1984 - Planet eBook

were what was needed. It had faded but before O’Brien haddropped his hand; but though he could not recapture it, hecould remember it, as one remembers a vivid experience atsome period of one’s life when one was in effect a differentperson.‘You see now,’ said O’Brien, ‘that it is at any rate possible.’‘Yes,’ said Winston.O’Brien stood up with a satisfied air. Over to his leftWinston saw the man in the white coat break an ampouleand draw back the plunger of a syringe. O’Brien turned toWinston with a smile. In almost the old manner he resettledhis spectacles on his nose.‘Do you remember writing in your diary,’ he said, ‘thatit did not matter whether I was a friend or an enemy, sinceI was at least a person who understood you and could betalked to? You were right. I enjoy talking to you. Your mindappeals to me. It resembles my own mind except that youhappen to be insane. Before we bring the session to an endyou can ask me a few questions, if you choose.’‘Any question I like?’‘Anything.’ He saw that Winston’s eyes were upon thedial. ‘It is switched off. What is your first question?’‘What have you done with Julia?’ said Winston.O’Brien smiled again. ‘She betrayed you, Winston. Immediately—unreservedly.I have seldom seen anyone comeover to us so promptly. You would hardly recognize her ifyou saw her. All her rebelliousness, her deceit, her folly, herdirty-mindedness—everything has been burned out of her.