WORTH READING 9 April 2007

Napoleon And The Furrier

During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the
middle of yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he
was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks
spotted him and began chasing him through the twisting streets. He ran
for his life and ducked into a little furrier's shop on a side alley. As
he entered the shop, gasping for breath, he saw the furrier and cried
piteously, Save me, save me!

Where can I hide? The furrier said, Quick, under this big pile of furs
in the corner, and he covered Napoleon up with many furs. No sooner had
he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door, shouting Where
is he We saw him come in. Despite the furrier's protests, they tore his
shop apart trying to find him. They poked into the pile of furs with
their swords but didn't find him. Soon, they gave up and left.

After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just
as the emperor's personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to
Napoleon and said timidly, Excuse me for asking this question of such a
great man, but what was it like to be under those furs, knowing that the
next moment would surely be your last

Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier
indignantly, How could you ask such a question of me, the Emperor
Napoleon! Guards, take this impudent man out, blindfold him and execute
him. I, myself, will personally give the command to fire!

The guards grabbed the poor furrier, dragged him outside, stood him up
against a wall and blindfolded him.

The furrier could see nothing, but he could hear the movements of the
guards as they slowly shuffled into a line and prepared their rifles,
and he could hear the soft ruffling sound of his clothing in the cold
wind. He could feel the wind tugging gently at his clothes and chilling
his cheeks, and the uncontrollable trembling in his legs.

Then he heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out slowly, Ready. . .
aim. . . In that moment, knowing that even these few sensations were
about to be taken from him forever, a feeling that he couldn't describe
welled up in him as tears poured down his cheeks.

After a long period of silence, the furrier heard footsteps approaching
him and the blindfold were stripped from his eyes. Still partially
blinded by the sudden sunlight, he saw his eyes looking deeply and
intently into his own - eyes that seemed to see into every dusty corner
of his being. Then he said softly, Now you know.

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