1984

‘At the time when it happens,’ she had said, ‘you do mean it.’ He had meant it. He had not merely said it, he had wished it. He had wished that she and not he should be delivered over to the –

Something changed in the music that trickled from the telescreen. A cracked and jeering note, a yellow note, came into it. And then — perhaps it was not happening, perhaps it was only a memory taking on the semblance of sound — a voice was singing:

‘Under the spreading chestnut tree

I sold you and you sold me –’

The tears welled up in his eyes. A passing waiter noticed that his glass was empty and came back with the gin bottle.