not to have come here together, and
you will have to leave separately. You, comrade' -- he bowed his head to
Julia -- 'will leave first. We have about twenty minutes at our disposal.
You will understand that I must start by asking you certain questions. In
general terms, what are you prepared to do?'
'Anything that we are capable of,' said Winston.
O'Brien had turned himself a little in his chair so that he was facing
Winston. He almost ignored Julia, seeming to take it for granted that
Winston could speak for her. For a moment the lids flitted down over his
eyes. He began asking his questions in a low, expressionless voice, as
though this were a routine, a sort of catechism, most of whose answers were
known to him already.
'You are prepared to give your lives?'
'Yes.'
'You are prepared to commit murder?'
'Yes.'
'To commit acts of sabotage which may cause the death of hundreds of
innocent people?'
'Yes.'
'To betray your country to foreign powers?'
'Yes.'
'You are prepared to cheat, to forge, to blackmail, to corrupt the
minds of children, to distribute habit-forming drugs, to encourage
prostitution, to disseminate venereal diseases -- to do anything which is
likely to cause demoralization and weaken the power of the Party?'
'Yes.'
'If, for example, it would somehow serve our interests to throw
sulphuric acid in a child's face -- are you prepared to do that?'
'Yes.'
'You are prepared to lose your identity and live out the rest of your
life as a waiter or a dock-worker?'
'Yes.'
'You are prepared to commit suicide, if and when we order you to do
so?'
'Yes.'
'You are prepared, the two of you, to separate and never see o

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>marine>reefs