entombed in the shrine of zeroes and ones

> volume of the stakes decreases

Orwell spoke clearly through O'brien.

When Airstrip One learned to sink everything into the sea, or smoke it into the sky, or otherwise waste any excess production, the scarcity made even a lump of horseflesh inestimably valueable.

Ditto, for successes in a success-starved company.

Any little bit of horseflesh is precious.