:40:17
After six hours
of cold steel training,
:40:20
Sergeant Rhuba Narcktitle
is being made up as a woman.
:40:23
The situation
is pretty embarrassing,
:40:25
for a fierce warrior who,
only a few years ago,
:40:27
during the war against
the Malaysian communists,
:40:30
decapitated 36 partisans.
:40:34
But today is
a national holiday
:40:36
and the tradition wants him
to celebrate it with a dance
:40:38
in a woman's costume.
:41:08
The fierce Gurkhas
live in the mountains of Nepal.
:41:10
For one and half century,
they have been mercenaries
:41:12
under the English empire.
:41:14
According to the tradition,
their celebration must be
:41:17
attended by
all English officers,
:41:19
their commander-in-chief
included.
:41:28
Seeing them in this circumstance
and dressed like women,
:41:31
nobody would believe
they are the fiercest
:41:34
and most faithful soldiers
in the world.
:41:36
Still, during the last war,
when they were captured
:41:39
by the Japanese, 300 of them
preferred to be decapitated
:41:44
rather than betray
their promise of loyalty
:41:46
to her British Majesty.
:41:48
Today is the anniversary
of that memorable day
:41:51
and the Gurkhas celebrate it
with great solemnity.