1984

           ‘Thirtytofortygroup! Takeyourplaces,please. Thirtiestoforties!’ 

           Winstonsprangtoattentioninfrontofthetelescreen, uponwhichtheimageofayoungishwoman,scrawnybutmuscular,dressedintunicandgym-shoes,hadalreadyappeared. ‘Armsbendingandstretching! ’sherappedout. ‘Takeyourtimebyme. ONE,two,three,four! ONE,two,three,four! Comeon,comrades,putabitoflifeintoit! ONE,two,threefour! ONEtwo,three,four!...’ 

           ThepainofthecoughingfithadnotquitedrivenoutofWinston’smindtheimpressionmadebyhisdream,andtherhythmicmovementsoftheexerciserestoreditsomewhat. Ashemechanicallyshothisarmsbackandforth,wearingonhisfacethelookofgrimenjoyment whichwasconsideredproperduringthePhysicalJerks,hewasstrugglingtothinkhiswaybackwardintothedimperiodofhisearlychildhood. Itwasextraordinarilydifficult. Beyondthelatefiftieseverythingfaded. Whentherewerenoexternalrecordsthatyoucouldreferto,eventheoutlineofyourownlifelostitssharpness. Yourememberedhugeeventswhichhadquiteprobablynothappened, yourememberedthedetailofincidentswithoutbeingabletorecapturetheiratmosphere,andtherewerelongblankperiodstowhichyoucouldassignnothing. Everythinghadbeendifferentthen. Eventhenamesofcountries,andtheirshapesonthemap,hadbeendifferent. AirstripOne,forinstance,hadnotbeensocalledinthosedays: ithadbeencalledEnglandorBritain,thoughLondon,hefeltfairlycertain,hadalwaysbeencalledLondon. 

           Winstoncouldnotdefinitelyrememberatimewhenhiscountryhadnotbeenatwar,butitwasevidentthattherehadbeenafairlylongintervalofpeaceduringhischildhood, becauseoneofhisearlymemorieswasofanairraidwhichappearedtotakeeveryonebysurprise.