1984 - Planet eBook

was nought seven fifteen, getting-up time for office workers.Winston wrenched his body out of bed—naked, for a memberof the Outer Party received only 3,000 clothing couponsannually, and a suit of pyjamas was 600—and seized a dingysinglet and a pair of shorts that were lying across a chair.The Physical Jerks would begin in three minutes. The nextmoment he was doubled up by a violent coughing fit whichnearly always attacked him soon after waking up. It emptiedhis lungs so completely that he could only begin breathingagain by lying on his back and taking a series of deep gasps.His veins had swelled with the effort of the cough, and thevaricose ulcer had started itching.‘Thirty to forty group!’ yapped a piercing female voice.‘Thirty to forty group! Take your places, please. Thirties toforties!’Winston sprang to attention in front of the telescreen,upon which the image of a youngish woman, scrawny butmuscular, dressed in tunic and gym-shoes, had already appeared.‘Arms bending and stretching!’ she rapped out. ‘Takeyour time by me. ONE, two, three, four! ONE, two, three,four! Come on, comrades, put a bit of life into it! ONE, two,three four! ONE two, three, four!...’The pain of the coughing fit had not quite driven out ofWinston’s mind the impression made by his dream, and therhythmic movements of the exercise restored it somewhat.As he mechanically shot his arms back and forth, wearingon his face the look of grim enjoyment which was consideredproper during the Physical Jerks, he was struggling