1984

           Thereweredayswhentheyassembledandthenpromptlydispersedagain,franklyadmittingtooneanotherthattherewasnotreallyanythingtobedone. Buttherewereotherdayswhentheysettleddowntotheirworkalmosteagerly,makingatremendousshowofenteringuptheirminutesanddraftinglongmemorandawhichwereneverfinished —whentheargumentastowhattheyweresupposedlyarguingaboutgrewextraordinarilyinvolvedandabstruse,withsubtlehagglingoverdefinitions,enormousdigressions,quarrels—threats,even,toappealtohigherauthority. Andthensuddenlythelifewouldgooutofthemandtheywouldsitroundthetablelookingatoneanotherwithextincteyes,likeghostsfadingatcock-crow. 

           Thetelescreenwassilentforamoment. Winstonraisedhisheadagain.Thebulletin! Butno,theyweremerelychangingthemusic. HehadthemapofAfricabehindhiseyelids. Themovementofthearmieswasadiagram: ablackarrowtearingverticallysouthward,andawhitearrowhorizontallyeastward,acrossthetailofthefirst. Asthoughforreassurancehelookedupattheimperturbablefaceintheportrait. Wasitconceivablethatthesecondarrowdidnotevenexist? 

           Hisinterestflaggedagain. Hedrankanothermouthfulofgin,pickedupthewhiteknightandmadeatentativemove. Check. Butitwasevidentlynottherightmove,because—— 

           Uncalled,amemoryfloatedintohismind. Hesawacandle-litroomwithavastwhite-counterpanedbed,andhimself,aboyofnineorten,sittingonthefloor,shakingadice-box,andlaughingexcitedly. Hismotherwassittingoppositehimandalsolaughing.