1984
Chapter 7
Hismotherdrewherarmroundthechildandpresseditsfaceagainstherbreast. Somethinginthegesturetoldhimthathissisterwasdying. Heturnedandfleddownthestairs,withthechocolategrowingstickyinhishand.
Heneversawhismotheragain. Afterhehaddevouredthechocolatehefeltsomewhatashamedofhimselfandhungaboutinthestreetsforseveralhours,untilhungerdrovehimhome. Whenhecamebackhismotherhaddisappeared. Thiswasalreadybecomingnormalatthattime. Nothingwasgonefromtheroomexcepthismotherandhissister. Theyhadnottakenanyclothes,notevenhismother’sovercoat. Tothisdayhedidnotknowwithanycertaintythathismotherwasdead. Itwasperfectlypossiblethatshehadmerelybeensenttoaforced-labourcamp. Asforhissister,shemighthavebeenremoved,likeWinstonhimself,tooneofthecoloniesforhomelesschildren(ReclamationCentres,theywerecalled)whichhadgrownupasaresultofthecivilwar, orshemighthavebeensenttothelabourcampalongwithhismother,orsimplyleftsomewhereorothertodie.
Thedreamwasstillvividinhismind,especiallytheenvelopingprotectinggestureofthearminwhichitswholemeaningseemedtobecontained. Hismindwentbacktoanotherdreamoftwomonthsago. Exactlyashismotherhadsatonthedingywhite-quiltedbed,withthechildclingingtoher,soshehadsatinthesunkenship,farunderneathhim,anddrowningdeepereveryminute,butstilllookingupathimthroughthedarkeningwater.
HetoldJuliathestoryofhismother’sdisappearance. Withoutopeninghereyessherolledoverandsettledherselfintoamorecomfortableposition.
