1984 - Planet eBook

His troubled eyes were gazing at the wall about a metreabove the level of Winston’s head. He was shoeless; large,dirty toes were sticking out of the holes in his socks. Hewas also several days away from a shave. A scrubby beardcovered his face to the cheekbones, giving him an air ofruffianism that went oddly with his large weak frame andnervous movements.Winston roused hirnself a little from his lethargy. Hemust speak to Ampleforth, and risk the yell from the telescreen.It was even conceivable that Ampleforth was thebearer of the razor blade.‘Ampleforth,’ he said.There was no yell from the telescreen. Ampleforthpaused, mildly startled. His eyes focused themselves slowlyon Winston.‘Ah, Smith!’ he said. ‘You too!’‘What are you in for?’‘To tell you the truth—’ He sat down awkwardly on thebench opposite Winston. ‘There is only one offence, is therenot?’ he said.‘And have you committed it?’‘Apparently I have.’He put a hand to his forehead and pressed his temples fora moment, as though trying to remember something.‘These things happen,’ he began vaguely. ‘I have beenable to recall one instance—a possible instance. It was anindiscretion, undoubtedly. We were producing a definitiveedition of the poems of Kipling. I allowed the word ‘God’ toremain at the end of a line. I could not help it!’ he added al-