1984

           Nearlyallchildrennowadayswerehorrible. WhatwasworstofallwasthatbymeansofsuchorganizationsastheSpiestheyweresystematicallyturnedintoungovernablelittlesavages, andyetthisproducedinthemnotendencywhatevertorebelagainstthedisciplineoftheParty. Onthecontrary,theyadoredthePartyandeverythingconnectedwithit. Thesongs,theprocessions,thebanners,thehiking,thedrillingwithdummyrifles,theyellingofslogans,theworshipofBigBrother—itwasallasortofgloriousgametothem. Alltheirferocitywasturnedoutwards,againsttheenemiesoftheState,againstforeigners,traitors,saboteurs,thought-criminals. Itwasalmostnormalforpeopleoverthirtytobefrightenedoftheirownchildren. Andwithgoodreason,forhardlyaweekpassedinwhich‘TheTimes’didnotcarryaparagraphdescribinghowsomeeavesdroppinglittlesneak—‘childhero’wasthephrasegenerallyused —hadoverheardsomecompromisingremarkanddenounceditsparentstotheThoughtPolice. 

           Thestingofthecatapultbullethadwornoff. Hepickeduphispenhalf-heartedly,wonderingwhetherhecouldfindsomethingmoretowriteinthediary. SuddenlyhebeganthinkingofO’Brienagain. 

           Yearsago—howlongwasit? Sevenyearsitmustbe—hehaddreamedthathewaswalkingthroughapitch-darkroom. Andsomeonesittingtoonesideofhimhadsaidashepassed: ‘Weshallmeetintheplacewherethereisnodarkness.’ 

           Itwassaidveryquietly,almostcasually—astatement,notacommand. Hehadwalkedonwithoutpausing. Whatwascuriouswasthatatthetime,inthedream,thewordshadnotmademuchimpressiononhim. Itwasonlylaterandbydegreesthattheyhadseemedtotakeonsignificance.