North West Frontier Page #8

long before they get here.

You're afraid, aren't you?

It can't be easy

to kill a child in cold blood.

And the refugee train.

When you came back from it

you were as sick as any of us.

It was a useless slaughter.

Isn't killing always useless?

Has it ever solved any problems?

It has and it will again.

I like children as much as you do

but that one boy...

My God, don't you understand?

That one boy, he's a symbol,

an outworn tradition that stands

between my country and freedom.

I shall kill him.

I must kill him in order

to save the lives of thousands.

One life will be lost - one Indian life -

but thousands will be saved.

Stand back! Stand back from that door!

Tea time, young fellow.

Can I come back later

and drive the engine?

Of course. I promised you. Tickly!

Can you box?

Dakhtar? (Speaks Urdu)

(Speaks Urdu)

Look at it. Look.

(Van Leyden) Not a sound

from any of you.

Hey, hey!

How can you drink tea with dirty hands?

(Whistles) Wait a minute.

And not a move from any of you.

Don't scream. I will not kill you

if you don't scream.

- Don't come in!

- Down, everybody!

Gupta!

Tell the dakhtar not to stop. It's a trap!

It's no good.

You can't depress that gun any more.

- Help Kumar.

- Oh dear. I think I've been hit.

Yes. Yes, you have.

We'll soon have this cleaned up for you.

- (Thudding)

- They're not on the roof?

(Gunshot)

Am I losing much blood?

You could have hurt yourself more

falling off a bicycle.

You're quite wrong.

Mr Bridie will have to take care.

You need a stiff drink

and I'll get that arm into a sling.

Thank you. You are kind.

- Where's Mr Van Leyden?

- He, er...

He got off.

He got off?

Oh dear.

I couldn't help liking Mr Van Leyden

even though he did try to drill us

all full of holes.

- Drink that.

- Thank you, Lady Windham.

Now, I suppose,

all our troubles are over.

There. That's it.

Put this on. You mustn't get any more

sun on your head after a shock.

Thank you very much.

Mr Bridie!

Feed the belt through!

Oh, that's a bit of luck!

This is the Bindar Tunnel.

They'll never catch us now.

It's two miles long.

Come along, Captain Scott.

Captain Scott?

Well, that's a funny thing.

Is he all right?

He will be. Get me some water, Mr Bridie.

- I don't think he can have been hit.

- It looks like just this wound.

That's just about the luckiest thing

that ever happened.

- Oh!

- Keep still. Keep still.

Oh, I tell you, this is a mug's game.

I think perhaps you're right.

What would you say if I put

those tin soldiers back in the box?

I'd say you'd want to get them

out again tomorrow.

Don't tell me you've changed

your opinion about soldiering?

Let's just say I've learned

a couple of things on this journey.

Let's just say we've both learned

a couple of things on this journey.

There, you see? What did I tell you?

It's the uniform. They all fall in the end.

Oh!

Message to Kalapur.

(Whistle toots)

Hey, there!

You!

Is this the 9:
10 from Guram?

No, it bloody well isn't.

It's the last train from Haserabad.

And stand to attention when you speak

to a senior officer!

Then John's all right?

Yes. The rebels never broke into the fort.

- Reinforcements got through, sir?

- Yes.

The attack broke up

once you'd got the boy away.

Captain Scott, the Viceroy will want

to hear of your part in this journey.

Thank you. Don't forget Mr Bridie.

He's got a kick like a mule.

That saved the lot of us. Well, Gupta.

See, sahib? They say Victoria too old,

no good except but for shunting.

Let them speak now. She showed them.

She certainly did. Shabash, Kumar.

Shabash, Dakhtar Sahd.

We were worried you wouldn't

get to the Delhi conference.

The government are very interested

in your people's new field gun.

Captain Scott, thank you for saving

my life. You are my friend now.

- Well, I hope so.

- But you are British.

- Will I have to fight you?

- Good heavens, no. Why should you?

- My father said...

- Well, what did he say?

I must fight the British

to make them go away.

I wish I could have driven the engine.

Looks as though you'll have to fight

little Kishan now.

That's all the thanks you get.

That's all the thanks we ever get.

"Be thankful you're living

and trust your luck.

"March to your front like a soldier."

- Who said that?

- A man called Kipling.

Another tea drinker.

(Baby cries)

Well, we'd better try

and find a home for young India.

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