouandthenmurderyouafterwards. TwoweeksagoIthoughtseriouslyofsmashingyourheadinwithacobblestone. Ifyoureallywanttoknow,IimaginedthatyouhadsomethingtodowiththeThoughtPolice.’
Thegirllaugheddelightedly,evidentlytakingthisasatributetotheexcellenceofherdisguise.
‘NottheThoughtPolice!Youdidn’thonestlythinkthat?’
‘Well,perhapsnotexactlythat. Butfromyourgeneralappearance—merelybecauseyou’reyoungandfreshandhealthy,youunderstand—Ithoughtthatprobably——’
‘YouthoughtIwasagoodPartymember.Pureinwordanddeed. Banners,processions,slogans,games,communityhikesallthatstuff. AndyouthoughtthatifIhadaquarterofachanceI’ddenounceyouasathought-criminalandgetyoukilledoff?’
