Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANINGbehind the scene that was to follow presently. We weretold to leave our luggage in the train and to fall into twolines - women on one side, men on the other - in orderto file past a senior SS officer. Surprisingly enough, Ihad the courage to hide my haversack under my coat.My line filed past the officer, man by man. I realizedthat it would be dangerous if the officer spotted mybag. He would at least knock me down; I knew thatfrom previous experience. Instinctively, I straightenedon approaching the officer, so that he would not noticemy heavy load. Then I was face to face with him. Hewas a tall man who looked slim and fit in his spotlessuniform. What a contrast to us, who were untidy andgrimy after our long journey! He had assumed anattitude of careless ease, supporting his right elbowwith his left hand. His right hand was lifted, and withthe forefinger of that hand he pointed very leisurely tothe right or to the left. None of us had the slightest ideaof the sinister meaning behind that little movement of aman's finger, pointing now to the right and now to theleft, but far more frequently to the left.It was my turn. Somebody whispered to me that tobe sent to the right side would mean work, the way tothe left being for the sick and those incapable of work,who would be sent to a special camp. I just waited forthings to take their course, the first of many such timesto come. My haversack weighed me down a bit to theleft, but I made an effort to walk upright. The SS manlooked me over, appeared to hesitate, then put bothhis hands on my shoulders. I tried very hard to looksmart, and he turned my shoulders very slowly until Ifaced right, and I moved over to that side.The significance of the finger game was explained to30