1984

           Prettysmartforanipperofseven,eh? Idon’tbearheranygrudgeforit. InfactI’mproudofher. ItshowsIbroughtherupintherightspirit,anyway.’ 

           Hemadeafewmorejerkymovementsupanddown,severaltimes,castingalongingglanceatthelavatorypan. Thenhesuddenlyrippeddownhisshorts. 

           ‘Excuseme,oldman,’hesaid. ‘Ican’thelpit. It’sthewaiting.’ 

           Heplumpedhislargeposteriorintothelavatorypan. Winstoncoveredhisfacewithhishands. 

           ‘Smith!’yelledthevoicefromthetelescreen. ‘6079SmithW.! Uncoveryourface. Nofacescoveredinthecells.’ 

           Winstonuncoveredhisface. Parsonsusedthelavatory,loudlyandabundantly. Itthenturnedoutthattheplugwasdefectiveandthecellstankabominablyforhoursafterwards. 

           Parsonswasremoved. Moreprisonerscameandwent,mysteriously. One,awoman,wasconsignedto‘Room101’,and,Winstonnoticed,seemedtoshrivelandturnadifferentcolourwhensheheardthewords. Atimecamewhen,ifithadbeenmorningwhenhewasbroughthere,itwouldbeafternoon;orifithadbeenafternoon,thenitwouldbemidnight. Thereweresixprisonersinthecell,menandwomen. Allsatverystill. OppositeWinstontheresatamanwithachinless,toothyfaceexactlylikethatofsomelarge,harmlessrodent. Hisfat,mottledcheeksweresopouchedatthebottomthatitwasdifficultnottobelievethathehadlittlestoresoffoodtuckedawaythere. Hispale-greyeyesflittedtimorouslyfromfacetofaceandturnedquicklyawayagainwhenhecaughtanyone’seye.