Stephen Clark
December 25th 07, 09:27 PM
expression. 'Thoughtcrime is a dreadful thing, old man,' he
said sententiously. 'It's insidious. It can get hold of you without your
even knowing it. Do you know how it got hold of me? In my sleep! Yes,
that's a fact. There I was, working away, trying to do my bit -- never knew
I had any bad stuff in my mind at all. And then I started talking in my
sleep. Do you know what they heard me saying?'
He sank his voice, like someone who is obliged for medical reasons to
utter an obscenity.
'"Down with Big Brother!" Yes, I said that! Said it over and over
again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before
it went any further. Do you know what I'm going to say to them when I go up
before the tribunal? "Thank you," I'm going to say, "thank you for saving
me before it was too late."'
'Who denounced you?' said Winston.
'It was my little daughter,' said Parsons with a sort of doleful
pride. 'She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped
off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven,
eh? I don't bear her any grudge for it. In fact I'm proud of her. It shows
I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway.'
He made a few more jerky movements up and down, several times, casting
a longing glance at the lavatory pan. Then he suddenly ripped down his
shorts.
'Excuse me, old man,' he said. 'I can't help it. It's
said sententiously. 'It's insidious. It can get hold of you without your
even knowing it. Do you know how it got hold of me? In my sleep! Yes,
that's a fact. There I was, working away, trying to do my bit -- never knew
I had any bad stuff in my mind at all. And then I started talking in my
sleep. Do you know what they heard me saying?'
He sank his voice, like someone who is obliged for medical reasons to
utter an obscenity.
'"Down with Big Brother!" Yes, I said that! Said it over and over
again, it seems. Between you and me, old man, I'm glad they got me before
it went any further. Do you know what I'm going to say to them when I go up
before the tribunal? "Thank you," I'm going to say, "thank you for saving
me before it was too late."'
'Who denounced you?' said Winston.
'It was my little daughter,' said Parsons with a sort of doleful
pride. 'She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped
off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven,
eh? I don't bear her any grudge for it. In fact I'm proud of her. It shows
I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway.'
He made a few more jerky movements up and down, several times, casting
a longing glance at the lavatory pan. Then he suddenly ripped down his
shorts.
'Excuse me, old man,' he said. 'I can't help it. It's