Suddenly, he's interrupted by a loud sneeze. Stalin stops talking and asks in an ominous tone: "Who just sneezed?" The audience is silent.
"Very well," says Stalin. "We'll do it my way, and believe me, I will identify the sneezer." The audience dares not speak.
"Very well," says Stalin. "First row stand up," Everybody in the first row does as they are told. Then Stalin says, "Guards, open fire!"
A dozen NKVD guards execute everyone in the first row.
"Now," says Stalin, "I ask once again, who sneezed." The crowd is silent once again.
"Second row, stand up," says Stalin, and everybody in the second row rises.
"Guards open fire!" and once again, the NKVD guards shoot the entire second row.
Stalin then says: "We'll keep going, until the sneezer comes forward."
Suddenly, there is a voice in the crowd. "I sneezed, Comrade Stalin."
"It was you, Comrade?" asks Stalin inquisitively.
"Yes, Comrade Stalin."
"Well then, bless you Comrade" says Stalin and then resumes his speech.
