1984. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Уровень B1

He said things that you shouldn't say, he had read too many books, he often went to the Chestnut Tree CafГ©, where painters and musicians went. There was no law against going to the Chestnut Tree CafГ©, yet you knew that you shouldn't. The old leaders of the Party had been used to go there before they were destroyed. Goldstein himself, it was said, had sometimes been seen there, years ago. Winston knew what would happen to Syme. And yet if Syme learnt Winston's secret opinions, he would report him to the Thought Police at once.

So would anybody else: but Syme more than most.

Syme looked up. В«Here comes ParsonsВ», he said.

Something in the tone of his voice seemed to add, В«that foolВ». Parsons, who lived in the same block of Victory Mansions as Winston, was in fact coming across the room. At thirty-five he was already getting fat at neck and waist. His movements and his whole appearance was that of a little boy grown large. He greeted them both with a happy В«Hullo, hullo!В» and sat down at the table.

Winston and Syme felt a strong smell of sweat. He always sweated a lot. At the Community Centre you could always tell when he had been playing table-tennis, because the bat handle was wet. Syme had taken a strip of paper with a long list of words, and was studying it with an ink-pencil between his fingers.

В«Look at him working away in the lunch hourВ», said Parsons, pushing Winston with his elbow. В«What's that you've got there, old boy? Something a bit too clever for me, I expect.

Smith, old boy, I'll tell you why I'm here. It's that sub you forgot to give meВ».

В«Which sub is that?В» said Winston, looking for money. About a quarter of one's salary had to be given for voluntary subscriptions. There were so many that it was difficult to remember all of them.

В«For Hate Week. I'm in charge of our block. We're going to put on a great show. I tell you, it won't be my fault if old Victory Mansions doesn't have the biggest number of flags in the whole street.

Two dollars you promised meВ».

Winston found and gave him two notes, which Parsons put in a small notebook.

В«By the way, old boyВ», he said. В«I hear that my little boy hit you with his catapult yesterday. I told him I'd take the catapult away if he does it againВ».

В«I think he was a little upset at not going to the hangingВ», said Winston.

«Ah, well – troublemakers they are, both of them! All they think about is the Spies, and the war, of course.