For a moment he was alone, then the door opened and O’Brien came in. ‘You asked me once,’ said O’Brien, ‘what was in Room
101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.’ The door opened again. A guard came in, carrying something made of wire, a box or basket of some kind. He set it down on the further table. Because of the position in which O’Brien was standing. Winston could not see what the thing was.