THE MYSTERIOUS DOOR

Chinese tale
Translated by: Bajram Karabolli

They say that a long time ago, there was a fierce and fearsome emperor in China. He attacked other countries, made wars and always took prisoners. He did not kill the captives, but took them to prison and, before putting each one in his terrible cell, he put them all into a large hall, in front of which was an iron door, rather strange. On that door were drawn figures of people with skulls filled with blood and other scary drawings.

The emperor ordered the captives to gather in front of this door and then said to them:

– I'm giving you the choice between staying in your cell or going through that mysterious door that I don't know where it leads to. Choose and get!

Because going through that door scared them so much, all the prisoners chose to stay in their cells.

The war was over, and the emperor and an officer, whom he always kept close by, happened by chance near the mysterious door. The officer takes courage and asks the emperor:

– My emperor, may I ask you a question?

- Do it - says the emperor briefly.

- I have always been curious to know what is beyond this door. can you tell me

And the sovereign answers:

- Approach the door, open it and see for yourself what's there.

The officer goes to the mysterious door and, with great fear, begins to open it. As soon as the door opened, the entire space inside the hall was lit up by sunlight.

So, that "terrible" door, whoever he dared to open, led him to a great road where he was completely free.

The officer, greatly surprised, turns to the emperor without knowing what to say. And the emperor, calmly, explains:

– They just had to choose. I gave them this opportunity, but for fear of opening the mysterious door, they preferred the safety of the prison, the safety of what man knows.