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

Parsons worked with Winston at the Ministry of Truth. He was rather fat but active and more than anything else he was stupid. The Party depended on him even more than on the Thought Police. He never questioned anything. At thirty- five he was forced to leave the Youth League. Before entering the Youth League he had managed to stay in the Spies for a year longer than anyone else. The work that he did at the Ministry didn't require much intelligence. He was a leading figure on the Sports Committee and all the other committees that organized different community activities.

В«Have you got a spanner?В» said Winston.

«A spanner», said Mrs. Parsons. «I don't know, I'm sure. Perhaps the children…»

With a loud noise the children ran into the living-room. Mrs. Parsons brought the spanner. Winston let out the water and removed the human hair that had blocked up the pipe. He cleaned his fingers as best he could in the cold water and went back into the other room.

В«Up with your hands!В» shouted a voice.

A handsome boy of nine had appeared from behind the table. In his hands he was holding a toy pistol pointed at Winston. His small sister, about two years younger, did the same with a piece of wood. Both of them were wearing the blue shorts, grey shirts, and red neckerchiefs which were the uniform of the Spies. Winston raised his hands above his head. He had a strange feeling that it was not quite a game.

В«You're a traitor!В» yelled the boy. В«You're a thoughtcriminal! You're a Eurasian spy! I'll shoot you, I'll vapourize you!В»

They both started jumping round him, shouting В«Traitor!В» and В«Thought-criminal!В» It was a bit frightening. Winston saw that the boy wanted to hit or kick him and felt that he was very nearly big enough to do so. It was a good job it was not a real pistol, Winston thought.

Mrs. Parsons nervously looked from Winston to the children and back again.

В«They get so noisyВ», she said. В«They're disappointed because they couldn't go to see the hanging, that's what it is. I'm too busy to take them, and Tom won't be back from work in timeВ».

В«Why can't we go and see the hanging?В» shouted the boy.

В«Want to see the hanging! Want to see the hanging!В» shouted the little girl.