 This is John Steele reporting on adventure Zanzibar is a small island 25 miles off the east coast of Africa Gin is still something you can drink there, but spell the other way gin means demon But the demon I ran into there was a dame. I call this transcribed yarn a sweetheart of sigma key You can divide Zanzibar into three sections Stone town the Victoria Gardens and the British residency occupy the nice section Then you walk across a bridge that spans what remains of an old creek and you get to the other side That's the common name for Nogombo Nogombo might be called the Cosbar of Zanzibar the confusion of twisting alleyways Small shops mud houses and a wide assortment of dyes It's not as bad as it used to be There's a place there. They call Rahaleo a sort of civic center. They even have a movie house there in a radio studio One of these days the Cosbom Nogombo will have vanished But as of today for the most part, it's still there. Oh, I forgot to mention the third area. That's the jungle Great place for wild pigs and leopards Me I landed in Zanzibar in the late monsoon season February on my first night there Walked across the bridge into Nogombo The only American I ran into was a guy named McKee. His first name was Sigmund. He was in the spice-import business John Steel, how are you boy? Hey, hey, you're a long way from home Well, I sold my dad the idea of sending me here this time buying up spices. Yeah, not in this neighborhood Oh, no, this is strictly fun. Hmm. It can be well. I might see you around John Oh, I can take a hint. Yeah, I just spotted something I like very much What's your pocketbook? If I seem rude, it's because I am called me in the morning I'll buy you breakfast and you can tell me all about it. I will. I certainly will The object of SIG's interest was a girl She had creamy white skin and raven black hair. She wore a pale green sari and golden sandals This dame didn't play hard to get and SIG made real fast time It was like she'd been waiting for a more life waiting in a bar. What's your name? Mari Mari no Mari Sounds the same to me What is your name SIG SIG Tell me something of course What are you doing in a place like this? If they see me perhaps they will let me sing or dance. Oh, you're an entertainer. I must earn money Well, I guess so my father my mother my little sister my little brother. They must be careful You mean you support your family? You seem surprised. Well, no, not exactly Oh, I could have married a very rich man. My family would have been cared for properly, but but you didn't marry him. No Why not? I was stupid. I didn't love him. Oh Like that, huh? Hey, that's all right. I am my father's daughter. He's American. He understands American. Yes Well, that makes you an American does it of course it does My father is very sick. He cannot work look maybe yes Maybe I could help him help him. Oh No, he would not take money from a stranger. No. No. No. I didn't mean that opposition. Well, I don't know Something anyhow. I'm buying spices. Does he know anything about spices? He was in the spice business himself a long time ago. Oh, what do you know? But he is so sick. He may be just the guy I'm looking for I would be ashamed to take you to him Shame we live so poorly. Oh look, but if you can help me, I can then I cannot refuse to take you to him It's lonely down here. You are not used to it all these alleyways. I know all of them You walk through here all alone at night. I am safe safe down here. I am But you are not what's going on. There are no police down here. My gun is very small. It hardly makes any noise at all Oh, this is funny. Give me all your money Yes, sure here the money only the money take it all out And I fell for your little evil routine the money Don't try to follow me More coffee sig no thanks You got off cheap. Yeah, I could have been really mutt you could have been knife down there It's a funny thing. Oh, yeah, you've got the dame under your skin It's right put her out of your mind fast her kind is dangerous and your kind is high on the sucker list John Look, oh the lady herself coming right into this restaurant looking for you. Yeah, you better stay here She wants me to go over there and you're going I Um, I Must I've got to see what she wants. Tell me all about it when you come back. Yeah, I will Don't tell me But didn't we meet somewhere last night? Oh, we must have I never forget a face turn me over to the police What I am terrified. Please have me arrested Look, what is the gimmick this time? I had to rub you last night They've been forcing me to do things like that Even the lies I told you about an American father. My father is not America. Well, no, wait a minute I have run away from them But I must have protection if you will have me arrested the police will protect me look Please do what I ask have me arrested. Yeah, I think you'd better talk a little more. Let's go up to my room Zanzibar is Afro-Indian with a few more influences thrown in for good measure. It's colorful the Swahili women in their gaudy Conga's Muslim women in their shapeless purdahs into women and their brilliant saris and Every known form of religion is practiced there every known form of voodoo and pagan worship Add a few local prejudices and anything can happen and happen for reasons that don't make sense to you or me But they happen period The girl Maury was a product of Zanzibar her mind her thinking was a lot different from the thinking of my pal Seg McKee, but underneath whatever she was on the surface. She was a woman and a very beautiful Seg was conscious of that while she sat with him in his hotel room Who are these people who force you to mug guys like me if I tell you there's a law here The police would never catch them and I would be killed. This is fantastic. Is it? What happened to the money you took from me? They took it all. Why'd you run away from them? You would not understand I Could try Do you see yourself? Yeah, when I shave the looking glass does not show you what I see when I look at you No, I see something I have never known Something very clean wholesome good Honest look I may not be so wholesome when I left you last night I could see only the look in your face when I turned on you all I could see was the hurt the disappointment That's okay, Maury. It was all I could see Except what I suddenly felt in my heart You mean that baby? You must not touch me, but I do mean it. I didn't hate you Maury. I don't know what I felt But I'm glad you came here this morning But only once They said I would never meet you who said so my people My sisters laughed at me when I said I would come to the coast and wait for you Yeah, and now when I go back I can laugh at them only they will not believe me go back Where I come from the interior near Dunga. Oh Baby listen to me If I could think that you loved me oh my darling will you Will you marry me? Oh, no No, why not? No, I couldn't aren't you free to marry me the temple would not consent the temple I would not be allowed to marry a Christian. Oh, ma'am. Look. Oh, no darling. We must not even talk about it Oh, what is this about you going back to Dunga unless you have me arrested? Don't be crazy Then I must go back to my people. I would never be safe here Suppose we got special permission from the temple would you marry me then? Oh, yes All right, how do we go to this place to my people? Yeah, there is a road we can hire a motor car you bet we can sweetheart So we're leaving in the morning John Bully for you. Oh, sure. I know why could be wrong saying well you are this time boy Why'd you say this place is near Dunga the interior? That's jungle country. I don't know I watch out for leopards better take a gun. All right. I will I couldn't talk you out of this joint Not a chance. Yeah, I was afraid of that John I have just met the girl I want to marry like I always say tell me all about it when you get back But don't you think I will get back? Hmm. You might There are one or two roads that cut through the bush country on the way you pass by the ruins of palaces Mosques and even long-forgotten cities the green jungle almost hides the ruins SIG hired himself a car and he and Mari headed for the interior a few miles west of Dunga They turned off the road into an arrow footpath and had to leave the car there SIG didn't know it, but this was strictly gin country the natives worshipped demons We don't have too far to walk darling your hometown. I was born up here yet. Oh, come on Don't take that gun. No That looks pretty wild through here, but there's no danger. Well, maybe not, but I'd feel a lot easier with the gun All right, darling. I don't get it. It's all right. Take it. Well, I mean you you had some reason it's nothing It's my people a gun is symbolic of Europeans. They prefer not to be reminded of certain things Okay, we'll leave the gun in the car Now which way do we go hold my hand more close beside me No animals around here not during the day at night time sometimes there are leopards They even come down here on the road if one of them hasn't got insomnia and can't sleep during the day There is nothing to worry about darling Mari look. Yes. I may be crazy, but you think we're being watched Yeah, we are Yeah only by my people Oh, I see the road is always watched Okay, just as long as I know Darling, yeah, there is something I should tell you go ahead. You may find my people's beliefs rather odd They believe in jins demons. Yes Okay, but you must not laugh and I'll show contempt. I'll be on my best behavior. Come along darling What the hell a dozen savages sprang out of the brush Sigma key didn't see their faces. He couldn't the men wore masks and the masks were the heads of leopards a Little while later. Sig was tied up to a tree suddenly. He was alone except for the girl Marie stood in front of him staring at him Tell me something baby What do you do for laughs when you can't find a sucker like me? You are angry only because you do not understand Look sweetheart, what's the gimmick this time? Yeah, they remind me of the cartoon. They're telling the gin. I have a wish to marry a foreigner Yeah, you see it is the custom among my people But when a girl wishes to marry a foreigner, she must offer him to the gyms as a sacrifice sacrifice If the gyms refuse to sacrifice, then the girl may marry the man What is all this hocus-pocus? Don't laugh at the gyms. Please don't make them angry. You frightened me It was a real beautiful jungle night only my pal Sigma key didn't appreciate it. He was tied up to a tree He learned the men who had jumped him were priests. They belong to the order of the leopard gin The leopard gin was a demon who had the power to sanction or disapprove a marriage between a native girl and a foreigner He took the form of a live leopard if he sanctioned marriage He wouldn't harm the foreigner if he was against the marriage He'd claw the foreigner to death. It was as simple as that and there could be no mistake No one stood around to watch Everybody adjourned to the temple and prepared to stay there until just before dawn at which time they would emerge to see if the foreigner was Dead or alive? Mari stayed with sig until almost the last moment No, you're trying to talk to you. Don't be afraid darling. Oh darling. She calls me you are my darling I won't be if that leopard takes a dislike to me. I am going to the temple in a minute Yeah, I would I shall pray that the gins like you. It's the leopard that I'm worried about the leopard will be the gin Oh, come on. I I will go now darling. No wait. I must go look just a minute The gin may be angry if I stay with you any longer. He'll think I'm afraid I may lose you and that will make him jealous Oh, let me kiss you once. You know, it would be very easy for you to cut me loose Remember that. Listen. Goodbye darling. Well, suppose nothing happened. It will suppose the leopard doesn't come this way But he will suppose he doesn't do we try again tomorrow night for the jackpot or do I go free? The gin knows you are here, but if he doesn't come it could mean he is too busy or not interested It could mean he sanctions our marriage. I see and then you would be set free darling. Well, then I have an even chance Oh Mari He's talking to you. Well, I don't understand him Darling, he is the head of our temple Mari What did he say he wants to know what you want with me Tell him what I want with you. I want to marry you. I have told him that What do you say he wants to know how old you are? I'm 37 years old I think he likes you. He's I'm so glad he likes me Let me out of here, Mari. What is this? He wants to know do you practice a religion do I practice Tell him I'm a son worship, but what difference does it make to him? He asked you a question. He asked you if you practiced a religion. Yes, tell him. I'm very religious Wants to know where you come from Come from America What is your business You know what my business is. I'm here to buy some spice Can you take care of me? Yes, I can take care of you if you just untie me from this tree. I'll take care of both of you Who was this clown all done up in this leopard skin darling, I told you I stand here like a crazy Anyone am I gonna be a snack for some leopard? Sigg had no chance at all of the leopard not showing up Mari knew that The tree to which Sigg was tied was directly in the path that pointed towards the water hole a Half dozen leopards might pass that way during the night One showed up about nine o'clock that night a big male cat It appeared out of nowhere Silently it hauled about 20 feet away from Sigg and stood there in the moonlight staring in the man tied to the tree It was a while before Sigg even knew the animal was there Oh Smoke it was a funny thing Sigg McKee froze to his bones, but the perspiration poured down his face He felt it burning into his eyes if he had wanted a shout for help. He couldn't have his tongue wouldn't move This was it. He'd once been told you can scare a big cat by staring straight at it. He tried this Only it didn't work the leopard crouched a little and advanced a few steps towards Sigg The long tail switched a few times Sigg didn't even hear himself shout the leopard didn't move it just stared at the man After a few moments had backed away puzzled There was something you didn't understand this man who just stood there who had been waiting there Suddenly the animal vanished. It suspected a trap. It was taking no chances You're alive, huh? Yeah, it must be the Sun is rising and I'm freezing. I'll cut you loose my darling Yeah, you do that everyone has left the temple They've gone to the village to get things ready ready before we are married your way. We can be married my way darling We can You're free Move about a little you must be numb Do you say numb or dumb? Are you happy? I am I'm so happy the gin sanctions our marriage. Oh, we shall be so happy Must be out of your mind What is it my love me Mary you of course look? I have been mugged made a jerk. Oh, no. Oh, no. She says I have been tied to a tree all night Offered as a human sacrifice to a leopard Jim did not harm Jim my eye. I'll take a double martini We can be married now. Yeah. Well, what role do I play in my wedding? Do I get to be the wedding cake that you carve up to serve to your relative? Darling my eye come. What do you think? I'm crazy or something crazy. I would be to marry a dame like you Why do you talk like this? Why do I? Listen sweetheart if I ever run into you again a blow my brains out just to be on the safe side Now goodbye, honey. I'll see you around if I'm real lucky darling come back baby You hop a slow freight Okay, so I'm back and I've told you all about it quite a gal you picked up Yeah, well, she never got dropped so fast in her life. You're really ditched her You know though. She's a beautiful doll. Can you picture yourself married to her? Yeah, but I'm glad I'm not now you're sure about that sure about it Well, you may never forget her. Maybe not You must admit though. She's different. Yeah Finish your drink you need it. I think I've had enough. No, you better finish it sick. Hmm. Why have a look in the doorway There's nervous as a bridegroom on his wedding day. Don't say that Hello, darling. Oh baby Looked like sick was hooked again Marie stood in the doorway looking as gorgeous as ever and her love for sick was shining in her eyes as plain as a Day, so what could the poor guy do? There was no doubt in my mind from the minute she showed up I'm not one to say it's a mistake to try to reform people on the other hand some people seem capable of being reformed Marie in spite of her odd associations had acquired a background of education Her ideas were a little different from some of sigs, but they had one common plane of understanding They were in love and the sweetheart of sig mckay became mrs. McKay When I left Zanzibar, they were away in Africa on their honeymoon What happened there? I don't know, but I left word for sig to tell me all about it when he came back Maybe he will come back. I mean, I'm still waiting for a card from Well, if I get one I'll let you know another week and speaking of the difference in backgrounds Reminds me of an adventure. I had in India There's a small town in that country called bang pu Khan Enough sense of civic pride has established an ashram there an Ashram is a home for orphan girls a good repute if they're lucky the ashram finds them husbands For a price not all ashrams are what they're cracked up to be however The story of Ram set Rangaya and his great love for little Shana scree may have its comical side But it's not meant to be funny. It's a real adventure. I like to call Ram set Rangaya This is the United States armed forces radio and the television service