1984
for you to go. But wait. You had better let me give you one
of these tablets.’
As Winston stood up O’Brien held out a hand. His pow-
erful grip crushed the bones of Winston’s palm. At the
door Winston looked back, but O’Brien seemed already to
be in process of putting him out of mind. He was waiting
with his hand on the switch that controlled the telescreen.
Beyond him Winston could see the writing-table with its
green-shaded lamp and the speakwrite and the wire baskets
deep-laden with papers. The incident was closed. Within
thirty seconds, it occurred to him, O’Brien would be back at
his interrupted and important work on behalf of the Party.