"You know why you were brought here."
Yes, of course he knew. He was a thoughtcriminal. That was what everyone was arrested for after all. He had served Big Brother well in his time but by now he had ceased to exist. Had never existed. Except, perhaps in the mind of Winston. Winston was a fool but he possessed a skull that not even the party's propaganda could pierce. Syme didn't half dislike the man despite his lack of vision. That was more than could be said for others. Parsons was goodthinkful but completely unintelligent. Winston might possibly see half of what was… or wasn't.
"Yes, I know."
He smiled. In a few hours, moments even, he would be annihilated. Possibly another job for Winston.
"Do you? You are different from the others we bring here, Syme. You have vision, foreknowledge. According to your unusual merits, I have a proposition for you."
Unusual merits, that would refer to his willingness to further "Big Brother's" aims while remaining capable of understanding them. Syme waited for him to continue.
"You seem capable of being devoted to the cause even as you see what you must know to be its corruption. You retain passion for your work in spite of your conviction that you are to be vaporized. You understand the people around you and can see their thoughts."
"Yes?" He was slightly perplexed. The man knew that he knew this. Why should he be telling Syme of facts they were both aware of? Syme began to feel slightly bored by the game, whatever it was, that they were playing.
"Would you be interested in becoming a member of the Inner Party - what I am, in fact?"
Syme paused a moment before speaking in his clear precise voice. "Allow me to be certain we understand each other fully. You are offering me a choice between life as a member of the organization that is Big Brother-"
"Represents him."
"Very well, represents him for the furtherance of his ideas if it pleases you better. Between that and vaporization."
"Correct."
"And I may one day attain the same position that you now hold?"
"Yes."
"Very well then, I accept. What will be necessary?"
"We will need to change your appearance. You have already ceased to exist - as Syme that is. All that remains is to give you a new identity. Would the name 'Minnafer' be acceptable?"
Echoes ran through the questioner's head: "Would the name O'Brien be acceptable?"
"What I am called does not matter."
He suppressed the thought.
"My name is a matter of indifference to me."
"Good. Welcome to the Inner Party, Brother."
Minnafer, never Syme, affably took the hand O'Brien offered him.