1984

           Yourespecialfearisthatitwillbeyourbackbone. Youhaveavividmentalpictureofthevertebraesnappingapartandthespinalfluiddrippingoutofthem. Thatiswhatyouarethinking,isitnot,Winston?’ 

           Winstondidnotanswer. O’Briendrewbacktheleveronthedial. Thewaveofpainrecededalmostasquicklyasithadcome. 

           ‘Thatwasforty,’saidO’Brien. ‘Youcanseethatthenumbersonthisdialrunuptoahundred. Willyoupleaseremember,throughoutourconversation,thatIhaveitinmypowertoinflictpainonyouatanymomentandtowhateverdegreeIchoose? Ifyoutellmeanylies,orattempttoprevaricateinanyway,orevenfallbelowyourusuallevelofintelligence,youwillcryoutwithpain,instantly. Doyouunderstandthat?’ 

           ‘Yes,’saidWinston. 

           O’Brien’smannerbecamelesssevere. Heresettledhisspectaclesthoughtfully,andtookapaceortwoupanddown. Whenhespokehisvoicewasgentleandpatient. Hehadtheairofadoctor,ateacher,evenapriest,anxioustoexplainandpersuaderatherthantopunish. 

           ‘Iamtakingtroublewithyou,Winston,’hesaid,‘becauseyouareworthtrouble. Youknowperfectlywellwhatisthematterwithyou. Youhaveknownitforyears,thoughyouhavefoughtagainsttheknowledge. Youarementallyderanged. Yousufferfromadefectivememory. Youareunabletorememberrealeventsandyoupersuadeyourselfthatyourememberothereventswhichneverhappened. Fortunatelyitiscurable. Youhavenevercuredyourselfofit,becauseyoudidnotchooseto. Therewasasmalleffortofthewillthatyouwerenotreadytomake.