March 26, 2025 • 35 mins
Original Release Date: March 29, 2023
Today's Mystery: Steve is sent to Haiti to find out if some missing scientists are alive and to recover their research on submarine warfare.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 6, 1951
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.'
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
Today's Mystery: Steve is sent to Haiti to find out if some missing scientists are alive and to recover their research on submarine warfare.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: January 6, 1951
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.'
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Check out our social media at https://www.greatdetectives.net
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot and net. Follow us on Twitter
at Radio Detectives, and check usout on Instagram, Instagram, dot com
(00:51):
slash Great Detectives. If you areenjoying this podcast, I encourage you to
follow it using your favorite podcast softwareto make sure that you never miss an
episode. Today's program is brought toyou in part by the financial support of
our listeners. You can support theshow on a one time basis using the
zell app to Box thirteen at GreatDetectives dot net, and you can also
(01:15):
become one of our ongoing Patreon supportersfor as little as two dollars per month.
Just go over to Patreon dot GreatDetectives dot net. Well, now
it is time for this week's episodeof Dangerous Assignment. The original air date
January the sixth, nineteen fifty one, and the title as Operation Fishhook Dangerous
(01:51):
Assignments starring brand Dunlevy as Steve Mitchell. Yeah, danger is my assignment.
(02:15):
I get sent to a lot ofplaces I can't even pronounce. They all
spell the same thing, trouble.But when I walk into the Commissioner's office,
I don't realize this assignment's gonna endup with me having somebody take a
picture of my own murdered morning.Commissioner Ruth said, you had an assignment
(02:38):
for me, and do Steve,you're playin least for Haiti in one hour?
Heity, Well, yes, I'dbetter brush up on ma voodoo before
somebody puts the double whammy on me. Might be a good idea, see,
because I'm sending you down that toput the whammy on somebody else.
What's the deal, Commissioner, you'veseen the current issue of this picture magazine?
No, what about it? They'vegot a spread on Haiti. Here,
take a look at it. Thispicture in particular Native unle deep in
(03:00):
interior of Haiti. So it's anative village. What am I supposed to
do? Get down there and checkthe plumbing. I can look at those
natives in the background, A bunchof them standing around the Hudson they wait.
One of them looks like he's wearinga leather flight jacket. Right,
We've got a copy of that picture, had a section of it blown up.
Can you read the name on thatflight jacket now? F Carlson,
(03:23):
F Carlson, it is Oh,look, Commissioner. I still don't remember
Operation Fishook. I heard the namea couple of months ago, but I
never knew what mat or anything.Two months ago a group of scientists left
for the Caribbean to conductor search andtests. They were working on a revolutionary
theory of anti submarine warfare, selfpropelled depth charge with a proximity fuge.
That was Operations fish Hook. Yes, I'll skip the technical details, but
(03:46):
what it boils down to is themost effective weapon against the submarine that's ever
been devised. How the tests workout, we don't know. They were
conducted in secret of a small islandand the Caribbean. The scientists completed their
research and compiled all the data,and they took off of US States in
a plane. That's the last weever heard of them. Wait a minute,
I seem to remember reading about agroup of scientists being lost at the
same group. Steve, we suspectedthat plane had crashed into the ocean that
(04:10):
had been sabotized. That is,we suspected it until this magazine came out
in the magazine you mean, Imean the pilot of that plane was a
man named F. Carls the flightjacket, Steve. It's possible to Carlson
or some of the others are stillalive. And it's also possible that data
they compile is floating around in Haitisomewhere. I'm sending you down there to
get it. Just like that.It's quite possible, even probable, that
(04:30):
other interests have seen this picture inthe magazine too. That means it's going
to be a race. Sounds real, jolly. Any contacts in Haiti who
can help me? Only one.The photographer took the pictures. Her name
is Virginia Collins, and we've learnedshe's still in Haiti at the hotel Christoff
and Poto Prince. Now, Steve, get down there, talk to Virginia
Collins and go anywhere and do anythingthat's necessary to recover that data. Well,
I said, you've got your assignment. Good luck. The National Broadcasting
(05:08):
Company is presenting Dangerous Assignment, starringBrian don Levy and the role of Steve
Mitchell, colorful two fisted government agentat all those places of the world where
danger and intrigue walk hand in hand. There you will find Steve Mitchell on
another dangerous assignment. Sure, I'vegot my assignment, just a little matter
(05:35):
of poking my way through a junglein Haiti to find a leather flying jacket.
The pilot who used to own itin some vital dat on anti submarine
warfare, And according to the Commissioner, I'm sure to have some competition on
the deal, which gives me anuneasy hunch that sooner or later I will
run into an amateur voodoo artist whowill be trying his best to charm me
to sleep with a slug. Nowit's Thursday. When my plane lands at
(05:58):
bort A Prince. The heirs ahot, wet blanket, and I checked
in at the hotel Christoph. Butthe clerk tells me Virginia Collins that's gone
out for a while, So Iget a drink and gout on the branded
to wait for her. I dropinto a seat beside a neat looking little
gent in a Panama suit. Goodafternoon, sir, hi. I believe
the proverbial question is is it hotenough for you? I believe the proverbial
(06:20):
answer is yes. Well, you'llbe very much encouraged to hear that it
gets much hotter than this sometime.Well, thanks for the good news.
You seem to be enjoying the weather. No, quite to the contrary I
detested. I wouldn't be here atall if it weren't for my infernal conscience.
Conscience, Yes, without that,I can be quite comfortable sitting in
(06:42):
my New York apartment writing my books. But no, my conscience tells me
I must make them authentic. Sohere I am. You write novels,
hardly, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Ernest Ade Dalrymple.
Mind Steve Mitchell. I see myname doesn't mean anything to you, mister
Mitchell. Well, it's quite amouthful, Professor Dalrymple. But beyond that,
(07:06):
you apparently are not a student offolklore. Oh not exactly. They
tell me. I am one ofthe foremost authorities on that subject. As
a matter of fact, That's whyI'm here now. My next book is
to have a section devoted to voodoo, and I've learned that there is to
be a very rare ceremony for formingin the back country in a few days
(07:27):
now, so I'm here to witnessthat. If I can, I see
that stuff still goes on in theback country. Oh yes, yes,
indeed, And some of the thingswhich happen are completely incredible to most people.
For instance, that there's one particularceremony. Yeah, more properly an
initiation, right, the Mama Loy, Mama, the Mama Loy, the
(07:49):
native priestess. She takes a rooster. But do one of you men happen
to be Steve Mitchell? Oh yeah, I am right now. It looks
like a lucky name. Oh leave, it's not the coy. I have
a hangover. The clerk said,you were asking about me. You're a
Virginia Collins, the same. I'dlike to talk to you. Oh could
(08:09):
it be done over a remospheres?It good? Well lead the way,
excuse me, professor. Maybe youcan fill me in on a Mamma lay
and her rooster some other time.I should be delighted, you know.
If I don't watch out and I'mgonna be feeling almost human again. Now
(08:33):
what was it you wanted to talkabout? You took some photographs of a
native village for a picture magazine,raisingly Virginia. What about That's what I
want to know? Where'd you takethem? Say? What is this anyway.
What do you mean, Well,you are the second guy who's asked
me about those pictures. Yeah,somebody saddled up to me in the lobby
just a couple of hours ago andwant to know all about them too.
Was he? I don't know,I never saw him before or not losing
(08:58):
any time. What's with the pictures? Anywhere? There was a native in
one of them. He was wearinga leather flight jacket. Oh oh yeah,
I remember. Now, I'd likeyou to tell me where the village
is. Okay, it's a littlevillie Ginlan. There a flush of pelle.
But I'll do better than just tellyou about it. I'll take you
there. Oh that sounds real obligingof you. Oh look, I'm Virginia
(09:20):
Collins, girl reporter. Remember,And if there is a story, I
want it. Okay, it's adeal. I suppose we'll need a guide
to get there. Yeah, andI know a good one. I'll take
care of it, Steve. Youjust meet me out on the terrace a
little before dawn and we'll start.Then it's just getting gray. The next
(09:41):
morning. When I walk out ontothe terrace, I start towards the other
end where I'm supposed to meet Virginia, and then suddenly I hear a russell
in the bushes. I whirled aroundas a glitter of metal and I hit
the ground. The slug whistles bymy ear. I scrambled at my feet
and take off in the direction ofthe shot. There's no one in the
bushes, but I spot a Nativerunning for the courtyard. I cut him
off as I get to the otherside. Let go, let's go.
(10:05):
Who hired you to take a shotat me? Lobo? No shoot,
Look, don't give me that thisjoker just threw a shot at me.
No, Loubo, Steve louboun doanything like that. Wait a minute,
you know this guy? Sure he'sour guy, Loubo. He's okay,
Steve, I'm sure of it.Look, if you aren't the guy who
shot at me, Lobo, whywere you running just now? Loo?
(10:28):
Here shot from bushes? Lobo?Think maybe somebody shoot at him? Lobo
start to run? And where didthe sniper go? And when there's a
lot of bushes around the tear Steve, whoever it was, could have worked
his way clear around the hotel.Yeah, he or she could have all
right, skip it. You know, it looks like somebody doesn't want you
to take this trip, Steve it. Sure it does Virginia, Which means
(10:50):
the sooner we get started, thebetter. We go as far as we
can and the jeep and then wetake off through the jungle. It's hot
and sticky. And after about fourhours of trashing around through the brush,
Lobo motions up ahead, village justahead. That's good news. I've had
(11:11):
enough of this jungle for a while. What a girl to for a story?
Up? People go to village through? What do you mean, Lobo?
Lobo? She marks a long trail. Somebody passed this way before us.
Do you mean some natives? No? No native? He is village
(11:33):
brother. His villages are well hidden. You don't see them until you're right
on top of him. Looks likethe whole town turned out to greet it.
This is the village where you tookthe picture of the native and the
fly jack at another dinner. Ohyeah, yeah, sure, sure,
Lubo, take this picture and seeif any of the people here know where
this guy lives. Lubo, doso? What happens if you find the
(11:54):
native? What the fly jackers do? Look? I thought you were just
along to pick some more pictures talkabout the proverbial clamor you never heard of
a clam who could keep his trapshut getting killed? Did you? Maybe
you got a point? Wait aminute, Lubo's beckoning to it. Did
you locate that native blubo? Peoplesay he lived with a white plant man,
(12:16):
white plant man, Yes, inhouse over there. I don't see
any way. There is a smallhouse back behind those trees. YEA,
so funny. I didn't even noticeit when I was here before. What
did they mean by a white plantman? A lubo, Lubo do not
no, But this in nitive worksfor this clan. We I take it
(12:46):
you're a white plant manilla. Iam a buttons, that is what you
mean. Oh evel Day, Myname's Mitchell. This is miss Collin.
How do you do? Moselle?Pleased to come? You think visitors to
my house are most infrequent, butalways welcome? Ohe me? I serve
you well. First, I thinkyou'd better look at these credentials Monsieur valder
(13:11):
So, government agent. Well,you're full of surprises to you. Next,
I'd like you to look at thispicture right. It is a picture
of Balah. He worked for you. Oh we as I told you,
I am a botanist. Bala knowshis country like the palm of his hand.
I sent him into the jungle forbotanical specimens, and he never fills
(13:31):
me. He takes a lot oftrips into the jungle. Oh to be
sure, and would you believe it, Monsieur, I simply described to Bala
and punts Picadi and Dualla. Hebrings me back spell right now, I'm
a little more interested in another specimen. Bala brought back here a while ago
a leather flight jacket. Oh letthe jacket. Oh we he brought that
(13:52):
back a month ago. I wouldsay, you happen to remember where you'd
send him that time? He broughtit back quite well. Observe on this
map, this village is a yeahto the east. This large plateau that
could be where he got the jacket. Then somewhere on that plateau each is
a most wild country. Okay,I'd like to talk to Bala, Monsieur
(14:15):
Valder. I am sorry, Mitchell, but I feel it is impossible.
What do you mean, Well,not one hour ago Balla left for the
plateau country. Oh great, alone, No two men came up to the
vision. I'll leave is a guylooks like you've been running a poor second
all the way. Ste Yeah,and I've got to make it at least
a tie. But I borrow thismap of yours. Well there, why
(14:37):
certainly, thanks, Come on,Virginia. Let's get Lubo and start moving.
Do you think we're gaining any onfalling the boy to Harden's tea.
I'm beginning to think we're not supposedto be gaining any on the Virginia.
(14:58):
What do you mean here? ButLubo will get too far ahead of us.
Don't go for a moment. Well, what's nasty. Look at the
snap I borrowed from Valdaire. Whatabout here's the village where Valdair lives,
and over here, directly to theeast of the village of the river we're
supposed to cross before we get tothe plateau. So we should have been
traveling east since we left the villagethree hours ago. Now, take a
(15:20):
look at the sun. It's settingon our left. Unless they've changed things
pretty recently, the sun sets inthe west. Steve stemes, we're going
north north, Steve, you thinkLubo's trying to get us lost? I
don't know. Here he comes.I guess I better have it out with
him right now. Be careful,stell, follow lub something he's wrong,
(15:41):
Yeah, Lubo, I think somethingis wrong that surprised you. Blumo,
do not know? What do youmean? Now? You're sure somebody didn't
pay you to take us in thewrong direction and delay us? Lomo?
Right? You good? Oh?Sure? You guide us great? Except
all the while we've been going northinstead of east, Lumo, north fun
help us? Yeah, that's thepoint now, a cause of river?
(16:03):
River? What do you mean,Ribo? Be with rain too hard to
cross that usual place, So we'vego north to a narrow place. Then
we've crossed it. Just how muchfarther is this narrow place? Not far?
Maybe one hour? Okay, Loubo, we'll go along with you for
one hour. Get going, butjust remember I'll be right behind you,
watching you every foot of the way. We've been going at least an hour,
(16:38):
and there's no sign of a riverstarting dark too. Look at Lubo
walking along ahead of it. He'sprobably just waiting until it does get dark
enough, and then you'll I thoughtyou were the one who told me Lubo
could be trusted in Virginia. Ithought he could this gid when he brought
me to that billy to get thepictures. That time he seemed all right.
That's why I hired him for thistrip. Obvious, you just try
(17:02):
quiet well, what do you know, Steve? It sounds like a river,
Sure it does. Okay, Loubo, come on, looks like I
had Lubo tags go around seeing naowcrossing here at your HALLI wait, what
woo doo? Drums voodoo? Ohgreat, do not be a thread?
(17:27):
Drums? Tell of ceremony in villagetonight? How much farther to the bellage?
Loubo, my son of drums?He's not far well, better get
started. Look, my feet arekilling me. How about me just ducking
them in the river a few minutestime? Okay, but hurry, I'll
just be a minute. We savemuch time by coming this way. Yeah.
(17:49):
I gotta hand it to you,Lubo. I guess you'll know this
country pretty well, all right.Of course you've made a trip as far
as the Liz village only a coupleof weeks ago. Then, yes,
Lubo guy, the woman who takepictures to village? Yeah, Virginia,
Lubo did not know her name.I mean Vigia Collins, the woman who's
with us. Now, no,he's not the one. Why this woman
(18:12):
with us, She's not the onewho took the pictures. You sure about
that, Lubo Sure, and WishyLogo do not know? She come last
night in city, asked Lubo toguide her and view appear. Lubo never
see her before in his life.You're listening to Dangerous Assignments starring Brian Donlay
(18:48):
as Steve Mitchell. Well, atthis point, the whole deal is turned
into a game of who's who first. I think the gluego's in with the
other team, but he turns outto be. Okay, Now it looks
like Virginia Collins or whatever her nameis, is my Grade A suspect.
(19:11):
I don't wait across the river andhead to the village, and the drums
keep getting louder. Really it's veryclose. Now, oh good, I
don't have any desire to be wanderingaround this junk on the dark. I
think it's too dark to take apicture of Virginia. Picture. Yeah,
isn't that what you do for aliving? Take picture? Sure? But
I don't take a picture of meyou now not? Well, it's it's
(19:33):
pretty dark. Oh don't you knowhow to use a flash bulb? So
what is this anyway? Docking?I just want to have my picture taken.
Okay, wait, I put abulb in. All right, smiles
pretty? I make you happy.You know you handle camera like an expert.
(19:56):
I make my living at it.Remember, I wonder if my picture
will turn out as good as thoseyou took for your magazine. Who was
leaving us behind? And we bettercatch up? Yeah? Sure, it's
drums. Give me the crease.Better get used to them. He'll probably
be going on quite a while,he look. So here's a village in
the clearing. Yeah, I wonderwho that native woman is that we would
(20:19):
just talk to? Whoever? Shesure looks official everything all right, I'm
arranged with Mama Tibo for us tostay overnight. Mama who Tibo? She's
Mama Lawyer here whatever that means.Mama Lawyer is the voodoo priestess. Funny,
you wouldn't know that after all thosepictures you've taken in Hady Mama laysh
(20:40):
mamalloy? Do you have to bea student of voodoo to take pictures?
Tibo? Say? The other guestsin village. Yeah, I see them
standing over there, two men.Stay wait a minute. Isn't one of
them the men you were talking toback at the hotel when I first met
you. Yeah, Professor Dalrymble,the folklore king. Who's the other one?
No? I never saw him before. Do you think they're the ones
(21:03):
who hired the navy boy in theletter jacket of Oh what's his name?
That baba? I don't know.Mama Tibo sat over there is for you,
Miss Okay, might as well gonnatake a look at it later,
okay, Lobo, Yes, circulatearound the village. See if you can
locate Bala and tell him I wantto see him secretly. Loubo doo.
(21:23):
Mitchell, Oh, Mitchell, Hello, Professor Well, I thought I recognize
you and miss College as you outof the village. If this is my
guys, Hi, I am ona mission, Mitchell. Well, I
didn't realize you too were interested invoodoo. Mitchell, I am interested in
quite a few things, Professor.You certainly come to the right place.
(21:44):
The ceremony in honor of Dumbala isto start any moment Dumbala, the principal
voodoo god. It's quite a fascinatingspectacle. Mama Tibo has kindly given me
permission to witness it, which isquite a rare privilege I might have.
But would you care to be myguest? I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's
a little out of my life.Perhaps it is just as well ceremonies off
(22:06):
and I have an undesirable effect onspectacles. Or I'm going to get something
to eat, Missaidar, I willmeet you later, Yes, sir,
very well for Si a very strangeshallow to his sure. Yes, yes,
he's the one disappointment on an otherwiserewarding trip. What do you mean.
(22:26):
Well, back in Port of Prince, I tried to hire the native
guide I've had for these trips inthe past, but he was unavailable.
In this chapter, Brissac introduced himselfto me and prevailed on me to hire
him as my guide. Oh,but soon after we started, I realized
he knew very little about this country. Then, when we reached the village
where the French botanist lives, Brissacwas quick to hire this Bala as another
(22:48):
guide. He seized upon Bala assoon as he saw him. It was
almost as if he recognized that's veryepcame Professor Mitchell. Oh, excuse me,
Professor good, what is it atthe Woodoo ceremony? Okay, thanks,
I've a changed my mind, ProfessorDalrymple, I'd like to witness that
ceremony with you. Well, Splendidn't splendid come, but may have already
(23:11):
started. The Professor and I startwalking through the village. On the way,
I spot Virginia standing outside her talkingto Brissac, which doesn't surprise me
much. At this point, thetwo of them could be in the deal
together. We reached the clearing wherethe ceremony is being held. In its
(23:33):
whitest sight, the natives are squattingaround in the circle, and in the
middle of them, Mama Tibo iswhirling around and around. Professor Dalrymple eagerly
starts taking notes. Mitchell, Justlook, it isn't she magnificent? Hardly
what you'd call ballroom dancing. Nowcomes the incantation see the native who just
stood up? The chant groans oneby when the natives jump up and start
(24:15):
dancing, if you can call itthat. Then I spot Bala, the
boy in the lava jacket. He'swhirling around, kicking up his heels and
in general having himself at time.I catch his eye a couple of times
and jerked my head for him tocome over, but he doesn't pay any
attention, just keep s whirling aroundfaster and faster. Then my eyes slide
past Ballad to the figure on theother side of the clearing. It's a
Prisyct and he's watching Bala like ahawk. This is Joseph. Great,
(24:37):
How am I going to get toBalla without Priscyct knowing about it? Finally
Bala keels over in a trance anda couple of other natives drag him away.
The dance continues. By now I'vehad it. My one chance of
talking to Bala is gone. Ithink I can see a grin on in
Presact's face. After a few minutesmore, I go back to my huts
and I'm just a visitor. Hewanted to see me, Bala. I
(25:00):
thought you were in some kind ofa trance. Balah saw your signal,
pretended to be in trance, socould talk to you? Ye? Really,
kg character runt you all of asudden, everybody want to talk to
Balah. Blah think maybe you'll paymore money than other men who hired him.
I mean Bric not know his name. Yeah, I want to talk
to you all right. Look you'rewearing a leather jacket with a name F.
(25:21):
Carlson on it. Where'd you getit? In small village two three
hours from here? White men therewith broken legs, right, Natives caring
for him. But he's still alive. It's still alive. Will you take
me to him? For money?Okay, for money. Let's get going.
(25:47):
We've been going at least two hours. Balah, we should be getting
close. Not more than one hour? Or what's the matter? Somebody follow
us? You sure? Bash wouldbe Brie second Virginia. You follow river,
lead you straight to village and whiteflyerman Bill. I go on the
direction and lead them away. Okay, go to it, Bala, I'll
see you later. Bala disagrees underthe brush and I start following the river
(26:15):
towards the village ahead. Then,as I'm walking along, I notice all
of a suddenness, no sound inthe jungle, no birds, nothing,
It's all quiet, too quiet.The scream comes from my left. I
take off in that direction. Ipound along round a tree trunk, and
then there he is on the groundin front of me. Bala, Now
(26:40):
I know Why you stopped screaming sosuddenly. How can you scream when your
throat's been cut? No, Iknow that whoever's following me is way too
close for comfort. I tucked backinto the brush and take off of the
village on the double half an hourlater, and there I managed to make
the natives understand I'm looking for awhite man, and they point to a
(27:00):
small hut. Inside there's a guylying on the floor with both legs bandaged.
Hi Carlson, Yeah, what's leftof me? Steve Mitchell, agent
from the States. I traced youhere by your flight jacket. Oh,
brother, my clutch you did.I was beginning to think I was going
to run away this arson. Whathappened? I was piloting some scientists back
(27:22):
from a small island the Caribbean.Something went wrong with a plane sabotage.
We crashed into a mountain not farfrom here. The others were all killed.
Some natives found me, brought mehere and taking care of me.
Ever since, look, those scientistswere bringing back some valuable data about a
new underwater explosive. Yeah. Imanaged to get the whole file out of
the wreckage guard and using it fora pillow. I'll take it just in
(27:45):
time to give it to me,Mitchell, and that over, please,
well the old professor himself, Yes, precisely. Why did an act you
put on about being an authority onvoodoo? Del Rymple, amazing the things
one can learn out of the bookand throwing suspicion on your guide bree sect.
That was pretty neat too, Mitchell, Do not attempt to stall hand
(28:07):
over that file at once. SuddenlyI spot somebody standing on the shadows outside
the hut. It's Virginia with hercamera over his shoulder. She acts like
she's trying to keep out of sight. This I don't get at all.
If she's working with Dalrymple, whythe hide and seacact? Then an idea
hits me a while chance, butmy only one. Did you hear me,
mitcham, give me that file.You know this would make quite a
(28:30):
picture, Professor me handing over afile a secret information to a foreign agent.
Quite a picture, indeed, Mitchell, I warn you I will count
three if you have not given methe file by then. And it gives
me a puzzled look. I don'tknow whether she's gotten the message or kni
one. She looks at her camera, then slips it off her shoulder.
Dalrymp but starts swinging the gun towardsme. Just as Virginia presses a shutter.
(28:55):
The blinding flash startles a professor.He judged his head towards the door,
but before he gets back to me, I get to him with all
right, a little too late,professor, Yeah, thanks for the assistant
with a flashbubble. Virginia, surehow to make a great picture, Not
that I'm not happy to see it, but how'd you get up here?
Well? I had Lubu bring mewhen I discovered you'd left her. You
(29:15):
know, you just can't shake agirl reporter that he sees glad, I
couldn't. One thing still puzzled me. Are you really, Virginia Collins?
Certain? But according to Lubo,you're not the one who took the pictures
for the magazine. That well,just between us too, Steve. I
was in Cuba when I got theassignment to Haiti, But well, there
was a guy in Cuba I endedup by missing the vote, so I
wired ahead to my assistant, whowas already in Haiti, to take the
(29:37):
pictures for him. But don't youtell anyone about me. Okay, now,
how about giving me the whole story. First, we've got to get
Carson back to civilization. But afterthat, yeah, I'll give you the
story. But of course it'll takesome time. What do you mean you
do somewhere else on another assignment?Well, yes, I should be on
my way to Trinidad in the morning. Where's your assistant? Doesn't matter of
(29:57):
fact, she's in You're the dadright now. Everybody send her a wire.
Virginia, I got a strong hunt. You're gonna miss that boat again.
(30:26):
Dangerous Assignment starring Brian don Levia SteveMitchell, is written by Bob Brycee
and Adrian Johndo, the music byRobert arm Brewster, and is produced and
directed by Bill Karn. Be withus again next week at this same time,
when Brian don Levy, starring inthe role of Steve Mitchell, will
embark on another dangerous assignment next TheMan Called X on NBC Welcome Back.
(31:06):
This was an interesting episode that featuredvoodoo but really as a background, which
makes it different from most other headbased stories which tend to put it more
front and center. And I thoughtit was a nice mystery. Some really
good misdirection and red herrings, buteverything was explained rather well at the end.
(31:33):
I did reflect when the pilot saidhe had the file my mind skip
debate as I had to bypass thattwenty first century thinking that he was talking
about a computer file rather than aphysical object. Lessener comments and feedback.
Now, and we have a newreview from a listener in Adelaide, Australia
(31:57):
writing in the Apple Podcast Store.Really appreciate the time and effort put into
this podcast. Great listening. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate
you listening over there in Adelaide.Now it is time to thank our Patreon
supporter of the day. Thank youto Emily, Patreon supporter since February of
(32:19):
twenty twenty one, currently supporting usat the rookie level of two dollars or
more per month. Thank you somuch for your support, Emily, and
that will do it for today.If you are enjoying this podcast, I
encourage you to follow it using yourfavorite podcast software, and I encourage you
to like our listener on Australia.Please rate and review the podcast wherever you
(32:44):
downloaded from. It really does helpout and it's truly appreciated. We will
be back here next Wednesday with anotherepisode of dangerous assignment. But join us
back here tomorrow for follow Vans whereperhaps he fell asleep too well, there's
no place to sleep in there,just a room full of tools and junk.
(33:05):
Doesn't sound too comfortable, mister Hillary, and mister Hillary, the doors
locked. Just a moment while Itry that keyhole. Yes, key still
in it, Markam, there's anaxe over there in the corner. I'll
get it. You think something's happenedto mister Hillary. It certainly seems so.
Any windows in that room none.The only way you can get in
or out is through this door,and it's locked from the inside. Here's
(33:28):
the axe. V thank you.Better stand back, both of you.
I hope nothing's happened to him.I hope you are right. Yeah,
you got through the panel, Vans. Now reach in and turn the key.
Yeah yeah, Now, let's doorsstill doesn't open. He bought the
(33:49):
door from the inside. I heardhim do it. Yeah, sir,
I can feel a bar. Waitjust a second and I'll get it off
if I can. But reaching,Yeah, let's go advance. I'm with
you, Pitch black Hair. There'sa light switch by the side of the
door. Find advance, Not yet, but I'm looking. Where is Oh,
(34:12):
I've got it that look at thatadvance. Good body on the floor,
on the floor with a knife inits back? Is that mister Hillary?
Oh? Yes, murdered in alocked room, locked and bard from
the inside with no windows. Thiskind of a mystery should be enough for
(34:34):
even you. Marcome right now.The only thing I can tell you is
that it's too much for even me. I hope you'll be with us then.
In the meantime, do send yourcomments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives
dot and yeah. Follow us onTwitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dotcom, slash Great Detectives from boise idahole.
(34:59):
This is your most Adam Graham's sonand off
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot and net. Follow us on Twitter
at Radio Detectives, and check usout on Instagram, Instagram, dot com
(00:51):
slash Great Detectives. If you areenjoying this podcast, I encourage you to
follow it using your favorite podcast softwareto make sure that you never miss an
episode. Today's program is brought toyou in part by the financial support of
our listeners. You can support theshow on a one time basis using the
zell app to Box thirteen at GreatDetectives dot net, and you can also
(01:15):
become one of our ongoing Patreon supportersfor as little as two dollars per month.
Just go over to Patreon dot GreatDetectives dot net. Well, now
it is time for this week's episodeof Dangerous Assignment. The original air date
January the sixth, nineteen fifty one, and the title as Operation Fishhook Dangerous
(01:51):
Assignments starring brand Dunlevy as Steve Mitchell. Yeah, danger is my assignment.
(02:15):
I get sent to a lot ofplaces I can't even pronounce. They all
spell the same thing, trouble.But when I walk into the Commissioner's office,
I don't realize this assignment's gonna endup with me having somebody take a
picture of my own murdered morning.Commissioner Ruth said, you had an assignment
(02:38):
for me, and do Steve,you're playin least for Haiti in one hour?
Heity, Well, yes, I'dbetter brush up on ma voodoo before
somebody puts the double whammy on me. Might be a good idea, see,
because I'm sending you down that toput the whammy on somebody else.
What's the deal, Commissioner, you'veseen the current issue of this picture magazine?
No, what about it? They'vegot a spread on Haiti. Here,
take a look at it. Thispicture in particular Native unle deep in
(03:00):
interior of Haiti. So it's anative village. What am I supposed to
do? Get down there and checkthe plumbing. I can look at those
natives in the background, A bunchof them standing around the Hudson they wait.
One of them looks like he's wearinga leather flight jacket. Right,
We've got a copy of that picture, had a section of it blown up.
Can you read the name on thatflight jacket now? F Carlson,
(03:23):
F Carlson, it is Oh,look, Commissioner. I still don't remember
Operation Fishook. I heard the namea couple of months ago, but I
never knew what mat or anything.Two months ago a group of scientists left
for the Caribbean to conductor search andtests. They were working on a revolutionary
theory of anti submarine warfare, selfpropelled depth charge with a proximity fuge.
That was Operations fish Hook. Yes, I'll skip the technical details, but
(03:46):
what it boils down to is themost effective weapon against the submarine that's ever
been devised. How the tests workout, we don't know. They were
conducted in secret of a small islandand the Caribbean. The scientists completed their
research and compiled all the data,and they took off of US States in
a plane. That's the last weever heard of them. Wait a minute,
I seem to remember reading about agroup of scientists being lost at the
same group. Steve, we suspectedthat plane had crashed into the ocean that
(04:10):
had been sabotized. That is,we suspected it until this magazine came out
in the magazine you mean, Imean the pilot of that plane was a
man named F. Carls the flightjacket, Steve. It's possible to Carlson
or some of the others are stillalive. And it's also possible that data
they compile is floating around in Haitisomewhere. I'm sending you down there to
get it. Just like that.It's quite possible, even probable, that
(04:30):
other interests have seen this picture inthe magazine too. That means it's going
to be a race. Sounds real, jolly. Any contacts in Haiti who
can help me? Only one.The photographer took the pictures. Her name
is Virginia Collins, and we've learnedshe's still in Haiti at the hotel Christoff
and Poto Prince. Now, Steve, get down there, talk to Virginia
Collins and go anywhere and do anythingthat's necessary to recover that data. Well,
I said, you've got your assignment. Good luck. The National Broadcasting
(05:08):
Company is presenting Dangerous Assignment, starringBrian don Levy and the role of Steve
Mitchell, colorful two fisted government agentat all those places of the world where
danger and intrigue walk hand in hand. There you will find Steve Mitchell on
another dangerous assignment. Sure, I'vegot my assignment, just a little matter
(05:35):
of poking my way through a junglein Haiti to find a leather flying jacket.
The pilot who used to own itin some vital dat on anti submarine
warfare, And according to the Commissioner, I'm sure to have some competition on
the deal, which gives me anuneasy hunch that sooner or later I will
run into an amateur voodoo artist whowill be trying his best to charm me
to sleep with a slug. Nowit's Thursday. When my plane lands at
(05:58):
bort A Prince. The heirs ahot, wet blanket, and I checked
in at the hotel Christoph. Butthe clerk tells me Virginia Collins that's gone
out for a while, So Iget a drink and gout on the branded
to wait for her. I dropinto a seat beside a neat looking little
gent in a Panama suit. Goodafternoon, sir, hi. I believe
the proverbial question is is it hotenough for you? I believe the proverbial
(06:20):
answer is yes. Well, you'llbe very much encouraged to hear that it
gets much hotter than this sometime.Well, thanks for the good news.
You seem to be enjoying the weather. No, quite to the contrary I
detested. I wouldn't be here atall if it weren't for my infernal conscience.
Conscience, Yes, without that,I can be quite comfortable sitting in
(06:42):
my New York apartment writing my books. But no, my conscience tells me
I must make them authentic. Sohere I am. You write novels,
hardly, allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Ernest Ade Dalrymple.
Mind Steve Mitchell. I see myname doesn't mean anything to you, mister
Mitchell. Well, it's quite amouthful, Professor Dalrymple. But beyond that,
(07:06):
you apparently are not a student offolklore. Oh not exactly. They
tell me. I am one ofthe foremost authorities on that subject. As
a matter of fact, That's whyI'm here now. My next book is
to have a section devoted to voodoo, and I've learned that there is to
be a very rare ceremony for formingin the back country in a few days
(07:27):
now, so I'm here to witnessthat. If I can, I see
that stuff still goes on in theback country. Oh yes, yes,
indeed, And some of the thingswhich happen are completely incredible to most people.
For instance, that there's one particularceremony. Yeah, more properly an
initiation, right, the Mama Loy, Mama, the Mama Loy, the
(07:49):
native priestess. She takes a rooster. But do one of you men happen
to be Steve Mitchell? Oh yeah, I am right now. It looks
like a lucky name. Oh leave, it's not the coy. I have
a hangover. The clerk said,you were asking about me. You're a
Virginia Collins, the same. I'dlike to talk to you. Oh could
(08:09):
it be done over a remospheres?It good? Well lead the way,
excuse me, professor. Maybe youcan fill me in on a Mamma lay
and her rooster some other time.I should be delighted, you know.
If I don't watch out and I'mgonna be feeling almost human again. Now
(08:33):
what was it you wanted to talkabout? You took some photographs of a
native village for a picture magazine,raisingly Virginia. What about That's what I
want to know? Where'd you takethem? Say? What is this anyway.
What do you mean, Well,you are the second guy who's asked
me about those pictures. Yeah,somebody saddled up to me in the lobby
just a couple of hours ago andwant to know all about them too.
Was he? I don't know,I never saw him before or not losing
(08:58):
any time. What's with the pictures? Anywhere? There was a native in
one of them. He was wearinga leather flight jacket. Oh oh yeah,
I remember. Now, I'd likeyou to tell me where the village
is. Okay, it's a littlevillie Ginlan. There a flush of pelle.
But I'll do better than just tellyou about it. I'll take you
there. Oh that sounds real obligingof you. Oh look, I'm Virginia
(09:20):
Collins, girl reporter. Remember,And if there is a story, I
want it. Okay, it's adeal. I suppose we'll need a guide
to get there. Yeah, andI know a good one. I'll take
care of it, Steve. Youjust meet me out on the terrace a
little before dawn and we'll start.Then it's just getting gray. The next
(09:41):
morning. When I walk out ontothe terrace, I start towards the other
end where I'm supposed to meet Virginia, and then suddenly I hear a russell
in the bushes. I whirled aroundas a glitter of metal and I hit
the ground. The slug whistles bymy ear. I scrambled at my feet
and take off in the direction ofthe shot. There's no one in the
bushes, but I spot a Nativerunning for the courtyard. I cut him
off as I get to the otherside. Let go, let's go.
(10:05):
Who hired you to take a shotat me? Lobo? No shoot,
Look, don't give me that thisjoker just threw a shot at me.
No, Loubo, Steve louboun doanything like that. Wait a minute,
you know this guy? Sure he'sour guy, Loubo. He's okay,
Steve, I'm sure of it.Look, if you aren't the guy who
shot at me, Lobo, whywere you running just now? Loo?
(10:28):
Here shot from bushes? Lobo?Think maybe somebody shoot at him? Lobo
start to run? And where didthe sniper go? And when there's a
lot of bushes around the tear Steve, whoever it was, could have worked
his way clear around the hotel.Yeah, he or she could have all
right, skip it. You know, it looks like somebody doesn't want you
to take this trip, Steve it. Sure it does Virginia, Which means
(10:50):
the sooner we get started, thebetter. We go as far as we
can and the jeep and then wetake off through the jungle. It's hot
and sticky. And after about fourhours of trashing around through the brush,
Lobo motions up ahead, village justahead. That's good news. I've had
(11:11):
enough of this jungle for a while. What a girl to for a story?
Up? People go to village through? What do you mean, Lobo?
Lobo? She marks a long trail. Somebody passed this way before us.
Do you mean some natives? No? No native? He is village
(11:33):
brother. His villages are well hidden. You don't see them until you're right
on top of him. Looks likethe whole town turned out to greet it.
This is the village where you tookthe picture of the native and the
fly jack at another dinner. Ohyeah, yeah, sure, sure,
Lubo, take this picture and seeif any of the people here know where
this guy lives. Lubo, doso? What happens if you find the
(11:54):
native? What the fly jackers do? Look? I thought you were just
along to pick some more pictures talkabout the proverbial clamor you never heard of
a clam who could keep his trapshut getting killed? Did you? Maybe
you got a point? Wait aminute, Lubo's beckoning to it. Did
you locate that native blubo? Peoplesay he lived with a white plant man,
(12:16):
white plant man, Yes, inhouse over there. I don't see
any way. There is a smallhouse back behind those trees. YEA,
so funny. I didn't even noticeit when I was here before. What
did they mean by a white plantman? A lubo, Lubo do not
no, But this in nitive worksfor this clan. We I take it
(12:46):
you're a white plant manilla. Iam a buttons, that is what you
mean. Oh evel Day, Myname's Mitchell. This is miss Collin.
How do you do? Moselle?Pleased to come? You think visitors to
my house are most infrequent, butalways welcome? Ohe me? I serve
you well. First, I thinkyou'd better look at these credentials Monsieur valder
(13:11):
So, government agent. Well,you're full of surprises to you. Next,
I'd like you to look at thispicture right. It is a picture
of Balah. He worked for you. Oh we as I told you,
I am a botanist. Bala knowshis country like the palm of his hand.
I sent him into the jungle forbotanical specimens, and he never fills
(13:31):
me. He takes a lot oftrips into the jungle. Oh to be
sure, and would you believe it, Monsieur, I simply described to Bala
and punts Picadi and Dualla. Hebrings me back spell right now, I'm
a little more interested in another specimen. Bala brought back here a while ago
a leather flight jacket. Oh letthe jacket. Oh we he brought that
(13:52):
back a month ago. I wouldsay, you happen to remember where you'd
send him that time? He broughtit back quite well. Observe on this
map, this village is a yeahto the east. This large plateau that
could be where he got the jacket. Then somewhere on that plateau each is
a most wild country. Okay,I'd like to talk to Bala, Monsieur
(14:15):
Valder. I am sorry, Mitchell, but I feel it is impossible.
What do you mean, Well,not one hour ago Balla left for the
plateau country. Oh great, alone, No two men came up to the
vision. I'll leave is a guylooks like you've been running a poor second
all the way. Ste Yeah,and I've got to make it at least
a tie. But I borrow thismap of yours. Well there, why
(14:37):
certainly, thanks, Come on,Virginia. Let's get Lubo and start moving.
Do you think we're gaining any onfalling the boy to Harden's tea.
I'm beginning to think we're not supposedto be gaining any on the Virginia.
(14:58):
What do you mean here? ButLubo will get too far ahead of us.
Don't go for a moment. Well, what's nasty. Look at the
snap I borrowed from Valdaire. Whatabout here's the village where Valdair lives,
and over here, directly to theeast of the village of the river we're
supposed to cross before we get tothe plateau. So we should have been
traveling east since we left the villagethree hours ago. Now, take a
(15:20):
look at the sun. It's settingon our left. Unless they've changed things
pretty recently, the sun sets inthe west. Steve stemes, we're going
north north, Steve, you thinkLubo's trying to get us lost? I
don't know. Here he comes.I guess I better have it out with
him right now. Be careful,stell, follow lub something he's wrong,
(15:41):
Yeah, Lubo, I think somethingis wrong that surprised you. Blumo,
do not know? What do youmean? Now? You're sure somebody didn't
pay you to take us in thewrong direction and delay us? Lomo?
Right? You good? Oh?Sure? You guide us great? Except
all the while we've been going northinstead of east, Lumo, north fun
help us? Yeah, that's thepoint now, a cause of river?
(16:03):
River? What do you mean,Ribo? Be with rain too hard to
cross that usual place, So we'vego north to a narrow place. Then
we've crossed it. Just how muchfarther is this narrow place? Not far?
Maybe one hour? Okay, Loubo, we'll go along with you for
one hour. Get going, butjust remember I'll be right behind you,
watching you every foot of the way. We've been going at least an hour,
(16:38):
and there's no sign of a riverstarting dark too. Look at Lubo
walking along ahead of it. He'sprobably just waiting until it does get dark
enough, and then you'll I thoughtyou were the one who told me Lubo
could be trusted in Virginia. Ithought he could this gid when he brought
me to that billy to get thepictures. That time he seemed all right.
That's why I hired him for thistrip. Obvious, you just try
(17:02):
quiet well, what do you know, Steve? It sounds like a river,
Sure it does. Okay, Loubo, come on, looks like I
had Lubo tags go around seeing naowcrossing here at your HALLI wait, what
woo doo? Drums voodoo? Ohgreat, do not be a thread?
(17:27):
Drums? Tell of ceremony in villagetonight? How much farther to the bellage?
Loubo, my son of drums?He's not far well, better get
started. Look, my feet arekilling me. How about me just ducking
them in the river a few minutestime? Okay, but hurry, I'll
just be a minute. We savemuch time by coming this way. Yeah.
(17:49):
I gotta hand it to you,Lubo. I guess you'll know this
country pretty well, all right.Of course you've made a trip as far
as the Liz village only a coupleof weeks ago. Then, yes,
Lubo guy, the woman who takepictures to village? Yeah, Virginia,
Lubo did not know her name.I mean Vigia Collins, the woman who's
with us. Now, no,he's not the one. Why this woman
(18:12):
with us, She's not the onewho took the pictures. You sure about
that, Lubo Sure, and WishyLogo do not know? She come last
night in city, asked Lubo toguide her and view appear. Lubo never
see her before in his life.You're listening to Dangerous Assignments starring Brian Donlay
(18:48):
as Steve Mitchell. Well, atthis point, the whole deal is turned
into a game of who's who first. I think the gluego's in with the
other team, but he turns outto be. Okay, Now it looks
like Virginia Collins or whatever her nameis, is my Grade A suspect.
(19:11):
I don't wait across the river andhead to the village, and the drums
keep getting louder. Really it's veryclose. Now, oh good, I
don't have any desire to be wanderingaround this junk on the dark. I
think it's too dark to take apicture of Virginia. Picture. Yeah,
isn't that what you do for aliving? Take picture? Sure? But
I don't take a picture of meyou now not? Well, it's it's
(19:33):
pretty dark. Oh don't you knowhow to use a flash bulb? So
what is this anyway? Docking?I just want to have my picture taken.
Okay, wait, I put abulb in. All right, smiles
pretty? I make you happy.You know you handle camera like an expert.
(19:56):
I make my living at it.Remember, I wonder if my picture
will turn out as good as thoseyou took for your magazine. Who was
leaving us behind? And we bettercatch up? Yeah? Sure, it's
drums. Give me the crease.Better get used to them. He'll probably
be going on quite a while,he look. So here's a village in
the clearing. Yeah, I wonderwho that native woman is that we would
(20:19):
just talk to? Whoever? Shesure looks official everything all right, I'm
arranged with Mama Tibo for us tostay overnight. Mama who Tibo? She's
Mama Lawyer here whatever that means.Mama Lawyer is the voodoo priestess. Funny,
you wouldn't know that after all thosepictures you've taken in Hady Mama laysh
(20:40):
mamalloy? Do you have to bea student of voodoo to take pictures?
Tibo? Say? The other guestsin village. Yeah, I see them
standing over there, two men.Stay wait a minute. Isn't one of
them the men you were talking toback at the hotel when I first met
you. Yeah, Professor Dalrymble,the folklore king. Who's the other one?
No? I never saw him before. Do you think they're the ones
(21:03):
who hired the navy boy in theletter jacket of Oh what's his name?
That baba? I don't know.Mama Tibo sat over there is for you,
Miss Okay, might as well gonnatake a look at it later,
okay, Lobo, Yes, circulatearound the village. See if you can
locate Bala and tell him I wantto see him secretly. Loubo doo.
(21:23):
Mitchell, Oh, Mitchell, Hello, Professor Well, I thought I recognize
you and miss College as you outof the village. If this is my
guys, Hi, I am ona mission, Mitchell. Well, I
didn't realize you too were interested invoodoo. Mitchell, I am interested in
quite a few things, Professor.You certainly come to the right place.
(21:44):
The ceremony in honor of Dumbala isto start any moment Dumbala, the principal
voodoo god. It's quite a fascinatingspectacle. Mama Tibo has kindly given me
permission to witness it, which isquite a rare privilege I might have.
But would you care to be myguest? I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's
a little out of my life.Perhaps it is just as well ceremonies off
(22:06):
and I have an undesirable effect onspectacles. Or I'm going to get something
to eat, Missaidar, I willmeet you later, Yes, sir,
very well for Si a very strangeshallow to his sure. Yes, yes,
he's the one disappointment on an otherwiserewarding trip. What do you mean.
(22:26):
Well, back in Port of Prince, I tried to hire the native
guide I've had for these trips inthe past, but he was unavailable.
In this chapter, Brissac introduced himselfto me and prevailed on me to hire
him as my guide. Oh,but soon after we started, I realized
he knew very little about this country. Then, when we reached the village
where the French botanist lives, Brissacwas quick to hire this Bala as another
(22:48):
guide. He seized upon Bala assoon as he saw him. It was
almost as if he recognized that's veryepcame Professor Mitchell. Oh, excuse me,
Professor good, what is it atthe Woodoo ceremony? Okay, thanks,
I've a changed my mind, ProfessorDalrymple, I'd like to witness that
ceremony with you. Well, Splendidn't splendid come, but may have already
(23:11):
started. The Professor and I startwalking through the village. On the way,
I spot Virginia standing outside her talkingto Brissac, which doesn't surprise me
much. At this point, thetwo of them could be in the deal
together. We reached the clearing wherethe ceremony is being held. In its
(23:33):
whitest sight, the natives are squattingaround in the circle, and in the
middle of them, Mama Tibo iswhirling around and around. Professor Dalrymple eagerly
starts taking notes. Mitchell, Justlook, it isn't she magnificent? Hardly
what you'd call ballroom dancing. Nowcomes the incantation see the native who just
stood up? The chant groans oneby when the natives jump up and start
(24:15):
dancing, if you can call itthat. Then I spot Bala, the
boy in the lava jacket. He'swhirling around, kicking up his heels and
in general having himself at time.I catch his eye a couple of times
and jerked my head for him tocome over, but he doesn't pay any
attention, just keep s whirling aroundfaster and faster. Then my eyes slide
past Ballad to the figure on theother side of the clearing. It's a
Prisyct and he's watching Bala like ahawk. This is Joseph. Great,
(24:37):
How am I going to get toBalla without Priscyct knowing about it? Finally
Bala keels over in a trance anda couple of other natives drag him away.
The dance continues. By now I'vehad it. My one chance of
talking to Bala is gone. Ithink I can see a grin on in
Presact's face. After a few minutesmore, I go back to my huts
and I'm just a visitor. Hewanted to see me, Bala. I
(25:00):
thought you were in some kind ofa trance. Balah saw your signal,
pretended to be in trance, socould talk to you? Ye? Really,
kg character runt you all of asudden, everybody want to talk to
Balah. Blah think maybe you'll paymore money than other men who hired him.
I mean Bric not know his name. Yeah, I want to talk
to you all right. Look you'rewearing a leather jacket with a name F.
(25:21):
Carlson on it. Where'd you getit? In small village two three
hours from here? White men therewith broken legs, right, Natives caring
for him. But he's still alive. It's still alive. Will you take
me to him? For money?Okay, for money. Let's get going.
(25:47):
We've been going at least two hours. Balah, we should be getting
close. Not more than one hour? Or what's the matter? Somebody follow
us? You sure? Bash wouldbe Brie second Virginia. You follow river,
lead you straight to village and whiteflyerman Bill. I go on the
direction and lead them away. Okay, go to it, Bala, I'll
see you later. Bala disagrees underthe brush and I start following the river
(26:15):
towards the village ahead. Then,as I'm walking along, I notice all
of a suddenness, no sound inthe jungle, no birds, nothing,
It's all quiet, too quiet.The scream comes from my left. I
take off in that direction. Ipound along round a tree trunk, and
then there he is on the groundin front of me. Bala, Now
(26:40):
I know Why you stopped screaming sosuddenly. How can you scream when your
throat's been cut? No, Iknow that whoever's following me is way too
close for comfort. I tucked backinto the brush and take off of the
village on the double half an hourlater, and there I managed to make
the natives understand I'm looking for awhite man, and they point to a
(27:00):
small hut. Inside there's a guylying on the floor with both legs bandaged.
Hi Carlson, Yeah, what's leftof me? Steve Mitchell, agent
from the States. I traced youhere by your flight jacket. Oh,
brother, my clutch you did.I was beginning to think I was going
to run away this arson. Whathappened? I was piloting some scientists back
(27:22):
from a small island the Caribbean.Something went wrong with a plane sabotage.
We crashed into a mountain not farfrom here. The others were all killed.
Some natives found me, brought mehere and taking care of me.
Ever since, look, those scientistswere bringing back some valuable data about a
new underwater explosive. Yeah. Imanaged to get the whole file out of
the wreckage guard and using it fora pillow. I'll take it just in
(27:45):
time to give it to me,Mitchell, and that over, please,
well the old professor himself, Yes, precisely. Why did an act you
put on about being an authority onvoodoo? Del Rymple, amazing the things
one can learn out of the bookand throwing suspicion on your guide bree sect.
That was pretty neat too, Mitchell, Do not attempt to stall hand
(28:07):
over that file at once. SuddenlyI spot somebody standing on the shadows outside
the hut. It's Virginia with hercamera over his shoulder. She acts like
she's trying to keep out of sight. This I don't get at all.
If she's working with Dalrymple, whythe hide and seacact? Then an idea
hits me a while chance, butmy only one. Did you hear me,
mitcham, give me that file.You know this would make quite a
(28:30):
picture, Professor me handing over afile a secret information to a foreign agent.
Quite a picture, indeed, Mitchell, I warn you I will count
three if you have not given methe file by then. And it gives
me a puzzled look. I don'tknow whether she's gotten the message or kni
one. She looks at her camera, then slips it off her shoulder.
Dalrymp but starts swinging the gun towardsme. Just as Virginia presses a shutter.
(28:55):
The blinding flash startles a professor.He judged his head towards the door,
but before he gets back to me, I get to him with all
right, a little too late,professor, Yeah, thanks for the assistant
with a flashbubble. Virginia, surehow to make a great picture, Not
that I'm not happy to see it, but how'd you get up here?
Well? I had Lubu bring mewhen I discovered you'd left her. You
(29:15):
know, you just can't shake agirl reporter that he sees glad, I
couldn't. One thing still puzzled me. Are you really, Virginia Collins?
Certain? But according to Lubo,you're not the one who took the pictures
for the magazine. That well,just between us too, Steve. I
was in Cuba when I got theassignment to Haiti, But well, there
was a guy in Cuba I endedup by missing the vote, so I
wired ahead to my assistant, whowas already in Haiti, to take the
(29:37):
pictures for him. But don't youtell anyone about me. Okay, now,
how about giving me the whole story. First, we've got to get
Carson back to civilization. But afterthat, yeah, I'll give you the
story. But of course it'll takesome time. What do you mean you
do somewhere else on another assignment?Well, yes, I should be on
my way to Trinidad in the morning. Where's your assistant? Doesn't matter of
(29:57):
fact, she's in You're the dadright now. Everybody send her a wire.
Virginia, I got a strong hunt. You're gonna miss that boat again.
(30:26):
Dangerous Assignment starring Brian don Levia SteveMitchell, is written by Bob Brycee
and Adrian Johndo, the music byRobert arm Brewster, and is produced and
directed by Bill Karn. Be withus again next week at this same time,
when Brian don Levy, starring inthe role of Steve Mitchell, will
embark on another dangerous assignment next TheMan Called X on NBC Welcome Back.
(31:06):
This was an interesting episode that featuredvoodoo but really as a background, which
makes it different from most other headbased stories which tend to put it more
front and center. And I thoughtit was a nice mystery. Some really
good misdirection and red herrings, buteverything was explained rather well at the end.
(31:33):
I did reflect when the pilot saidhe had the file my mind skip
debate as I had to bypass thattwenty first century thinking that he was talking
about a computer file rather than aphysical object. Lessener comments and feedback.
Now, and we have a newreview from a listener in Adelaide, Australia
(31:57):
writing in the Apple Podcast Store.Really appreciate the time and effort put into
this podcast. Great listening. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate
you listening over there in Adelaide.Now it is time to thank our Patreon
supporter of the day. Thank youto Emily, Patreon supporter since February of
(32:19):
twenty twenty one, currently supporting usat the rookie level of two dollars or
more per month. Thank you somuch for your support, Emily, and
that will do it for today.If you are enjoying this podcast, I
encourage you to follow it using yourfavorite podcast software, and I encourage you
to like our listener on Australia.Please rate and review the podcast wherever you
(32:44):
downloaded from. It really does helpout and it's truly appreciated. We will
be back here next Wednesday with anotherepisode of dangerous assignment. But join us
back here tomorrow for follow Vans whereperhaps he fell asleep too well, there's
no place to sleep in there,just a room full of tools and junk.
(33:05):
Doesn't sound too comfortable, mister Hillary, and mister Hillary, the doors
locked. Just a moment while Itry that keyhole. Yes, key still
in it, Markam, there's anaxe over there in the corner. I'll
get it. You think something's happenedto mister Hillary. It certainly seems so.
Any windows in that room none.The only way you can get in
or out is through this door,and it's locked from the inside. Here's
(33:28):
the axe. V thank you.Better stand back, both of you.
I hope nothing's happened to him.I hope you are right. Yeah,
you got through the panel, Vans. Now reach in and turn the key.
Yeah yeah, Now, let's doorsstill doesn't open. He bought the
(33:49):
door from the inside. I heardhim do it. Yeah, sir,
I can feel a bar. Waitjust a second and I'll get it off
if I can. But reaching,Yeah, let's go advance. I'm with
you, Pitch black Hair. There'sa light switch by the side of the
door. Find advance, Not yet, but I'm looking. Where is Oh,
(34:12):
I've got it that look at thatadvance. Good body on the floor,
on the floor with a knife inits back? Is that mister Hillary?
Oh? Yes, murdered in alocked room, locked and bard from
the inside with no windows. Thiskind of a mystery should be enough for
(34:34):
even you. Marcome right now.The only thing I can tell you is
that it's too much for even me. I hope you'll be with us then.
In the meantime, do send yourcomments to Box thirteen at Great Detectives
dot and yeah. Follow us onTwitter at Radio Detectives, and check us
out on Instagram, Instagram, dotcom, slash Great Detectives from boise idahole.
(34:59):
This is your most Adam Graham's sonand off
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!