1984

           ‘Theydogetsonoisy,’shesaid. ‘They’redisappointedbecausetheycouldn’tgotoseethehanging,that’swhatitis. I’mtoobusytotakethem. andTomwon’tbebackfromworkintime.’ 

           ‘Whycan’twegoandseethehanging? ’roaredtheboyinhishugevoice. 

           ‘Wanttoseethehanging! Wanttoseethehanging! ’chantedthelittlegirl,stillcaperinground. 

           SomeEurasianprisoners,guiltyofwarcrimes,weretobehangedintheParkthatevening,Winstonremembered. Thishappenedaboutonceamonth,andwasapopularspectacle. Childrenalwaysclamouredtobetakentoseeit. HetookhisleaveofMrsParsonsandmadeforthedoor. Buthehadnotgonesixstepsdownthepassagewhensomethinghitthebackofhisneckanagonizinglypainfulblow. Itwasasthoughared-hotwirehadbeenjabbedintohim. HespunroundjustintimetoseeMrsParsonsdragginghersonbackintothedoorwaywhiletheboypocketedacatapult. 

           ‘Goldstein! ’bellowedtheboyasthedoorclosedonhim. ButwhatmoststruckWinstonwasthelookofhelplessfrightonthewoman’sgreyishface. 

           Backintheflathesteppedquicklypastthetelescreenandsatdownatthetableagain,stillrubbinghisneck. Themusicfromthetelescreenhadstopped. Instead,aclippedmilitaryvoicewasreadingout,withasortofbrutalrelish,adescriptionofthearmamentsofthenewFloatingFortresswhichhadjustbeenanchoredbetweenIcelandandtheFaroeIslands. 

           Withthosechildren,hethought,thatwretchedwomanmustleadalifeofterror. Anotheryear,twoyears,andtheywouldbewatchinghernightanddayforsymptomsofunorthodoxy.