The Pirates of Shan: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story “Dangerous Discovery” - Chapter 2 The Hindu Merchant

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents the Pirates of shan A Rick
Brandt's science adventure story Dangerous Discovery.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
By Harold L. Goodwin, Chapter two, The Hindoo Merchant. Thirty
six hours later, after a grueling transcontinental trans Pacific flight
with only the briefest of stops to change planes, Rick, Scotti,
and Zirkon were in Manila, their stay in Manila only

(00:29):
three hours old. They had already visited the American consulate
and found that no new information on the missing scientists
had been received. They had arranged a luncheon date with
doctor Okola and had reserve space on Philippine airlines to devour.
The following morning, Rick paced the floor sipping a glass
of fresh limemaid made with Kalmanassi, the tiny, pungent local limes.

(00:54):
His time for the past three days had been spent
alternately dozing and thinking about the problem of the missing scientists.
The more he wondered about their strange disappearance, the more
worried he became. There's simply no reason for it, he
said out loud. Scotty looked up from the chair in
which he was reading the Manila Times. The Husky ex

(01:15):
Marine didn't have to be told what his pal was thinking.
No reason, we can see, he agreed. But there has
to be a reason. Hobart Zirkin spoke from the desk
where he was writing a note to Hartson Brandt. You
might remember, Rick, that we've been on other expeditions where
the reason for certain events was just as puzzling. Rick

(01:38):
knew the events the physicist meant, only a few dozen
yards away from this very room, in the ancient walled
city across the street, he and Scotty had been under
rifle fire for a reason they couldn't have guessed at
the time. Listen to this, Scotty said. Suddenly, he read
from the newspaper. The American Consulate reported today that three

(02:00):
members of the Findrift Foundation's staff have arrived in Manila
to begin a search for the American scientists reported missing
a short time ago. The scientist disappeared north of Devo.
End of item that's shortened to the point. Rick commented,
a little bitterly. They certainly don't make much fuss over

(02:20):
two messing Americans, do they, And it's on page seventeen,
Scotty added. He folded the paper back to the front page.
Look at this headline. Across the top of the front
page was emblazoned where is el Pliino Torres? Who's he?
Rick asked. A Filipino kid he ran away, got lost,

(02:42):
or got kidnapped. No one knows which. His father's a
big sugar operator and politician. The kid's been gone for weeks,
but the papers still playing it up. A top of
page one, Rix snorted headlines for one Filipino boy and
page seventeen for two American scientists. Some contrast, Hobart Zirkin

(03:03):
fixed a stamp to his letter and walked over to
the boys. You're not thinking straight, Rick. Suppose two Filipino
scientists were lost in the Rocky Mountains and the son
of a leading American citizen was missing, how would our
own papers play it, Rick handigrin emphasis on the local boy.
I suppose you're right, Professor. I'm just upset. I'd hoped

(03:26):
for more from the consul this morning. The vice consul
in charge of the case had nothing to add to
what they already knew, and had slim hope of obtaining
more information. The American ambassador had received assurances from the
Philippine government that all possible aid would be given to
the spindrift search party, and that the Constablary would not

(03:48):
give up the hunt. No more could be done. The
American consulate had no resources with which to conduct a search.
Come on, Zircon said, it's time for lunch. Doctor Okolo
will be arriving in a few minutes. All right, But
I wish we could really get started on our search
or find someone who could help us. Even Shahada hasn't

(04:09):
shown up. We haven't even had a reply to Dad's message.
As they went down to the dining room, Scotty pointed
out that Shahada might be very hard to reach. For
all we know, he could be in the interior of
Malaya or some unlikely place. He would come if he could.
Rick Rick knew Scotty was right. Shahada had proved his

(04:31):
loyalty and friendship more than once. Just the same, he'd
hope Shahada would come. The Hindu boy with his war
world all in act education, as he called it, could
be a great help. Shahada had not only memorized the
entire World Almanac, but he seemed to have a sixth
sense about people and places. That was always a source

(04:54):
of amazement to Rick and Scotty. Lunch with doctor Okola
was pleasant, even though it did nothing to advance the search.
Rick and Scottie reminisced about the Golden Skull expedition with
the Filipino archaeologist and enjoyed the hour they parted with
doctor Ocolo's assurances that he was ready to help in
any way he could. As Rick unlocked the door of

(05:15):
their room after lunch, he said, I guess it's up
to us. He stopped with a yell of delight as
the door swung open. Seated by the window waiting for
them was a slim, brown skinned boy in a turban Shahata.
The Hindu boy pounded them in glee, then shook hands
with Zirkon. It is good for old friends to meet,
Shahada declared, even in such unhappy soaking dances circumstances. Rick

(05:42):
corrected automatically, why didn't you wire? We thought Janek hadn't
been able to get our message to you. I was
in Singapore with my boss, Carl Bradley. Shahada explained. When
your message comes, he says, go now, Shahta. By the
time a message back catches him, oh will you know?

Speaker 1 (06:02):
Be right?

Speaker 2 (06:02):
I get here before you already two days now two days,
Scotty exclaimed, what have you been doing? Shahata bowed Scotty
pleased to be spectful. You now speak to Raman Sunda,
salesman of cloths. I'll show proper spec Scotty said, with

(06:23):
a grin. Do you mean clothes, not clothes, cloths, tax tills, textiles?
Zircon boomed Shahada. What on earth does a Hindu textile
salesman have to do with finding Briotti and Shannon plenty
do with professor? In this country? Is plenty Hindus like me,

(06:46):
Many sell tax tills. So I travel and listen. Yes,
Rick still didn't get it. But why, Shahata, we face
fact you like so much? Rick? Okay, this is country
of brown skinned people like me. People talk to me

(07:06):
when they not talk to you. So I go alone
to Davao on island of Minda. Now is big city,
says in all, in act, has one hundred eleven thousand,
two hundred and sixty three peoples. Some maybe know something.
So my friends here they send me to friend in Devoo.

(07:29):
He helps me meet people who can maybe help some more.
Okay I should have known, Rick said, with admiration, leave
it to you to dig up an angle. Shahada winked,
among Hindos is always ideas. Now I go de Vao
tonight you coming to Okay? You stay at Apple View

(07:50):
Hotel is very good. I stay there too, We not
knowing each other for a little while. I think that
is why I come into your room with special key.
My boss gives me to open many doors. Better. I
work alone for now. Scotti asked, how much do you
know about our friend's disappearance? Shahada the Hindu boy launched

(08:14):
into a concise and rapid summary. Rick wasn't surprised to
find that Shahata knew everything they had found out. You
never fail to amaze me. Zurkhon boomed. Rick went to
a suitcase and drew out the unit of the megabuck
network he had made for Barbie. He explained its operation
to Shahada, who promptly slid it under his turban where

(08:35):
no one would see it. Sahi brandt plenty smart to
make this, Shahada intoned, poor native boy, salutes mighty scientists.
He ducked Rick's return swing. Doctor Zurkon had gone to
his own suitcase and returned with his pocket sized wire
recorder and handed it to Shahada. I brought this to

(08:56):
record conversations in other languages. I think you might stem
more interesting talk than we could, Shahatta. It will record
for an hour on a single spool. Shahada took the
gadget and checked its operation. Rick was amused to see
that the poor native boy figured it out in something
less than a minute and put it casually in his

(09:18):
coat pocket. We meet in Devou, Shahadat said. He shook
hands all around and paused at the door. Please you,
good friends, I see you worry plenty. We find Tony
and doctor Shannon.

Speaker 1 (09:31):
You see.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
He opened the door and was gone. Rick breathed a
sigh of relief. I feel better, he stated, Just seeing
him again makes me feel good. I agree, Zurkon said,
and so does Scottie. Now we will do a little
sight seeing. I haven't been in downtown Manila for twenty years.
We'll only worry and fret if we stay in this
hotel room, So let's go. The three taxied through the

(09:56):
old walled city, then across Passig River into Manila p
They inspected the Escalata Principal Street in the shopping area,
then headed for Kiepau Square to see the Great Cathedral
in the shops. Traffic was heavy, so they paid the
taxi driver and got out and walked. As they crossed
a pedestrian overpassed by the cathedral, Scotty said quietly, in

(10:18):
case you were feeling neglected, you could stop. We're being tailed.
Rick and Zircon were too experienced to pause or show interest.
Scotty added, there's quite a mob on the sidewalk. Once
we get down from this bridge, push right into it.
I'll drop out and intercept him. If we're being tailed.
We want to know why the plan was executed smoothly.

(10:41):
Rick was never sure when Scotty melted into a convenient doorway.
After a moment, he stopped and looked around. He was
in time to see Scotty step from the doorway and
confront a small, poorly dressed man who wore a red fez.
Rick and Zircon were at Scotty's side in an instant.
The man in the red fez reached for a pocket
and Rick tens to swing if necessary, but the man

(11:03):
only drew out a cardboard pill box. Plenty bargain for Americans.
He announced me moro from Sulu, my cousin, best pearl
driver in Holo. He get real pearl I sell you.
Look he opened the pill box, Rick saw a half
dozen pearls of assorted sizes. We're not interested, Zircon said flatly. Sorry,

(11:26):
Come on, boys. They walked away, leaving the Moros staring
after them. Sircon chuckled, A common thing, as I recall it.
I also seem to remember that most of the pearls
selling Moros in Manila are not genuine. Their visians from
Sabu trying to sell phony pearls to tourists. But he

(11:46):
was trailing us, Scotty insisted, I don't doubt it in
the least. Sircon replied, he was probably sizing us up
to see if we're tourists or local Americans? Is he
trailing us? Now? Scott advantage of a plate glass window
to survey the street behind them, Not that I can see,
he admitted, All right, let's not be jumpy boys. Of course,

(12:08):
we want to know if or why anyone is shadowing us,
but I think we have the answer in this case.
Let's let it go. At that. End of chapter two.

Speaker 1 (12:19):
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