 African drums are talking through the long night over vast forests of mangrove and mahogany the drum notes hover in brooding mystery like the souls of dead warriors called from eternity by the ghostly rhythm of the ceremonial drum is the chant of the juju grove the liturgy of the jungle listen they bring you a story of Africa professor Anton Edwards and his little party of explorers in Africa descend into an extinct volcano and find a strange race of people the only way for them to regain the outside world is evidently through what is called the passage of the rock a dark forbidding cavern whose yawning mouth is set in the cliffside and through which at certain seasons the great apes roam out of them goodbye to the queen and her people the professor Lorna Jack and guru enter the cave mouth the first torch is lighted suddenly guru sharp eyes make out the figure of a man leaning against the wall just ahead of them the professor calls but receiving no answer they advance keeping the silent figure covered with their rifles hold the torch higher Jack girls right he's dead no I saw him move torch flickering that's all my dear are you sure father well I'll make sure I look out keep away what what happened that body must have been standing there for years started to crumble as I touched it huh well let's get on that was horrible how could the things stand there all that time sir goodness only knows Jack notice the gradual ascent of the floor professor wonder what part of the country will be in when we get out of the other end they think it'll be anywhere near our camp with all the stores I don't see how it can be I think we're traveling in the opposite direction anything so too but we must do all we can to remember the point where we emerge that's vital I want to leave a party from the academy back here and if I can't find the place I turned open my mouth we have enough evidence of our discovery as the only evidence I shall ever rely on is to let them see the place with their own eyes father what are those little pin points of light sparkling from the walls and feeling even hey let's examine one of them Jack yeah torch closer have to use a flashlight I guess well you would notice those things wouldn't you trust a woman to see diamonds a mile off diamond George that would pay for an expedition back here wouldn't it yes their diamonds all right at least this one is can't make an impression on it with a knife dig it out father I'd like to get out with why have you got a hammer and jizzle can't you dig around it with a knife that's all it rock it is a hard volcanic rock at that but can't we take any with it afraid not my dear we'd have to blast them up come on let's keep moving isn't there any way we can get some of them Jack no I don't think so dear what I'm good over here what I speak you're kidding me well let's get on folks there must be an underground river in front of us I can hear it now it must feed the river that gives the city back there it's water supply as I always wondered where it came from I thought another torture this one's practically burned out all right you notice we've been making a gradual ascent all the time yes and I'm about you for a rest I think we'll take a spell in a moment well here's your river and girl and here's where the rope comes in handy let's see about 20 feet of cars I guess it's a very deep you people take a rest while I test it what do you see on the world no seabreamer smell a mamba crocodile say what's wrong sir we're gonna say he can smell crocodiles but how could they get down under here probably float it down with the river pull the torch a fire I don't see anything put your flashlight on as well on it nothing I can see that probably a crock past here recently well there's a large rock out the middle of the stream two good jumps and I can get the rope across one no rock now not mamba rock moving get back to crack it out keep that demon owner it's rising slowly the light did it here's waking it what a huge being great Scott I've never seen their head as large as that before capital everyone he's drifting this way on a mamba local yes it's seen us well I'll have to shoot it keep the light steady here take my flashlight Jack okay sir yeah he's the only place don't think I got him properly he back it might try to climb on no it's moving with the stream into the tunnel there there he goes too bad I thought we were going to have some steaks put in there so did the crocodile Jack so we're even they'll put the flashlights out we must save the batteries one now now now what is it in the world there's something moving over there sir the other side of the water who comes to disturb my solitude who comes for Pete's sake who is it one now it is wife vote devil who is it Thomas with light answer me we are friends who travel through the mountains seeking an outlet to the passage of the rock taking an outlet and it's an old woman I think she's blind at least she's not looking at it her head's cocked on one side listening he's not muttering an answer or must I get my Apes upon the old Apes old mother of time there are no priests left in the city that lies without the rock what is that out there is no priest left the people have cast them forth and peace reigns in the city of the rock then the day has come at last it was written there be peace in the island why seek here now please we are of the outside world and journeying back to our people so the stranger it was written I like that I may see the path over the water so I put the torch on sir no just keep the light from shining directly on her face evidently she can see in the dark not used to light feeling at the bottom of the wall with her feet there must be a path of some sort there yeah base of the wall just out enough for a foothold which woman good one up she's become devil tongue well I hope the good devils tell her the shores away out of this place and that I may know the couple sir that's all right Jack I've seen these people before they have to make contact their sense of touch is better than our eyes as it was written then I have not waited in vain the property is about to be fulfilled and I shall be free to return then is there an outlet to this passage old mother is there an outlet have I not waited upon thy coming to show me the way to lead the out of the path of the sleep that killed I now work heading into it did I'll say I'll work journeying back to my people yes old mother their cities lie many days March beyond this rock many days now I and many days beyond that again for before the lie path of danger my hand has not yet put aside the sword how far shall we journey before the light of the sun shall warm us again the sun take no thought of the sun is the moon that holdeth thy destiny I the moon beware of the moon this but the moon will rise and set in spite of me old mother and in spite of my child my child what is this prophecy to do with my child speak woman and forget your riddles no harm shall the fall thy daughter no no harm be her scratch both her hand that I may see more clearly put your hand out order better be careful sir I don't like this somehow there speaks divorce no it is not thy daughter the moon has longing eyes upon but this young man who is near to her this gets worse and worse one on earth is she talking about sir I haven't the faintest idea Jack but evidently the future holds some excitement for us and it's all connected with the moon in some way well now moon daughter may be look little one up for marry her well that sounds more sensible what did you know say there is an African myth which says that at certain seasons the moon sends his daughter to the earth to find husbands for themselves so when will suggest it's the daughter of the moon who is going to cast longing eyes upon Jack well that's certainly more tangible I give a lot to get a good look at the moon right now the moon thou shall see the moon is light beyond the sleep that killed and that's why it's beyond the water come follow me let's go people take hold of my belt Lorna you follow her Jack and the guru bring up the rear okay sir careful careful everyone the ledges very narrow at your cells against the wall and walk sideways noise those those are apes apes right ahead of us Jack