1984

           Winstonundidthebitofstringthatheldhisoverallstogether. Thezipfastenerhadlongsincebeenwrenchedoutofthem. Hecouldnotrememberwhetheratanytimesincehisarresthehadtakenoffallhisclothesatonetime. Beneaththeoverallshisbodywasloopedwithfilthyyellowishrags,justrecognizableastheremnantsofunderclothes. Asheslidthemtothegroundhesawthattherewasathree-sidedmirroratthefarendoftheroom. Heapproachedit,thenstoppedshort. Aninvoluntarycryhadbrokenoutofhim. 

           ‘Goon,’saidO’Brien. ‘Standbetweenthewingsofthemirror. Youshallseethesideviewaswell.’ 

           Hehadstoppedbecausehewasfrightened. Abowed,grey-coloured,skeleton-likethingwascomingtowardshim. Itsactualappearancewasfrightening,andnotmerelythefactthatheknewittobehimself. Hemovedclosertotheglass. Thecreature’sfaceseemedtobeprotruded,becauseofitsbentcarriage. Aforlorn,jailbird’sfacewithanobbyforeheadrunningbackintoabaldscalp,acrookednose,andbattered-lookingcheekbonesabovewhichhiseyeswerefierceandwatchful. Thecheekswereseamed,themouthhadadrawn-inlook. Certainlyitwashisownface,butitseemedtohimthatithadchangedmorethanhehadchangedinside. Theemotionsitregisteredwouldbedifferentfromtheoneshefelt. Hehadgonepartiallybald. Forthefirstmomenthehadthoughtthathehadgonegreyaswell,butitwasonlythescalpthatwasgrey. Exceptforhishandsandacircleofhisface,hisbodywasgreyalloverwithancient,ingraineddirt. Hereandthereunderthedirtthereweretheredscarsofwounds,andneartheanklethevaricoseulcerwasaninflamedmasswithflakesofskinpeelingoffit. Butthetrulyfrighteningthingwastheemaciationofhisbody.