The Pirates of Shan: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story “Dangerous Discovery” - Chapter 4 The Headman's Secret

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 four, The Headman's Secret. On
the following morning, Major Pollo Laxon joined the Spindrifters for
a breakfast at the hotel. The young officer answered questions
about the region for an hour, but Rick refrained from
bringing up the subject to the headman until breakfast was over.

(00:28):
But that was deferred when Scotti asked, in a startling question, Major,
whatever happened to the boat our friends came in? Laxon's
eyebrows went up.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Boat.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
What boat you mean? You didn't know they came by boat?
Zorkon bellowed incredulously. The Major shook his head. This is
the first I have heard of a boat. I assumed
they came by air. The instructions I got from Manila
were simply to find two missing Americans with their names
and descriptions. Since most Americans stay at this hotel, I

(01:03):
inquired and found they had checked out that established their
presence in devou It didn't occur to me to be
interested in where they had come from, although I knew
for my instructions that it was Zambowanga. Later I checked
the airline to see if they had left by air,
but there was no record. It was incredible, but there

(01:24):
it was. Rick knew it was the kind of slit
that often happens when the background given with instructions is
not complete.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
I will get on this.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Right away, Laxon said, you have a description of the boat.
I'm afraid not. It was charged in Zambowanga. Can you
get a scription from there? Of course, it's strange the
detail of the boat never came to light. Why I
even had a full description of their moral guide guide?

(01:54):
The three said simultaneously. It was their turn to be astonished.
No one had mentioned a third person in the party.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
You didn't know.

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Laxon clapped a hand to his forehead in a gesture
of chagrin. The lack of communications is ridiculous. Yes, they
had a guide. Apparently they picked him up in Zambalanga,
a young Moro no outstanding features, who gave his name
as AzID Haelujah. We have not been able to find
out any more about him. Laxon rose to get a

(02:25):
message off about the boat, but Rick stopped him and
quickly outlined his conclusion. About the headman. At Shahata's trip
to the Bagobo village, the Major scratched his cheek thoughtfully.
It is just possible.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
You are right, he said.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
At last, I myself noted that the old man was
not at ease, but I attributed it to the presence
of strange Americans plus my own official status. Many primitive
peoples are shy in the presence of authority. However, I
agree the headman may have overdone it somewhat. We will see.
I will phone you when I have news of the boat,

(03:00):
and perhaps you will let me know when you hear
from this Indian friend of yours.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
The morning dragged on.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
After Lackson's departure, the three walked the streets of de
Vao and found it to be quite a modern city,
with two newspapers, a radio station, and some good stores.
Both Rick and Scotty had the feeling that they were
being watched, but the most careful observation failed to uncover
a chail. Nevertheless, the boys were certain their movements were
known to someone. If only they could discover the invisible watcher,

(03:30):
Rick thought and squeeze some information out of him. The
tropical sun grew hot as the day progressed, and the
three returned to the hotel and sat in the small
dining room over cold limaids and chilled mango. Rick had
kept the megabuck earphone in place all morning, and as
he started to order another mango, Shahada's voice sounded in

(03:52):
his ear. Rick you hear here, he replied swiftly, go ahead,
got recording. I think you plenty on ball. Rick headman lied,
like champ, meet you hotel room right away? I just
driving up what number room? Rick told the Hindu boy
and signed off. He turned to the others. Let's go,

(04:14):
Shahat has got something. They hurried to their room and
zirkon At once placed a call to Laxen. The Constablary
office replied that the major was en route to the
hotel and should be there in a few minutes. Shahata
burst into their room. The Hindu boy was grinning from
ear to ear. He took the tiny recorder from his
pocket and handed it to zirkon Plenty hot you bet?

(04:36):
Can I have drink please? Scotty picked up the telephone
and ordered a double line maid with plenty of ice.
Much thanks, Scotty. Well this morning at dawn we merchants
go to Bogobo village sell plenty cloths too. You know,
some Bogobos speak a little English, not much but enough.
While I sell, I start asking questions, but I get

(04:57):
no answer. Then boy my age starts buying cloth for
new turbine. We alone, so I try bribe. I say,
tell me about missing Americans, and I give you cloth
for free, and you know he starts go on. Confound it,
Zircon bellowed, don't keep us in suspense like.

Speaker 3 (05:17):
This, okay, Professor, I talk fast.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
This boy gets no chance to say something because headman
busts in and he shoots words at boylike machine gun. Boy.
No more, We'll talk to me, but I give him
cloth anyway, because all the time I have wire machine
going wonderful.

Speaker 3 (05:38):
Rick exclaimed, Now.

Speaker 2 (05:39):
If we can only get it translated, Scotty opened the
door at a knock and admitted Major Laxin. Zircon introduced
Shahata and explained quickly what had happened. He showed the
officer the wire recorder could Laxon picked up the telephone
and made a call. After a brief exchange in the
local dialect, he hung up. We will take it to

(06:00):
de val University. Doctor Gonzalez, the professor of languages, will translate.
He speaks Bogoboat expertly. Come, my car is outside, Shahada
hung back. You go better, I stay under cover while longer.
You call me on radio when you find something. Rick agreed,
and then followed the others. They piled into Lason's command

(06:21):
card headed for the university. I have some news myself,
Laxon reported. Your friends came in a sloop called Sampoguitoa,
which is a local flower. They tied up at a
private dock on the waterfront. Where's the boat now, Scotty
asked Laxon, shrugged, who knows. No one saw it leave,
but it was there the night your friends disappeared and

(06:43):
gone the following morning. Rick pondered that bit of information
while Laxon and Zircon worked with doctor Gonzalez, a short
bald Filipino, on the translation of the wire recording. Certainly
Briotti and Shannon wouldn't have walked back from the Bogova
village and taken the boat themselves, and if they had
walked to Klinin and obtained a car, Laxon would have

(07:05):
found out about it. There weren't so many people in
the area that the rental or borrowing of a car
by two Americans couldn't be discovered easily. Had they hitched
a ride, Laxen would surely have found out that too
few cars traveled the road to Klinin. Rick took Loaxin
aside and questioned him while Zirkon played the wire over
and over again for the Filipino language expert. The major

(07:29):
confirmed that he had checked and was satisfied that the
scientists had not obtained a ride back from Colenin from
any of the local people. There were no cars to
rent either. Rick dropped the subject abruptly as Zurkun and
Gonzalez finished making notes and switched off the recorder. Doctor
Gonzalez has it, Zirkon said, with quiet triumph. The language

(07:50):
is difficult, and the headman was far from the microphone,
but the sense of what is on the tape is clear.
The boys and Laxon listened closely as a language professor read,
say nothing, young fool. It is forbidden to speak of
the white men one word that they were here, and
the wrath of I don't know one word here. We'll

(08:11):
fall on the whole village do you want to die?
Do you want us all to die? I forbid you
to speak.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
On pain of death.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
They were there, Scotty exclaimed, Now maybe we can find
out what happened at once. Major Loxon added grimly, Doctor,
what does the missing word sound like? The Filipino professor
shook his head. It's a word I've never heard, Major.
It doesn't sound like a Bogobo word at all. It's
shoon or sean, something like that. It's not clear. Will

(08:44):
you come with us to translate? Doctor Wan speaks enough
Bogobo to get by, but I'd rather have you for
this trip.

Speaker 3 (08:51):
It may be difficult. I'll be glad to may.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
I have a few moments to change clothing. Of course,
I'll take these gentlemen to the hotel and they can Shane,
we'll pick you up.

Speaker 3 (09:02):
Rick took advantage of a.

Speaker 2 (09:03):
Few moments in their hotel room to call Shahata. The
Hindu boy answered at once. The recording had the answer.
Rick told him it was a good piece of work, Shahatta.
We're leaving for the village at once. Good something I
can do. Not right now. I'll call when we get back.
Rick changed swiftly into Khaki trail clothes. Their tropical suit

(09:24):
trousers had been cleaned overnight, and he didn't want to
ruin his again. Outside, Laxum was waiting. Two other command
cars had joined him, each one carrying six armed troopers.
The three jumped in with the Major and went past
the university to pick up doctor Gonzalez. The caravan broke
all speed records getting to callin in one. The local

(09:45):
trooper got into the last car and line and they
roared off to the road's end. This time, the spin
drifters were dressed for the hike and were well sprayed
with protection against insects. Each had a hat and a
head net. The group traveled at good speed. Then, as
they emerged from the jungle trail into the clearing that
led to the village, a squad of four troopers under

(10:07):
Juan broke off from the party and started away at
a dog trot to make a wide circle and approach
the village from the opposite side.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
The rest walked.

Speaker 2 (10:17):
Straight ahead at a slow pace that would give Juan's squad.

Speaker 3 (10:21):
Time to move into position.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
Rick's party reached the first house in the village and
Major Laxon held up his hand from the far side
of the village, came Juan's whistle blast.

Speaker 3 (10:31):
The Major's hand dropped.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
Troopers with rifles charged into the Bogobo village, scattering among
the houses. Laxen drew his pistol and marched straight to
the headman's house. The headman walked to meet them, his
face stiffened as he saw the pistol.

Speaker 3 (10:45):
He spoke rapidly.

Speaker 2 (10:47):
Gonzalez translated, he wants to know why you come with
a weapon pointed at him, and why your men raid
his houses. Tell him we come as enemies because he
lied the Americans were here.

Speaker 3 (10:59):
My men's search for evidence.

Speaker 2 (11:01):
The Filipino professor translated, and the headman made an expressive
gesture with his hands.

Speaker 3 (11:07):
He sat down on a.

Speaker 2 (11:08):
Seat made of a split Tengouli log and stared straight ahead,
obviously intending to maintain a stony silence. A trooper ran up,
waving a tubular object, which he handed to the Major.
Rick saw that it was a high powered telescope, like
the one Shannon had owned. His pulse quickened as Scotty
removed the protective lens cap and examined the object. Shannon's

(11:31):
Scotty stated, his initials are stamped on the side.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
And on the front lens cap. The headman seemed to wilt.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Another trooper ran up and carried a leather quiver that
Rick recognized instantly. It was also Shannon's. He knew it
well from their field archery games. In the quiver was
a bow, a takedown model with three dozen arrows.

Speaker 3 (11:53):
Major, what are we going to do? For reply?

Speaker 2 (11:56):
The officer planted himself in front of the headman, his
voice harsh, tell him, Professor Gonzalez that we have evidence enough.
Unless he has a good explanation, we must believe that
his village murdered the Americans. For this, some of his
people may pay with their lives, doctor Gonzalez translated into Bogobo.

(12:16):
For long minutes, the headman sat quietly. Then he rose
to his full height and looked the officer and the eye.
I am caught between a knife and a spear, Doctor
Gonzalez translated. There is death either way. It is true.
The Americans came. We made them welcome. For one evening
they stayed. We gave them and their moral a house

(12:37):
to sleep in. Then after it was dark and we slept,
men came. The Americans and the Moro fought, but the
men tied them up and carried them away. Then the
men said that if one person in my village spoke
of this, all would die. Two things we found were
not taken because they were in a corner of the

(12:57):
hut and were not seen. All else was removed. Ask
him who the men were and why he didn't fight
for the Americans.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
Lax interacted.

Speaker 2 (13:07):
The Filipino language expert posed the question, then translated the reply,
he does not know the men or their names. He
did not fight because it was useless. His people would
have died and the Americans would not have been saved.
Ask him how he knows this. The bogobo's reply was terse,
he knows. Gonzales said, he will say no more. Laxen

(13:32):
made a sound of disgust, and he means it too.
Look at him, Rick saw what lax and men. The
stern face and glittering eyes indicated clearly that the headman
would die. Before he said more about the attackers. Does
he know where the Americans were taken? Zurkon asked, he
does not know. The men took them down the trail.
Of course, some Bogobos followed, but at the road the

(13:55):
men put the Americans and their guide into a car
and drove away. Apparently there were two or three cars
the Bogobos could not follow. Then Shannon Briotti and their
guide were probably on the boat when it left devout
Rick said, thoughtfully, but where did the boat go? Major
Loxon answered, we don't know, but it is possible we.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
May find out.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
I've sent out in all Points bulletin asking for information.
We may get a lead to its whereabouts. We better,
Scotty said grimly, unless someone has seen it. We have
the whole Sulu Sea to search. End of Chapter four.

Speaker 1 (14:32):
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