1984

           Heexaminedthechessproblemandsetoutthepieces. Itwasatrickyending,involvingacoupleofknights. ‘Whitetoplayandmateintwomoves.’ WinstonlookedupattheportraitofBigBrother. Whitealwaysmates,hethoughtwithasortofcloudymysticism. Always,withoutexception,itissoarranged. Innochessproblemsincethebeginningoftheworldhasblackeverwon. Diditnotsymbolizetheeternal,unvaryingtriumphofGoodoverEvil? Thehugefacegazedbackathim,fullofcalmpower. Whitealwaysmates. 

           Thevoicefromthetelescreenpausedandaddedinadifferentandmuchgravertone: ‘Youarewarnedtostandbyforanimportantannouncementatfifteen-thirty. Fifteen-thirty! Thisisnewsofthehighestimportance. Takecarenottomissit. Fifteen-thirty!’ Thetinklingmusicstruckupagain. 

           Winston’sheartstirred. Thatwasthebulletinfromthefront; instincttoldhimthatitwasbadnewsthatwascoming. Allday,withlittlespurtsofexcitement,thethoughtofasmashingdefeatinAfricahadbeeninandoutofhismind. HeseemedactuallytoseetheEurasianarmyswarmingacrossthenever-brokenfrontierandpouringdownintothetipofAfricalikeacolumnofants. Whyhaditnotbeenpossibletooutflanktheminsomeway? TheoutlineoftheWestAfricancoaststoodoutvividlyinhismind. Hepickedupthewhiteknightandmoveditacrosstheboard. THEREwastheproperspot. Evenwhilehesawtheblackhorderacingsouthwardhesawanotherforce,mysteriouslyassembled,suddenlyplantedintheirrear,cuttingtheircommunicationsbylandandsea. Hefeltthatbywillingithewasbringingthatotherforceintoexistence. Butitwasnecessarytoactquickly. IftheycouldgetcontrolofthewholeofAfrica,iftheyhadairfieldsandsubmarinebasesattheCape,itwouldcutOceaniaintwo.