1984

           I’llgetoffwithfiveyears,don’tyouthink? Oreventenyears? Achaplikemecouldmakehimselfprettyusefulinalabour-camp. Theywouldn’tshootmeforgoingofftherailsjustonce?’ 

           ‘Areyouguilty?’saidWinston. 

           ‘OfcourseI’mguilty!’criedParsonswithaservileglanceatthetelescreen. ‘Youdon’tthinkthePartywouldarrestaninnocentman,doyou?’ Hisfrog-likefacegrewcalmer,andeventookonaslightlysanctimoniousexpression. ‘Thoughtcrimeisadreadfulthing,oldman,’hesaidsententiously. ‘It’sinsidious.Itcangetholdofyouwithoutyourevenknowingit. Doyouknowhowitgotholdofme? Inmysleep! Yes,that’safact. ThereIwas,workingaway,tryingtodomybit—neverknewIhadanybadstuffinmymindatall. AndthenIstartedtalkinginmysleep. Doyouknowwhattheyheardmesaying?’ 

           Hesankhisvoice,likesomeonewhoisobligedformedicalreasonstoutteranobscenity. 

           ‘"DownwithBigBrother! "Yes,Isaidthat!Saiditoverandoveragain,itseems. Betweenyouandme,oldman,I’mgladtheygotmebeforeitwentanyfurther. DoyouknowwhatI’mgoingtosaytothemwhenIgoupbeforethetribunal? "Thankyou,"I’mgoingtosay,"thankyouforsavingmebeforeitwastoolate."’ 

           ‘Whodenouncedyou?’saidWinston. 

           ‘Itwasmylittledaughter,’saidParsonswithasortofdolefulpride. ‘Shelistenedatthekeyhole. HeardwhatIwassaying,andnippedofftothepatrolstheverynextday.