North West Frontier Page #5

only in a soon moment.

Lie down right here.

Mrs Wyatt, there is more room here.

I'm quite happy where I am, thank you.

Never mind, Mr Peters. The Americans

are by tradition isolationist.

Now it is terribly ready, sahib.

Terribly ready.

Is everybody all right? Good.

We're off. For better or worse.

- Ready to move off, sir.

- Good luck, Captain Scott.

Thank you, sir.

Close the fire door, Gupta.

(Whistle shrieks)

Let her go!

Keep down, everybody!

We'll soon be clear.

(Speaking Urdu)

- Morning, Mr Peters.

- Morning.

Here. Sorry, it's a Lee Enfield.

The rival firm. Ten rounds.

I've never used one of these

before in my life.

They're for killing people with.

Why do fighting men pretend

to despise those that sell their tools?

- A soldier's job is not to kill.

- No?

We prevent your customers

from tearing each other to pieces.

- You really believe that?

- I wouldn't say it if I didn't.

What I dislike is that you sell

without discrimination.

To the other side?

You think we should be like God?

Only on the side of the British?

The Germans, the Japanese

and the Hottentots

all think God's on their side.

And so do these rebels.

They're children.

Would you give this to a child?

They are not children.

They are grown men.

Uneducated men yes, but fighting

for the freedom of their country.

- You see?

- You may feel differently

when you get one of your own bullets.

If you think I'm ashamed, you're wrong.

Men make wars, not guns.

Before there were guns, men used

swords, spears, stones, anything...

- Oh, go away. I'm sleepy.

- Here.

Or can't you shoot either?

Oh, yes. I can shoot.

Newspapermen have to be able

to protect themselves.

Especially if their reports differ

from the truth as much as yours.

- You read my reports? I'm honoured.

- Of course.

But truth is like God -

not always on the side of the British.

It pleases you to mock us. We're used

to that. Half the world mocks us.

And half the world is civilised

because we have made it so.

Good for you, ma'am.

Excellent! Excellent!

Already we split into factions.

Our little train

trundling across this desert

is like our little world

trundling through space.

Mr Peters will sell us guns

and we can fight each other.

Delighted.

Men are absurd. You stand around

arguing and who does all the work?

We do, as usual.

Wait a minute.

This journey's dangerous enough.

Arizona isn't England.

From the time I was 13 my father

never let me out without one.

Could I have one? I doubt I could hit

anybody but I could frighten them.

- Here, Mr Bridie.

- I've never shot anyone in my life.

With luck, you won't have to.

I once won a cigarette case

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