The Pirates of Shan: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story “Dangerous Discovery” - Chapter 15 Plan of Attack

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter fifteen of the Pirates of Shan, a Rick Brandt's
science adventure story by Harold L. Goodwin. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Read by Cinda J. M.
Chapter fifteen, Plan of attack. The boys crossed the street,
crept past several houses, and gained the safety of the cornfield,

(00:22):
slowly so the rustling leaves and stalks would not give
them away. They crossed the cornfield to Rick. At least,
it was a terribly long and slow journey. He wanted
to give a yell of joy and triumph. He wanted
to call Zirkon immediately and pass on the good news,
but he knew silence was important, and he kept his
exultation locked insighed. As they reached the lava flow, Shahada

(00:46):
gave the now faithful pirate dog the last of his hamburgers,
and the boys climbed across the lava to the beach.
Only then did Ris dare stop long enough to call
the swift arrow. We found Shannon, He said, try tamphantly.
Now we have to get out of here. We'll give
you the details later. The boys pushed off in the
vinta and paddled toward the east in order to get

(01:08):
farther away from the guards before putting up the sail. Then,
because the slight breeze had shifted, it was necessary to
tack the cranky craft until dawn was pale in the
east before they reached the swift Arrow. As the MTB
moved quietly south out of danger, rick reported, we saw Shannon,
as I told you on the radio. I'm sure it

(01:29):
was he. They're on the cliff at the back of
the village. I guess the shelf where we saw the fires,
over a hundred feet up. No sign of Briati. Sir
Khan asked, none at all. Of course, we couldn't see
onto the shelf. There wasn't enough light and it was
too high. Scotty rubbed his chin. How did they get up?
There must be ladder, Shahada answered, pretty good. Prison Zir

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Khon combented no danger of escape once the ladder or
steps were removed, and the whole village serves as a guard.
Big question is how do we get them out of there?
Rickett thought about it during the tedious trip back. He
turned over every possibility in his mind and eliminated all
but one. What's more, he wasn't sure that would work.

(02:13):
I have an idea, he explained, but it depends on
a daytime. Look at the island. Zirkon nodded, all right,
we'll take a look now. Tell us about the village,
any trouble. The two boys keep Zircon and Scotty a
quick account of their reconnaissance, and both chuckled at Shahada's
trick of feeding the dog. He'll probably be standing on
the beach waiting for when you get back, Scotty said,

(02:34):
with a grin. Bet it's the first hamburger the pooch's
ever had. That pirate you belted with a pistol bothers
me though. Won't he set off an alarm that will
put the whole mob on the alert? I hope not.
There's a chance he might think it was someone in
the village who has a grudge against him. Sirkon shrugged.
One way or another. There's nothing we can do about it. Now,

(02:56):
we'll have to assume the whole place is alerted. How
about some sleep, Scotty suggested. Rick shook his head. The
first part of his plan had to be put into
operation immediately. It's only a little while to dawn. By sunrise,
we have to be east of the island, he explained quickly.
For a safe, undetected look at the areas of the
island he wanted to see, they would have to depend

(03:18):
on the sun for a shield. They could proceed immediately
on a roundabout course that would bring them to the
east of the island just as the sun was rising.
Hidden in the sun's glare, they would have a few
minutes in which to examine the eastern slope of the volcano.
I'm beginning to see your plan, Sirkon said. Then what
then we go into safe waters for the day. At sunset,

(03:41):
we hide in the sun again while we look at
the island from the west. We'll wait until the sun
is low enough so no one on the island will
be looking into it. Then we'll use it for a
shield and take a good look at Shannon's cliff. Dwelling
through the long glass. Scotty shook his head. But we
already I know what's on the eastern and western shores.

(04:01):
Why go to all this trouble. We don't know much
about the terrain. If it looks possible, you and I
go climbing tonight, We land on the eastern shore, climb
the volcano go over the top and down the western
side until we come out right above the shelf where
the scientists are held prisoner. Then we haul them up
on a rope. Scotty stared at his pal. Wow, we

(04:24):
take him out by the back door. Huh, Zircon held
up a hand. Not so fast. The plans are good
when Rick, I won't mention my natural dislike of being
dismissed from the scheme without being consulted, because you and
Scotty are the logical ones to go for reconnaissance of
this kind. But I'll buy only this. You and Scotty
will look over the terrain tonight. If possible, you will

(04:47):
deliver a megabuck radio unit to Shannon and Briotti. Then
you will return without attracting attention. That will be time
enough for us to plan the rescue in conjunction with
our friends on the cliff. Rick had admit Zirkon's plan
made better sense, even though he disliked the idea of
another day's delay in rescuing their friends. He nodded Scotti

(05:08):
rose is pleasure at the plan evident in his wide
grin let's go. Fifteen hours later, the swift arrow withdrew
to the open waters to the south. As the sun
slowly fell below the horizon, the four adventurers gathered around
the chart table and studied the island of Shan. Comparing notes.
Zircon used a pair of dividers as a pointer. This

(05:28):
cove on the eastern shore looks like the best possibility
for anchoring the Vinta, and I'd say the climb up
the volcano from there is no harder than any other place.
Rick agreed. It looked that way to me too. We'll
call that cove our back door. The only real puzzle
is does the volcano have a crater. If so, we'll

(05:49):
have to go around it. Climbing down into the crater
and up again would use up too much time. Zircon shrugged.
We have no way of telling. Did anyone notice a
preferred way around the cone? The southern slope looks a
little less steep, Scotty volunteered. Shahata nodded agreement. I also
think this to me, big trouble is placed right above

(06:11):
cliff is pretty steep. I think the Hindu boy was right.
As usual. Rick thought he'd seen through the long glass
that the area above the steep cliff was only slightly
less vertical than the cliff itself, with an occasional shelf
of rock. Not only would that be the hardest part
of the trip, he guessed, but the most dangerous, since
it would be in sight of the village part of

(06:32):
the time. It's steep. Scotty agreed, I'd say it's not
a place to pick for a casual stroll, but I
can't think of any other way to get our friends
off that shelf, could you? The other shook their heads.
They had discussed it at length during the daylight hours
while they floated patiently in the waters south of Shan,
alternately sleeping and preparing for the night's work. Since no

(06:54):
other plan seemed even remotely feasible, Rick and Scotty were
to make the first try it in about two hours.
The time passed swiftly with last minute preparations. The boys
carried rope heavy spikes to be used as pitons on
particularly difficult places, flashlights taped so only a pinpoint of
light could emerge, cans of water from the emergency rations

(07:17):
work gloves from the clothing locker, and candy bars for
quick energy rations. In addition, Rick had Zirkon's pistol a
take down fishing rod with reel and line, a radio unit,
and the long glass. Scotty had his rifle, a small
first aid kit, and a wooden calking mallet. The two
were having a last cup of coffee when Shahada came

(07:38):
down from the upper deck. Is time, the Hindu boy
told them we two miles east of Shan. Good wind,
you make good time going in, not so good coming back.
The boys finished their coffee and went on deck. The
four shook hands all around, and Zirkon cautioned, give yourselves
plenty of time for the return trip. Remember that if

(07:58):
you're late, you'll have to hide on the volcano all day.
End of chapter fifteen.