1984 - Planet eBook

the place was full he had it to himself, since nobody caredto be seen sitting too close to him. He never even botheredto count his drinks. At irregular intervals they presentedhim with a dirty slip of paper which they said was the bill,but he had the impression that they always underchargedhim. It would have made no difference if it had been theother way about. He had always plenty of money nowadays.He even had a job, a sinecure, more highly-paid than his oldjob had been.The music from the telescreen stopped and a voice tookover. Winston raised his head to listen. No bulletins fromthe front, however. It was merely a brief announcementfrom the Ministry of Plenty. In the preceding quarter, it appeared,the Tenth Three-Year Plan’s quota for bootlaces hadbeen overfulfilled by 98 per cent.He examined the chess problem and set out the pieces. Itwas a tricky ending, involving a couple of knights. ‘White toplay and mate in two moves.’ Winston looked up at the portraitof Big Brother. White always mates, he thought with asort of cloudy mysticism. Always, without exception, it is soarranged. In no chess problem since the beginning of theworld has black ever won. Did it not symbolize the eternal,unvarying triumph of Good over Evil? The huge face gazedback at him, full of calm power. White always mates.The voice from the telescreen paused and added in a differentand much graver tone: ‘You are warned to stand byfor an important announcement at fifteen-thirty. Fifteenthirty!This is news of the highest importance. Take carenot to miss it. Fifteen-thirty!’ The tinkling music struck up