 Log entry the catch scarlet queen Philip Carney master position 10 degrees 20 minutes north 107 degrees 45 minutes east sky fair wind fresh remarks Departed by Ria after losing two passengers reason for loss the green tourist and the temple bell The port of baria swelters 10 degrees above the equator on the southern coast of the lake of land that holds French Indochina An hour spent there is too long But I've known unscheduled ships like the scarlet queen to lay there for months Before a cargo materialized out of the dilapidated warehouses that fringe the muddy unkempt harbor Due to our connection with the China traders We were there only three days before we started loading a cargo of supplies for our company's trading station in Port Moresby, New Guinea And not two hours after the wine of our winches and the swing of our cargo boom started to tell the harbor that we'd be headed out soon Two Americans arrived to buy passage across the China Sea to British North Borneo Yeah, my name is Matthias captain Edmund Matthias. Oh, yeah, China traders office told us to expect you sir This is my son Stanley. I'm glad now you stand. Thanks captain mighty happy to be aboard There were easy people to know By nightfall when we were loaded and only waiting for the dawn tide to sail We were sharing our laughs and hopes with them and had learned that theirs was a journey of leisure after years in Nevada Spent dreaming about the wonders and glory of the Orient. I Was in my cabin that evening making a final check of my bills of lading and my chief made Gallagher had taken Stan and his father up into town for a final drink I got to the end of my lists and was halfway into a fresh jumper when I heard feet hit the gangway and then the deck Gotta go. What's the matter? It's a kid Stan. He didn't show up. Take it easy show up We took a powder on the way up said he'd meet us at a bar at 8. Yeah, what's 10 now? We just got word that he was wandering into the native section on the waterfront all by himself His old man's going nuts. Where is the old man waiting for us in the bar? We'd better get back up there skipper. Berea is no place for a green kid like Stan Yeah, break out a couple of 45s red will go look for him And so mutual continues the voyage of the Scarlet Queen written by gilded out and Bob Talman and starring Elliot Lewis The Scarlet Queen Protestant ship to plow the seas bound for uncharted adventure Every week a complete entry in the log and every week a league further in the voyage of the Scarlet Queen That's I take yeah, it looks like he's gonna need some taken care of himself Captain Carney, thank heaven you've come. Yeah, I'll be all right. There are so many things that could have happened He isn't used to things like this back in Nevada. He wouldn't be gone this long if something weren't long I will find them mr. My first thing you've got to do is stop your imagination. I only wish it were imagination But I know my son he promised to meet us here over two hours ago, and he hasn't arrived yet I know that nothing but an accident or I know that nothing would detain a Stan if he could help it What shall I do captain? What shall I do first try to calm down? I'm sorry, but you must know how I feel sure I do now Who told you that they'd seen Stan and what kind of a line did they give you? Oh, it was one of the natives that worked at the hotel He said he'd seen Stan at the end of Vegraburi the street where the native bars are in the gambling dens, and I don't know What else he said Stan joined the crowd of men gathered in front of the temple of the apsiracis That was more than an hour before he was to meet us here What is this temple of the apsiracis? Do you know? Well, it belongs to a cult I believe rather than a recognized religion beyond that. I know nothing Captain if I have allowed anything to happen to my son. I I don't know what I'd say I don't know what I do. Okay. Okay, Mr. Mize. Take him back to the ship red. No, no captain carney I can't sit there do nothing with that calamity approach of yours. You aren't doing any good here But never mind you got the obituary all written if he does have to be in trouble It doesn't have to be any worse than being stiff from too big a load of native grog Now go on with red and stay aboard. I'll see you later. I was thinking that I ought to stick with you skipper Two's better than one. I'm not going alone red I'm going up to the china trader's office and check with lindy shen He's been in bury a long enough to know every corner in it Oh my visit there is your captain carney. I'm sorry to bother you at this time a nightling teach in one time He's like the other there's no bother one of my passengers is missing the young one Stanley Matthias Went to bezra burry street. It could be happy on that street, but since he is accidental only briefly I think I'm going down look for him. It would be my honor to go with you. Oh, thanks Ling Oh incidentally, he was seen by a native in front of the temple of the ups or aces Then captain it is my misfortune to tell you that your concern is well-founded It is a place of evil Asking the benevolent forgiveness of my ancestors We will go there that you may see Bezra burry was an uncomfortable jumbled street Lined by crowded buildings hiding their interiors behind shattered windows and curtain doors Mixed with the wreak of its humanity was the stench of the harbor along which it stretched and into which went its refuse Including some of the men who came there and were never seen again It was an ugly street So ugly that the beauty of the temple at the end of it was a shock Orange flame flickered from two massive female statutes The temple of the ups or aces gave the immediate impression of evil and yet beauty The columns that supported the roof were more massive female figures Carvings on the heavy doors that got at the unseen interior carried out the same theme Before this door a woman danced Behind her stood three more swaying slowly back and forth one of them chanting The other two adding the music of native instruments Linti Chen and I stood for a while at the edge of a scattered crowd of silence Almost hypnotized native men that he pulled me back into the shadows You have been cursed captain by viewing the temple of ups or aces It is the renewal in the form of a cult of an ancient legend that is told in the stone carvings on the temples of Prachan What's behind it? Does it mean the legend tells that the ups or aces were creatures of great beauty Half human half deity who are sent by the gods to lead astray those mortals whose lives were without sin And so prevent overcrowding in heaven This audience tonight doesn't seem so saintly or aren't the creatures so particular these days I know only this Many strangers to barrier have entered the temple and have not returned But I have not before heard of an Occidental whose Mind was ready to receive the message of the ups or aces You wait here captain. I will find one of the watchers to speak with them perhaps learn more Linti Chen joined the entranced crowd. I was left alone Listening to the monotonous chant Watching the monotonous generations of the dancer The atmosphere was something between a dream and actuality it didn't make sense, but there I was Faced by them Ceremony for a moment. It didn't seem too strange that young Stan Matthias might have been caught and drawn in one Didn't realize that link to Chen was back until he tapped me on the shoulder captain oh Would you find out he entered the temple? I Aque with sadness to tell you But the French officials would they help they are most cautious to them sorcery as well as religion retains a dignity They do not interfere Yeah Captain Carney. I fear that any warning I might give you would be heard only by your ears Yeah, I'm afraid that's right My mind is ready to receive the message of the ups or aces Thanks for the warning anyway, Ling it wasn't long maybe 20 minutes after link to Chen left at the chanting stopped I Moved up through the crowd to catch any cues that were thrown to the chosen who would be allowed entrance into the temple of ups or aces The first move was easy The massive door swung open on an interior dimly lit by more flickering flame I followed the seven or eight natives who moved forward in response to the heels and gestures of the women Two of the natives were turned back after brief questioning that I didn't understand When the hostess saw me I caught the quick glances that snapped between them One of them stopped me just outside the door What do you want? I want to go in the temple. You'll not belong here. You go along here. I don't want to go in You belong barrier. No, what do you want? I want the other man like me. He came in before you know I want to find him. I go in if I have to burn the temple down. You'll not belong here You want come you come You'll not belong here. The look she gave me was entirely different from the sultry looks the natives were getting The big doors swung shut as we entered a narrow hallway It was bathed in an orange glow from the flames permeated by incense smoke that swirled up from the fire From the fascinated expressions of the man there must have been great promise in the words from the woman who spoke We followed them eagerly across the hallway and door was opened Silently we obeyed their gestures and entered the room beyond The door clicked shut But the women stayed outside I Didn't know whether the others heard it or not, but I did a bar slid quietly across the door locking us in This room too was lighted by a pair of fire urns, but the odor here was different Still incense but mixed with it a thickly sweet smell that tingled a little in the nostrils Made itself felt deeper in the throat was so subtle that I hardly noticed what was happening Was almost pleasant So that when I did realize I couldn't make myself care enough to fight it I don't worry about it or to worry about Stan Matthias or to even wish that I was someplace else I Lay down on the floor with my fellow dreamers staring at the ceiling smiling Breathing deeply until I couldn't see the ceiling anymore And then I floated away Even the hangover from it wasn't bad until I remembered what I'd come for and became aware of what was going on in the room There was no longer any feminine promise about it to squat powerful natives wearing razor sharp creases in their sashes were in the room They'd opened a trap door on the floor Through what I could hear water They were hurting the still weak natives through it and into a boat that waited below And the last of them had been sent down the trap slammed shut The guards moved toward me you get up you come Yeah, I'm ready to go go door. Where to where we going you go Princess Nagar Who's Princess Nagar? She I priestess is temple she hi The high priestess Princess Nagar made a beautiful picture surrounded by the mysticism or color the sense of the temple of the absuricis She lounged languidly on a raised couch Her costume was in the tradition of early Theta Barry The face was beautiful her mouth stained scarlet her eyebrows pencil darkly There was only one thing wrong with the picture. She wasn't native Her coloring was eye-in-fair and she smiled at the surprise I was showing the Princess Nagar bid you welcome Thanks The mortal seems surprised at the appearance of the high priestess direct descendant of Brachon himself I'm getting over it. I'm glad You must have something to talk about since you entered the temple with the rest of my slave. Yeah, that's right Stanley Matthias I came after you won't get him Captain Carney. He's my own special slave Maybe if you get down off that throne we can talk sense, huh, and he's deeply in love with me. You'll see that yourself What's the deal princess you want money you want me to pay ransom for him you insult me captain My income is more than sufficient. I want him near me and he's quite willing to remain This is a little thick after the rest of your act I saw Stan at six this evening and he was quite willing to be leaving this hole in the morning Now what do you want? Shall I make an offer I want nothing This life is a lonely one. I Saw Stanley on the streets one day. He's handsome and fair and young. I Saw it to it that I met him He came to say goodbye tonight and tell me he was sailing with you But he changed his mind Now he's here. He will stay here and live this fake of yours. He's not crazy. Call it fake if you like Only you miss the fact that it's quite profitable The six natives who came in with you will bring 40 francs apiece My turnover each night is between 30 and 50 You look puzzled captain. Yeah labor in the interior captain Already market the mines and the plantations in the gardens of the mandarins Under the year sedative you received they all signed three-year contracts I'll keep my mouth shut about what I think of that princess All I want out of here is Stan Prisons are tough on the equator. I don't think he'd do so well sharing that with you captain I don't want to argue with you. Why don't you talk to Stan? Maybe you remember? That's why I came I really don't know why I bother except that I like to make righteous men like you swallow their words I'll have him come in but in case you have any rash ideas, please Remember the guards. I'll try to remember them princess. I'll try to I Was almost surprised to see him walk into the room his husky body erect His blonde hair neatly combed his white suit unwrinkled. I don't know what I'd expected marks of a struggle. I suppose He crossed directly to her and stood in front of her. Here's captain Connie stand He's come to take you away from me. Do you want to go? He turned slowly from her and faced me his eyes looked at me But still threw me The rest of his expression was normal a half smile on his friendly mouth, but there was nothing I knew in his eyes Or behind them. Do you want to go? No I'm staying well captain Stan your father's waiting on the ship. We're going to leave for North Borneo in the morning No, captain Connie doesn't believe that we mean so much to one another may go has been lonely here And now I found her and I know I've been lonely too. I've heard enough. He's not making sense Captain what is sense? He's left your world and entered mine, so you don't think it's sense You'll be happier here than he's ever been before. Yeah, how long does he live in that condition? But you you're a new high princess. You're the filthiest hunk of humanity. I've ever met captain Don't hang with me talk that over later right now. You're gonna help me get out of here Figured that if I had her in my arms as a shield I could keep the blades of the guards away from you But Stan half crazed half conscious and still following her will blocked me away from them I tried to sidestep them just as the guards got to me Sword he'll hit the back of my head and staggered me forward two pairs of arms took me Pushing forward on my elbows and back on my wrists Pain straight to my shoulders. I stopped struggling I've worn the guards. I want no blood here but out of no kindness to you That's fine. I'd be ashamed to accept you realize of course captain that since you bothered to come here You're a great menace to me and my temple I'd be a foolish priestess to allow you to escape. Yeah, but you're close to the end There'll be a whole crew coming if I don't get back. I've arranged for a boat that will arrive for you soon So bear in mind the next time you fall asleep in your Aromatic little chamber The punishment for those that defile my temple is a watery one and the offender Well-weighted you're still a new high princess and I still will be when you're resting at the bottom of the harbor Hey My only advantage over the last time the door closed on me was that at least I knew what was in the room with me And I knew where it came from as soon as the guards were out of hearing knock the fire earns off of their pedestals I stomp the charcoal embers that burned under the drug holding a handkerchief over my nose Smoke didn't lessen any the activity increased my breathing. I Tried to smother them with my sweat soaked jumper. It didn't work either While I was near the floor. I learned that the fumes were heavy and stronger down there Climbed up on the pedestals Groping in the darkness staggering as the stuff took hold I found fresher air up there and cleared my wandering mind with it. I Tried to sloping ceiling for weakness found none Filling my lungs. I went to the floor again Groped for the trap door Solid and immovable. I Found a heavy base of one of the urns climbed back on the pedestals to hold out as long as I could The clean air held for a while But wondering when the strength of the fumes would climb to me made each breath. I took an adventure Relaxation set in and my dreams were of a canted deck swept by cool spray and clean fresh air and I Shook my head to bring myself back and shaking it. I wasn't sure whether the sound I heard was real or not I gridded my teeth to stay with it and hurt it again a Movement outside the door. I got to the floor by the time the bar rattled the first time Stagged across the room by the time it slid free was waiting when the door opened in the first guard or ragged his nose Walked slowly into the unexpected darkness When he was in position I crashed the heavy pedestal base down on his head Grabbed him as he slumped the other guard blade held chest high rushed I lifted the body to take the thrust I left him hanging there stepped around him and caught the other guard with my weapon before he could recover his I barred the door And went into the high priestess's chamber. What is this? What's happening? Come on Stan snap out of it? Let's go. No, you can't he's going to stay. What are my guards? Come on Stan? He's gonna take you away from me Stan. Don't let him fight Stan fight so you can stay with me Get away from her He didn't land many but those he did was solid with power. I dropped his head as a target and shot for his throat It was like dead flesh. He didn't feel anything in my own weakness was coming back to me I put one into his solar plexus is rocked him. I put another one in The princess She was gone I unlocked the door that I barred on the guards then I went to the big fire urns in the entrance hall Tilted them so that the flames licked up the walls Bent down through Stan over my shoulder and left. I only stopped to look back once Down toward the other end of Bezra Borey Street Healthy flames were licking up through the roof of the temple of the Upspar Isis An excited crowd were running toward it to the ship Captain it's long after your planned on departure. Oh, no, we have plenty of time isn't it? But I did want to see you The doctor sent Stan up to a hospital in Saigon and he was almost back to normal before he left He says he hopes you understand captain. Yeah, if anybody does I do I got a whiff of that stuff myself He doesn't remember a minute of it. Well, you tell him for me He's lucky and that the French officials got his girl. She started life as plain Hortense Croft in Milwaukee, Wisconsin It's quite a descent from that to high priestess of Berea. Yes. Yes Yeah, I'm sorry too, mr. That it happened and that you can't make the crossing captain one is so Limited in Berea, but I'd like you to have this What splashes sounds good. Thank you. Of course anything I'd say in thanks would be completely insubstant The captain if you ever get to Nevada, we'll try in some way to repay you Wow, thanks. I'm in mining, you know just outside Ealy And if you ever get sick of this life and want to settle down Just let me know my my hand on it captain. I promise you a position. I'll keep that in mind Mr. I'll keep that in mind Put the low coastline of French Indochina on our stern and started to trap the breeze that pushed its jungle smell And the crewman looking forward to the even flow of sea life Snapped to their stations at Reds command Shook itself restlessly Went caught as it bent into the wind the jib snapped out Mison swung into place The lee rail settled down toward the churning water And the Scarlet Queen took the bone in her teeth and fought the swells that rose up before her She's a great ship skipper. She likes her work. Yeah, she'll do for me Well, what are you gonna do with her in Nevada skipper? I hear they got a desert there Oh, that's when I get sick of this life remember. I don't know skipper He's probably got a good soft desk job for you and a wealthy daughter for you to marry Was that bad then I could subscribe to yachting magazines. No No yachts in Nevada But you could go you're traveling in a deck chair. I'm one of those big ocean line. Oh stop it read you making me see sick But he did hit one vital spot The bottle he gave us Better try it, huh? Yeah, he's got a heart In a sadder, but wiser son, but we got a ship Here skipper to the Queen to the Scarlet Queen After you mate After you log entry the catch Scarlet Queen 530 p.m. Wind brisk Sky fair Maincel and mizzen reefed Ship secure for night signed Philip Carney Master Mutual invite you to sail into further adventure on the voyage of the Scarlet Queen next week at the same time Hortocall Ra'Bowl new Britain voyage of the Scarlet Queen stars Elliot Lewis as Phil Carney with Ed Max as Gallagher And tonight featured Gloria Blondell as the princess with John Daner and Ben right Music scored and conducted by Richard around the Scarlet Queen produced by James Burton is written by Gildowd and Bob Talman The school system of our country is in the midst of a very real and very dangerous crisis There are two million children of school age who should be in school But are unable to attend because of the lack of facilities Look into the school conditions in your own hometown. They may need your aid This program came to you from Hollywood Stay tuned now for another mutual favorite quiet, please which follows in just a moment Mutual broadcasting system