О дивный новый мир

           Ofteninthepasthehadwonderedwhatitwouldbeliketobesubjected(soma-lessandwithnothingbuthisowninwardresourcestorelyon)tosomegreattrial,somepain,somepersecution;hehadevenlongedforaffliction.Asrecentlyasaweekago,intheDirector’soffice,hehadimaginedhimselfcourageouslyresisting,stoicallyacceptingsufferingwithoutaword.TheDirector’sthreatshadactuallyelatedhim,madehimfeellargerthanlife.Butthat,ashenowrealized,wasbecausehehadnottakenthethreatsquiteseriously,hehadnotbelievedthat,whenitcametothepoint,theD.H.C.wouldeverdoanything.Nowthatitlookedasthoughthethreatswerereallytobefulfilled,Bernardwasappalled.Ofthatimaginedstoicism,thattheoreticalcourage,notatracewasleft.

           Heragedagainsthimself–whatafool!–againsttheDirector–howunfairnottogivehimthatotherchance,thatotherchancewhich,henowhadnodoubtatall,hehadalwaysintendedtotake.AndIceland,Iceland...

           Leninashookherhead."Wasandwillmakemeill,"shequoted,"Itakeagrammeandonlyam."

           Intheendshepersuadedhimtoswallowfourtabletsofsoma.Fiveminuteslaterrootsandfruitswereabolished;theflowerofthepresentrosilyblossomed.Amessagefromtheporterannouncedthat,attheWarden’sorders,aReservationGuardhadcomeroundwithaplaneandwaswaitingontheroofofthehotel.Theywentupatonce.AnoctorooninGamma-greenuniformsalutedandproceededtorecitethemorning’sprogramme.