1984

           Atonetimehemusthavebeenimmenselystrong; nowhisgreatbodywassagging,sloping,bulging,fallingawayineverydirection. Heseemedtobebreakingupbeforeone’seyes,likeamountaincrumbling. 

           Itwasthelonelyhouroffifteen. Winstoncouldnotnowrememberhowhehadcometobeinthecafeatsuchatime. Theplacewasalmostempty. Atinnymusicwastricklingfromthetelescreens. Thethreemensatintheircorneralmostmotionless,neverspeaking. Uncommanded,thewaiterbroughtfreshglassesofgin. Therewasachessboardonthetablebesidethem,withthepiecessetoutbutnogamestarted. Andthen,forperhapshalfaminuteinall,somethinghappenedtothetelescreens. Thetunethattheywereplayingchanged,andthetoneofthemusicchangedtoo. Therecameintoit—butitwassomethinghardtodescribe. Itwasapeculiar,cracked,braying,jeeringnote:inhismindWinstoncalleditayellownote. Andthenavoicefromthetelescreenwassinging: 

           Underthespreadingchestnuttree 

           Isoldyouandyousoldme: 

           Thereliethey,andhereliewe 

           Underthespreadingchestnuttree. 

           Thethreemenneverstirred. ButwhenWinstonglancedagainatRutherford’sruinousface,hesawthathiseyeswerefulloftears. Andforthefirsttimehenoticed,withakindofinwardshudder,andyetnotknowingATWHATheshuddered,thatbothAaronsonandRutherfordhadbrokennoses. 

           Alittlelaterallthreewerere-arrested. Itappearedthattheyhadengagedinfreshconspiraciesfromtheverymomentoftheirrelease.