"Now then" says the Sergeant, "you have all had your basic training so I won't go over that again, but one thing that you must be wary of is the Burmese striped viper. It is a snake about a metre long with black & orange stripes. If this little bugger bites you it's time to say your prayers, 'cos there is no antidote, and agonising death will occur within seconds. "
"What can we do about it then sarge?", asks Johnny
"What you do my lad is grab it by the tail as fast as possible, run your hand up to just below the neck, twist and break it's neck. "
Soon it is time for Johnny and his squad to go up to the front. As they walk up the road, the stretcher party is returning to camp. Johnny sees one man with cuts all over his body and his uniform hanging off him in tatters.
Johnny gives the man a cigarette and asks him "What happened to you mate, shrapnel?"
The man looks at him and says "They told you about that bloody snake?". "Yep", replies Johnny. "Well, there I was, crawling through the jungle looking for the enemy, when all of a sudden I see it! A metre of black & orange snake, laying right across my path. So I grab the tail like lightning, run my hand up the body, and break the blighters neck, just like I was told. I don't know who was more surprised, me, or the bloody tiger whose testicles I had just tried to rip off!"
