 tired of the everyday grind, ever dream of a life of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all, we offer you escape, escape designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure you are crawling across a jungle savannah your body flaming with fever while behind you lies certain death and ahead the endless torches of perpetual imprisonment listen now as escape brings you evil and walls classic story the man who liked dickens you know what it's like with the English we're forever going off on curious expeditions into the interiors of strange dark lands having unbelievable adventures and returning at last pale and a bit feverish but triumphant this we do but we do not invariably wear rather longish car key shorts in the daytime and no matter how primitive our surroundings dress every night in black tie I know this from the only exploration I ever went on with dr. messenger into the Amazon to find a buried city called demarara I remember the night things started to go badly with us it was our last camp on the river next day we were to begin making our way south by foot and we've gone to bed early in preparation for the rigors of the trail I'd been asleep an hour or two when I was wakened by something tugging gently at my toe I set up and look sleepy at all the foot of my hammock and then I saw what it was funny funny what's up something on my toe black beast of some sort you find it all it's gone doctor it flew away oh the vital as you see my great yes vampire better Mr. Goddard sleep with your foot against the mosquito netting foolish thing to do not telling how long he was at it before you work out I thought the lamp is supposed to keep them off doesn't seem to have done it huh nasty may have lost quite a bit of blood I don't think I like the idea much better put some iodine on it I'll get one of the boys to bring the medicine chest but I'm afraid we're in for it old boy they've gone gone the boys all of them but why would they go I was afraid of this what do you mean well these chaps are river men they don't like going into Indian territory I meant to explain things to them in the morning with the help of extra good you know mirrors pomade and the like to late now I expect you expect this is a bloody fine way to run an expedition now we're alone absolutely alone in this filthy jungle what we are we'll move on we have our maps takes a bit of pie is that's all boys are you mad messenger we can't even get back alone how can we go on well the situation is grave lad I must admit but not desperate not all together desperate I wasn't sure whether dr. messenger had lost his mind or if he was merely displaying British calm in the face of disaster in any event by morning I was beyond caring very much when I awoke my head was flaming with fever and by noon I was slightly delirious the following day it was no better dr. messenger was rather concerned how do you feel that awful I'm afraid I'm being a great news no that's not the point here I brought you something to drink what is it a series the boys left some outside it's a series with a local drink made of fermented cassava oh will it help me what it might you know it's rather interesting the way they make it the women chew the root up and they spit it into a hollow tree trunk you don't mind doctor I think I'd rather not well as you like oh look here I think I've got the idea as to what best for us to do huh yes I'm going to take the canoe downstream to see if I can find some Indians to help best to go immediately don't you know yes that's good all right I'll come and see you off you better stay quiet in your hammock I'll come straight back but I want to see you off it'll be good for my morale you know to get myself up a bit perhaps well anyway I'll be back before tonight well come along you can sit on the bank and wave goodbye tonight I staggered down to the river's edge where I sat with my back against a tree and watched dr. messenger launch the canoe and paddle out to midstream my vision was rather blurred by the fever and I'll never know exactly what happened but suddenly the canoe seemed to pitch up and over pouring dr. messenger out into the water he must have smashed his head on a rock but he appeared only once on the surface and then without a struggle quickly sank and the water closed over him I got to my feet swayed about helplessly for a moment and then passed out I remember nothing more until mr. Todd found me can you see that house over there you think you're able to walk through it well if not I can send some Indians to carry a rotten thing to watch a man down I've been talking to yourself a long time such strange talk let's you coming out of the book careful I say you're you're English I'm English too last Tony last well mr. last you've been very ill and you've had a rough time of it wandering about in the jungle but I'll take care of you know very kind of you to do this for a stranger not at all I like strangers don't get them often helps I can repay you somehow and you come to London I don't get to London mr. last but I think you might be able to repay me to come along won't you my recovery was slow but mr. Todd proved the most patient of nurses he was forever hovering about giving me medicine speeding me talking to me I learned that his house is in a village of Indians not far from the riverbank about 10 miles above the spot from where I'd watched poor doctor messenger John he owned a few cattle some bananas and mango trees dog and a single battled shotgun in general his way of life like the medicines he gave me was that of the Indian of course my mother was an Indian mr. last but I thought you were English and my father was he went to Guiana's missionary but soon came on here to look for gold he found my mother instead and settled down I was born here 60 years in this village very long and lonely time I can well imagine of course most of the men and women living in the savannah are my relatives is that why you're more or less the ruler here for that reason and because I have the shotgun of course tell me mr. last can you read but not everyone is so fortunate for example I cannot what oh of course still I don't suppose you have much opportunity here oh yes that's just it I have a great many books I'll show you when you're better my father left you might be delighted to see them you share of course you see my father was a man of education he read to me all the time but since he died oh there was nobody for a number of years and then another Englishman came he read to me every day every single day another Englishman but where is he now I don't know well how long was he here I don't remember exactly but he read to me every day you should read to me when you're better I'd be delighted to mr. Todd oh yes you shall read to me mr. Todd had a curious way of putting things but he was much too kind and selfless and his attention to me to allow my thinking ill of him still he did give me a turn one day when we were talking a short walk around the village it was the first time I'd left the house since the fever had gone you'll find the Indians quite friendly here but I keep apart from them if I were you know but why if they want to be friendly things aren't always quite as they appear to be shared in the jungle mr. last well I'll go slow if that's what you mean that's not exactly what I say what's that what there between those mango trees that that mound of dirt oh yeah it seems to be a grave it is of course your father no Barnabas is buried there a Barnabas Washington Barnabas yes the Englishman I told you about him you mean the one who was here who read to you so much oh he read beautifully Barnabas did but look here mr. Todd you told me you didn't know where he was well I don't do you huh oh I see rather not way of putting it I must say tell me mr. Todd how long was he here Barnabas Washington quite a long time I know but exactly how oh I don't much track of time down you know but anyway he never got home he died here oh yes and he was so very kind every afternoon for two hours he used to read to me well I suppose it was a good way to pass the turn seems rather odd though I mean reading here in the heart of the jungle lost so to speak from the world oh I suppose it does but one gets used to it you know it seems a pity poor Barnabas grave isn't marked I think so yes I think I'll put up a cross in fact I'll put up two of them one to commemorate his death and the other your arrival a cross for me I'm afraid I don't quite understand well it's just a whim mr. Lars I'm sorry I don't mean to be rude of course and now mr. Lars I think you've recovered your strength sufficiently that we may begin tonight what do you say begin tonight oh my reading is that is yes that's it all right if you like oh you know I've been waiting a long time for this a dreadfully long time and that night the horror began I subtle unbelievable enslavement to the strange madness of the gentle mr. Todd we will return to escape in just a moment but first when you hear a read about foreign propaganda against the American economic system do you just feel resentment or can you answer the charges in your own mind with facts it's true our system has faults it also has provisions for constant improvement and our high production of goods and services has gone hand-in-hand with the preservation of our basic freedoms understanding our system ourselves is the first step toward combating propaganda against it and now back to escape that evening after supper mr. Todd led me into his room where we were to begin reading from a loft at one end of the hut he took down a number of small bundles tied up with rag palm leaves and raw hide we carried them over to the fire and he began to unwrap them with feverish anticipation yes you choose one mr. Lars it doesn't matter which would take first please choose oh what do you have there this day the quick excellent let's begin with that show it well the isn't there something a little more lively perhaps oh I have everything here how about the modern child of weight or great expectation well I was thinking of a more modern author somehow I don't suppose you'd have a copy of the south wind south wind that's all I have everything Dickens ever wrote but I've never heard that but it's not by Dickens you see oh well in that case I don't have it you mean all these books are by Dickens oh certain you must be quite fond of Dickens far more than that far more than fond mr. Lars see these are the only books I've ever known her or heard as I told you they they belong to my father and he used to read them to me and then later Barnabas Washington and now me and now you but don't worry I never get tired even though I've heard them all several times by now you see oh there's always more to be learned noticed so many characters so many changes have seen so many words takes a long time to read them all more than two years well in that case they'll certainly last up my visit oh I hope not I sincerely hope not delightful the start again each time I I find more to enjoy in it my gun let's begin shall we well all right and read slowly now I don't want to miss anything and you won't mind going back over certain passages will you I'll let you know on the cap of course now let's the posthumous papers of the Pickwick club chapter one the pickwick yes the first ray of light which illumines the gloom and converts into a dazzling brilliancy that obscurity in which the earlier history of the public career of the immortal pickwick would appear to be involved is derived from the perusal of the following entry in the transactions of the pickwick club which the editor of these papers feels the highest pleasure in laying before his readers as proof of as I continue to read the old man frequently interrupted with questions or comments or requests that I reread a favorite passage his delight was rather contagious but by the time we were on the fourth volume the novelty had begun to wane in any way I was feeling strong enough to be restless more than once I brought up the subject of my departure but Mr. Todd seemed obtuse and paid no attention finally one day he actually became a bit menacing about it I had just finished a chapter of bleak hearts and was resting my eyes for a moment you know Mr. last you read even better than my father even better I might add than Mr. Washington we still have a lot to get through I hope I shall be able to finish it before I leave oh yes don't disturb yourself about that you'll have time to finish it my friend and look Mr. Todd the times come when I really must be thinking of getting back to civilization I've already imposed on you much too long not at all Mr. Larson's been a pleasure great pleasure I know but still how soon do you think I'll be able to get a boat a boat yes to go down ever oh no you know I appreciate all your kindness more than I can say I'm going to last any kindness I may have shown as amply repaid by your reading of Dickens do not let us mention the subject again I'm very glad you've enjoyed it but I really must be thinking of getting back oh yes the other Englishman's like that too we thought about it all the time but he died here Mr. Todd how long was he here the other Englishman oh now I don't call exactly who'd pay so little attention to time down here you know well did he read all of Dickens to you a long time ago but I do remember Dombe and son three or four time three or four times but you said it took two years each time to go all through yes but Mr. Todd why did he stay here all those years well I don't know I never are they must have been some reason or he never said all right but I really must press the point when can I get a boat there is no well then the Indians can build one well you must wait for the rains there isn't enough water in the river now how long would that be oh man two months all right then I'll wait a month or two of course now let's get on now it's so interesting what Dickens has to say about the law's delay really causes are always been such a favorite of mine and so in spite of everything at least I knew what I was waiting for and so it only remained for the rains to begin I waited as patiently as I could living with quality dreams of my return to England until one day as we were reading Mr. Todd explained all that away I think Mrs. Jellaby does not take enough care of her children but still Dickens has great sympathy for her he'd been poor himself you know what's that listen yes shall we go on rain the rain has begun mr. Todd of course the time for it but do let's finish the chair no no later I must go and talk to the Indians about building a boat I can leave now don't you see oh certainly the river will be full soon and in a week I'll be off I'm afraid that's impossible mr. last impossible why all the Indians won't make a boat during the rainy season it's one of their superstition is that true ask him I think you might have told me you didn't ask I didn't you mention it then I must have forgotten that suppose you've forgotten nothing mr. Todd I'm satisfied now that you're holding me here against my will I didn't want to be released of course you're perfectly free look here you save my life and when I get back to civilization I'll reward you for the best of my ability I'll give you anything within reasons but my friend there's nothing keeping you here you're under no restraint I demand to be released then go when you lie stop that you know very well I can't get away without your help then in that case you must humor an old man read me the rest of the chapter no mr. Todd I've read for the last time oh I hope not mr. last oh I sincerely hope not that evening at supper only one plate of dried meat was brought in and mr. Todd ate alone next day at noon a single plate was again put before him but with it lay his gun cocked on his knee as he ate and so I resumed the reading of black house where it had been interrupted and then as though to make my situation even clearer to me I came upon a scored note stuck between the book's pages and I read it with growing horror what is it mr. last what are you there this document it was here in the book document what doc don't you know then I shall read it to you mr. Todd if you're right this seems a pity to interrupt Dickens low year 1930 I had James Todd of Brazil do swear to Barnabas Washington of Georgetown that when he finishes this book in fact Martin shuttle with I will let him return to civilization without delay then there's an X and after it mr. Todd made this mark signed Barnabas Washington yes poor Barnabas he died before he could get out and if I remember the marker you put up he died in 1942 is that right mr. Todd excuse me mr. last I nearly forgot something I meant to mention it earlier yes the Indians tell me that you were trying to speak to them as small I was of course but may I suggest that it would be easier for you to say anything you wish through me you realize do you not that they do nothing without my authority they regard themselves and quite rightly in many cases as my children I have nothing to hide I was asking them about about so they gave me to understand and now if we finish do let's get on with our reading I'm quite salt in the book we finished bleak house and Oliver twist and great expectations and nickel is nickel day the old curiosity shop little Dorit Edwin drood more than a year past and mr. Todd began looking forward to starting all over again the empty days followed one another in hopeless succession until one morning a stranger suddenly arrived in the Savannah a prospector one of that lonely order of men who wonder for a lifetime through the forest tracing the streams for gold mr. Todd was out buffering about on business for the farm when the man appeared I found him a plate of meat and perine and eagerly sat down at the table across from him nice setup you got here look here where are you bound for my knowledge need a new outfit you've got to do something for me it's terribly important well sure pal what is it yeah take this give it to somebody in my house the police the mayor or somebody tell him tell him you found me and to get in touch with a British consul well I ain't gonna get in trouble with this how much no no look this isn't my home I'm a member of the messenger expedition Dr. Messenger was done and I've been held prisoner here ever since you're my only hope of ever getting up you understand you sound like a jungle head to me but I'll do it for you that's what you want you must you must please oh one thing though what wouldn't it be simpler if you just came along with me no I am afraid not why first there are mr. Todd's Indians I can't take two steps into the jungle without one of them after me and then mr. Todd is a shotgun you were not mine mr. last my friend touch a fever you know this is mr. Todd perhaps you see what I mean I warned you about getting up too soon mr. last it's my guess you're going to have a time of it now I have no fever and you know where you boys settle this between yourselves I've got to shove on and not thanks for lunch but you will like I said why not don't bother to see me off so long you're going to let him go of course God mr. last I think we're going to begin to go it today I'm most anxious to hear it again from then on there was hope and as the weeks past I endured each day and confident anticipation of what might happen on the morning I even felt a slight stirring of cordiality towards my jailer and therefore I quite willingly joined him when one evening he proposed that we attend a native feast there was a lot of singing in an apathetic and not in this manner and then we were given a small calabash of kawari to drink it was a pleasant beverage with a flavor of honey and brown bread an etiquette required that we drink it down without lowering the gourd I had several and soon after grew warm and drowsy and those happily off in a hammock dreaming of fine claret and the white clips of England last mr. last you better come and eat something you will starve to death here oh my head I must have been quite tight last night treacherous drink that now how do you feel rotten drink doesn't seem to agree with me I'll give you something to make you better the fall of stares remedies for everything to make you awake and to make you sleep oh I say you you haven't seen my watch anywhere you've missed it yes I thought I was wearing it you know I've never slept so long not since you were a baby do you know how long no two days nonsense I kind of hold days and it's a pity too because you missed our guests yes oh I've been quite gay while you were asleep three men from outside Englishman the pity you missed them in a bit of a them too they particularly wish to see you no yes they came all the way to find all the way from England but since you couldn't greet them yourself I gave them a little souvenir your watch my watch all right you gave them my watch you shouldn't mind you see they had to have something to take back with them a reward is being offered for news of you they seem very pleased out couldn't even you that's like killing them they took some photographs of the little cross I put up to commemorate your coming but not before I put another date on it you know you did you killed me didn't show you killed me in general they were quite pleased but I don't suppose they'll visit us again our life here is so retired no pleasures except reading now I don't suppose you'll ever have visitors again your headaches I'll get the medicine for you we won't have any dickens today my whole life tomorrow and the day after and the day after that do let us read little Dorothy gave us the last I tell you there are passages in that book I can never care without the temptation we direction of Anthony Ellis escape has brought you the man who liked dickens by evil and war especially adapted for escape by John Meston and starring Terry Kilburn as Tony with Joseph Kearns as Mr. Todd featured in the cast where Ramsey Hill and Joe Cranston the special music for escape is composed and conducted by a leaf Stevens next week you are standing in a Mexican bull ring your body racked with fear while in front of you the terrible horns of a huge fighting bull are waiting and all around you the crowd is demanding that you move in and come even closer to death so listen next week when escape brings you Anthony Barrett's exciting story nightmare in the sun this is Roy Rowan speaking and remember America is listening with 14 million kitchen radios and listen both to the CBS radio network