1984
Chapter 8
Yououghtnottohavecomeheretogether,andyouwillhavetoleaveseparately. You,comrade’—hebowedhisheadtoJulia—‘willleavefirst. Wehaveabouttwentyminutesatourdisposal. YouwillunderstandthatImuststartbyaskingyoucertainquestions. Ingeneralterms,whatareyoupreparedtodo?’
‘Anythingthatwearecapableof,’saidWinston.
O’BrienhadturnedhimselfalittleinhischairsothathewasfacingWinston. HealmostignoredJulia,seemingtotakeitforgrantedthatWinstoncouldspeakforher. Foramomentthelidsflitteddownoverhiseyes. Hebeganaskinghisquestionsinalow,expressionlessvoice,asthoughthiswerearoutine,asortofcatechism,mostofwhoseanswerswereknowntohimalready.
‘Youarepreparedtogiveyourlives?’
‘Yes.’
‘Youarepreparedtocommitmurder?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tocommitactsofsabotagewhichmaycausethedeathofhundredsofinnocentpeople?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tobetrayyourcountrytoforeignpowers?’
‘Yes.’
