Black Door

An Arab Chief tells the story of a spy who had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general had fallen upon a strange custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. He could either face a firing squad or pass through the Big Black Door.

As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer to the query: "Which shall it be... the firing squad or the Big Black Door?"

This was not an easy question, and the prisoner hesitated, but made it known that he much preferred the firing squad. Not long after, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fullfilled.

The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, "You see how it is with men: they always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. And yet we gave him his choice."

"What lies beyond the Big Black Door?" asked the aide. "Freedom," replied the general, "and I've known only a few men brave enough to take it."