John Steele, Adventurer and High Adventure

Summary

The Relic Radio Show – Episode Summary

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: RelicRadio.com
Featured Shows:

• John Steele, Adventurer – "The Sweetheart of Sigma Key" (aired November 16, 1954)
• High Adventure – "Flight to Raynar" (aired January 29, 1950)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Relic Radio Show delivers an hour-long journey into vintage radio adventure, featuring two classic tales:

1. A noir-tinged romance and intrigue on the island of Zanzibar in "John Steele, Adventurer: The Sweetheart of Sigma Key."
2. A perilous mountain-flight rescue and the passing of an aviator's era in "High Adventure: Flight to Raynar."

Relic Radio’s host curates these “audio artifacts,” emphasizing both the thrill and timelessness of golden-age radio storytelling.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Steele, Adventurer: The Sweetheart of Sigma Key

[00:41–25:13]

Setting & Introduction

• John Steele sets the stage: Zanzibar split into three regions, with an evocative, lived-in description of its diverse populace and lively, dangerous “Kasbah” (Negombo).
• Arrival during monsoon season; introduction to Sig McKee, an American spice importer, and a foreshadowing of romantic trouble.

The Femme Fatale

• Sig meets Mari, a beautiful woman seemingly down on her luck and supporting her family, but their flirtation quickly spins into trouble.
• Mari lures Sig into a trap, pulling a gun:
  • Memorable Exchange [05:47]:
    • Mari: “Give me all your money.”
    • Sig: “And I fell for your little evil routine.”
• Sig is robbed but unharmed—and can't get Mari out of his mind despite John Steele's warnings.

The Plea and Revelation

• Mari returns, desperate: she wants Sig to have her arrested for protection, claiming she’s forced by a criminal gang.
  • Mari [07:01]: "Please, have me arrested."
• A tangled story emerges—she lied about her parentage and seeks sanctuary.

Love Across Cultures

• Mutual attraction grows despite obstacles; Mari can only marry with her people's and temple’s blessing, citing religious barrier:
  • Mari [10:33]: "The temple would not consent... I would not be allowed to marry a Christian."

Journey Into the Jungle

• Sig, smitten, agrees to seek permission. They head to the interior near Dunga, venturing into the jungle (“Jin country” where people believe in demons).

The Ritual and Ordeal

• Sig is captured and bound by masked priests (Order of the Leopard Jinn); Mari explains the customary ordeal: if a native girl wishes to marry a foreigner, he must be offered to the jinn as a sacrifice. If the leopard-demon spares him, the union is approved.
  • Mari [14:43]: "She must offer him to the jinns as a sacrifice."

The Test of the Jinn

• Alone and tied to a tree, Sig faces a real leopard:
  • Sig [19:27]: "Holy smoke."
• The leopard approaches but, puzzled, backs away without attack. Mari releases Sig at sunrise, believing the jinn has sanctioned their marriage.

Ironic Turn and Resolution

• Sig, having survived, comes to his senses and rebuffs Mari, reflecting on the peril and absurdity of the ordeal:
  • Sig [21:14]: "Me marry you? … I have been mugged, made a jerk of… tied to a tree all night. Offered as a human sacrifice to a leopard."
• Epilogue: The romance is unresolved but Mari returns; John Steele muses on whether some people can change, suggesting Sig and Mari ultimately marry.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• John Steele [14:07]: “Half a dozen savages sprang out of the brush. Sig McKee didn't see their faces… the men wore masks, and the masks were the heads of leopards.”
• John Steele [15:12]: “He learned the men who had jumped him were priests… The Leopard Jinn was a demon who had the power to sanction or disapprove a marriage between a native girl and a foreigner.”
• Sig [22:14]: "Me marry you? … I've been mugged, made a jerk of."
• Mari [24:54]: “Her love for Sig was shining in her eyes as plain as day… they were in love.”

Timestamps:

• Meeting Mari: [03:32]
• The robbery: [05:47]
• Sanctuary request: [07:01]
• Marriage cultural barrier: [10:33]
• The jungle & capture: [13:08]
• The leopard ritual: [15:12–19:27]
• Sig’s rejection: [21:14]
• Epilogue: [22:08–25:07]

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2. High Adventure: Flight to Raynar

[25:41–53:10]

Introduction: Life in the Skies

• Fred Breslin, a jaded pilot, takes a job ferrying a C-47 to a remote strip in South America, meeting legendary speed flyer "Speed" Conway and Maria, the company’s bookkeeper.

Characters and Flying Culture

• Banter among pilots and ground crew highlights the culture of early aviation—risk, camaraderie, and tension between old-school intuition and new procedures.
  • Speed Conway [27:41]: "Hey. You. Yeah."
  • Maria [31:34]: "You like my name?"
  • Speed Conway [32:57]: "Just up on a little hill you… See for miles and miles… Just to get up where you can see."

Launching Passenger Service

• Conway dreams of regular passenger flights through treacherous Rainar Pass, but the C-47 needs work; Breslin warns of mechanical risks and insists on proper test flights.
• Maria asks Breslin to stay (romantic subplot), and he agrees to check Conway out on the big aircraft.

The Era Shift: Old Skills vs. Modern Procedures

• Speed is a talented improviser, but struggles with complex instruments and protocols. An extended training sequence ensues.
  • Sig/Fred Breslin [37:21]: "Watch your airspeed. Keep it constant."
  • Speed Conway [37:46]: "How am I doing, boy? How am I doing?"

Tragedy Strikes

• On the day Breslin plans to leave, Speed attempts stunts in his own plane and crashes near the radio tower during a risky maneuver.
  • Ben [44:13]: "He's ringing out the six today, ain't he?"
  • Maria [45:09]: "Speed always said… walk away as if it never [happened]."
• Speed is badly hurt, and the only hospital is over the mountains. Breslin decides to attempt the perilous Raynar Pass to get him medical help.

Death in the Andes

• Amid mechanical trouble and a failing engine, Breslin and Ben navigate the treacherous pass by instruments (tense, technical flying sequence).
  • Ben [49:08]: "You gotta make up your mind. You're gonna turn back, huh?"
  • Sig/Fred [49:12]: "Turn back? Freddie boy. We've just started."
• Speed remains unconscious, and Maria reveals he died before reaching safety.
  • Maria [51:42]: "He was dead when I went back to fasten the belts on him."

Legacy and Passing of an Era

• The crew reflects on Speed’s reckless spirit, the passing of an older era of heroic flying, and the bittersweet fulfillment of his dream to cross Renar Pass.
  • Ben [52:09]: "There'll never be another guy like him."
  • Maria [52:11]: "No, not completely, huh? Not the wild, foolish speed, but what he loved and what made us love him."

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Speed Conway [32:57]: "Wouldn't you like to be up there tonight? … Just to get up where you can see."
• Sig/Fred Breslin [49:12]: "Turn back? Freddie boy. We've just started."
• Maria [51:42]: "He was dead when I went back to fasten the belts on him."
• Ben [52:09]: "There'll never be another guy like him."
• Maria [52:11]: "Not the wild, foolish speed, but what he loved and what made us love him. I think so."

Timestamps:

• Arrival & first meetings: [27:33]
• Maria and Fred's connection: [31:34–34:37]
• Flying and procedural training: [37:21]
• Air crash: [44:13–45:55]
• Attempt to cross Raynar Pass: [46:10–51:19]
• Speed's passing: [51:42]
• Closing reflections: [52:09]

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Overall Tone & Style

Both stories blend suspense, romance, cultural collision, and adventure with a postwar American sensibility—streetwise, slightly cynical, but open to wonder and emotion. The dialogue is sharp and dramatic, saturated with period idioms and brisk narration. The atmospheric sound design (implied in scene transitions and action) evokes the noir and pulp roots of old-time radio.

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Memorable Moments – Quick Reference

• “Give me all your money.” (Mari, [05:47]) – A classic femme-fatale betrayal.
• “To marry a foreigner… she must offer him to the jinns as a sacrifice.” (Mari, [14:43]) – Unique culture clash and plot twist.
• “Holy smoke.” (Sig, [19:27]) – Facing the leopard, a genuine moment of peril.
• “Turn back? Freddie boy. We've just started.” (Fred Breslin, [49:12]) – Conveys the thrill and peril of high adventure.
• “He was dead when I went back…” (Maria, [51:42]) – The quiet emotional landing after so much action.

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Conclusion

This Relic Radio Show episode is a showcase for classic adventure radio—offering listeners two distinctive escapist journeys: an intercontinental romance haunted by ancient rituals and a pulse-pounding aviation rescue tinged with the toll of progress.

For both tales, the central theme is transformation: characters set out as cynics, dreamers, or thrill-seekers, and are changed—sometimes painfully—by love, faith, or loss. Yet echoes of golden-age optimism and the power of personal connection remain.

For fans of vintage storytelling, this episode is a rich time capsule: suspense, danger, romance, strange lands, and the enduring human heart.

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Further Listening

For more golden age radio adventures, visit relicradio.com.

Transcript

[Relic Radio Host]

This is the relic radio show. Old time radio entertainment. Still standing the test of time from relicradio.com. welcome back to the relic radio show. I've got an hour of adventure for you this week, beginning with John steel, adventurer. We'll hear the sweetheart of sigma key from November 16, 1954. That's followed by flight to raynar from high adventure. That story aired January 29, 1950.

[John Steele]

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 spelled the other way. Jin means demon. But the demon I ran into there was a dame. I call this transcribed yarn the 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 Negombo. Negombo might be called the kasbah of Zanzibar. A confusion of twisting alleyways, small shops, mud houses and a wide assortment of dives. It's not as bad as it used to be. There's a place there they call Raja Leo, A sort of civic center. They even have a movie house there and a radio studio. One of these days, the kasbah of Negombo 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. A great place for wild pigs and leopards. May I landed in Zanzibar in the late monsoon season. February. On my first night there, I walked across the bridge into Negombo. The only American I ran into was a guy named McKee. His first name was Sigmund. He was in the spice imports business.

[Sig McKee]

John Steele. How are you, boy?

[John Steele]

Hey, you're a long way from home.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I sold my dad the idea of sending me here this time.

[John Steele]

Buying up spices. Yeah, not in this neighborhood.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, no, this is strictly fun.

[John Steele]

It can be.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I might see you around, John.

[John Steele]

Huh? Oh, I can take a hint.

[Sig McKee]

I just spotted something I like very much.

[John Steele]

Watch your pocketbook.

[Sig McKee]

If I seem rude, it's because I am.

[John Steele]

Call me in the morning. I'll buy you breakfast and you can tell me all about it.

[Ben]

I will.

[Sig McKee]

I certainly will.

[John Steele]

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 had been waiting for him all her life. Waiting in a bar.

[Sig McKee]

What's your name?

[Marie/Mari]

Mari?

[John Steele]

Marie.

[Sig McKee]

No, Marie sounds the same to me.

[Marie/Mari]

What is your name?

[John Steele]

Sig.

[Marie/Mari]

Sig.

[Sig McKee]

Tell me something.

[Maria]

Of course.

[Sig McKee]

What are you doing in a place like this?

[Marie/Mari]

If they see me, perhaps they will let me sing or dance.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, you're an entertainer.

[Marie/Mari]

I must earn money.

[Sig McKee]

I guess so.

[Marie/Mari]

My father, my mother, my little sister, my little brother. They must be cared for.

[Sig McKee]

You mean you support your family?

[Marie/Mari]

You seem surprised.

[Sig McKee]

Well, no, not exactly.

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, I could have married a very rich man. My family would have been cared for properly. But.

[Sig McKee]

But you didn't marry him.

[Marie/Mari]

No.

[John Steele]

Why not?

[Marie/Mari]

I was stupid. I didn't love him.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, like that, huh? That's all right.

[Marie/Mari]

I am my father's daughter. He is American. He understands American. Yes.

[Sig McKee]

That makes you an American.

[Marie/Mari]

Does it?

[Sig McKee]

Of course it does.

[Marie/Mari]

My father is very sick. He cannot work.

[Sig McKee]

Look, maybe. Maybe I could help him.

[Marie/Mari]

Help him? Oh, no. He would not take money from a stranger.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, no, no, no. I didn't mean that.

[Marie/Mari]

A position.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I don't know.

[John Steele]

Something.

[Sig McKee]

Anyhow, I'm buying spices. Does he know anything about spices?

[Marie/Mari]

He was in the spice business himself a long time ago.

[Sig McKee]

Well, what do you know?

[Marie/Mari]

But he is so sick.

[Sig McKee]

He may be just the guy I'm looking for.

[Marie/Mari]

I would be ashamed to take you to him.

[Speed Conway]

Ashamed?

[Marie/Mari]

We live so poorly.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, love.

[Marie/Mari]

But if you can help me.

[Sig McKee]

I can.

[Marie/Mari]

Then I cannot refuse to take you to him.

[Sig McKee]

It's lonely down here.

[Marie/Mari]

You are not used to it.

[Sig McKee]

Only Zali Wiz.

[Marie/Mari]

I know all of them.

[Sig McKee]

You walk through here all alone at night.

[Marie/Mari]

I am safe.

[John Steele]

Safe?

[Marie/Mari]

Down here I am. But you are not.

[Sig McKee]

What's going on?

[Marie/Mari]

There are no police down here. My gun is very small. It hardly makes any noise at all.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, this is funny.

[Marie/Mari]

Give me all your money.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, sure, sure. Here.

[Marie/Mari]

The money. Only the money. Take it all out.

[Sig McKee]

And I fell for your little evil routine.

[Marie/Mari]

The money. Don't try to.

[John Steele]

More coffee, Sig?

[Sig McKee]

No, thanks.

[John Steele]

You got off cheap.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah. I could have been really mucked.

[John Steele]

You could have been knifed down there.

[Sig McKee]

It's a funny thing, though.

[John Steele]

Yeah. You've got the dame under your skin.

[Sig McKee]

That's right.

[John Steele]

Put her out of your mind fast. Her kind is dangerous. And your kind is high on the sucker list. John, look. Oh, A lady herself coming right into.

[Sig McKee]

This restaurant looking for you.

[Speed Conway]

Yeah.

[John Steele]

You better stay here.

[Sig McKee]

She wants me to go over there.

[John Steele]

And you're going?

[Speed Conway]

I.

[Sig McKee]

I must. I've got to see what she wants.

[John Steele]

Tell me all about her when you come back.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, I will. Now, don't tell me, but didn't we meet somewhere last night? Oh, we must have. I never forget a face.

[Marie/Mari]

Turn me over to the police.

[John Steele]

What?

[Marie/Mari]

I am terrified. Please, have me arrested.

[Sig McKee]

Look, what is the gimmick this time?

[Marie/Mari]

I had to rob you last night. They've been forcing me to do things like that.

[John Steele]

Forcing me.

[Marie/Mari]

Even the lies I told you about an American father. My father is not American.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, Nana, wait a minute.

[Marie/Mari]

I have run away from them. But I must have protection. If you will have me arrested, the.

[Maria]

Police will protect me.

[Marie/Mari]

Look, please, do what I ask. Have me arrested.

[Sig McKee]

I think you'd better talk a little more. Let's go up to my room.

[John Steele]

Zanzibar is Afro Indian. With a few more influences thrown in for good measure. It's colorful. The Swahili women in their gaudy congas. Muslim women in their shapeless pertas. Hindu women in 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.

[Speed Conway]

Period.

[John Steele]

The girl, Mari, was a product of Zanzibar. Her mind, her thinking was a lot different from the thinking of my pal, Sig McKee. But underneath, whatever she was, on the surface, she was a woman. And a very beautiful one. Sig was conscious of that while she sat with him in his hotel room.

[Sig McKee]

Who are these people? Who force you to mug guys like me?

[Marie/Mari]

If I tell you there's a law here, the police would never catch them. And I would be killed.

[Sig McKee]

This is fantastic.

[Marie/Mari]

Is it?

[Sig McKee]

What happened to the money you took from me?

[Marie/Mari]

They took it all.

[Sig McKee]

Why'd you run away from them?

[Marie/Mari]

You would not understand.

[Sig McKee]

I could try.

[Marie/Mari]

Do you see yourself?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah. When I shave.

[Marie/Mari]

The looking glass does not show you what I see when I look at you.

[Sig McKee]

No.

[Marie/Mari]

I see something I have never known. Something very clean. Wholesome. Good, honest.

[Sig McKee]

Look, I may not be so wholesome.

[Marie/Mari]

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.

[Sig McKee]

That's okay, Mari.

[Marie/Mari]

It was all I could see. Except what I suddenly felt in my heart.

[Sig McKee]

You mean that, baby? No.

[Marie/Mari]

No, you must not touch me. But I do mean it.

[Sig McKee]

I didn't hate you, Mari. I don't know what I felt. But I'm glad you came here this morning.

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, kiss me but. They said I would never meet you.

[Sig McKee]

Who said so?

[Marie/Mari]

My people. Oh, my sisters laughed at me when I said I would come to the coast and wait for you.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Marie/Mari]

And now when I go back, I can laugh at them. Only they will not believe me.

[Sig McKee]

Go back?

[Marie/Mari]

Where I come from. The interior. Near Dunga.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, baby, listen to me. If I could think that you loved me.

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, my darling.

[Sig McKee]

Will you. Will you marry me?

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, no. No.

[Sig McKee]

Why not?

[Marie/Mari]

No, I couldn't.

[Sig McKee]

Aren't you free to marry me?

[Marie/Mari]

The temple would not consent.

[Speed Conway]

The temple?

[Marie/Mari]

I would not be allowed to marry a Christian.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, Mommy, look.

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, no, darling. We must not even talk about it.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, what is this about you going back to Dungar?

[Marie/Mari]

Unless you have me arrested.

[Sig McKee]

Don't be crazy.

[Marie/Mari]

Then I must go back to my people. I would never be safe here.

[Sig McKee]

Look, suppose we got special permission from the temple. Would you marry me then?

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, yes.

[Sig McKee]

All right. How do we go to this place?

[Marie/Mari]

To my people?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Marie/Mari]

There is a road. We can hire a motor car.

[Sig McKee]

You bet we can, sweetheart. So we're leaving in the morning. John.

[John Steele]

Bully for you. Oh, sure, I know. Oh, I could be wrong. Sick.

[Sig McKee]

Well, you are this time, boy.

[John Steele]

Where'd you say this place is?

[Sig McKee]

Near Dungar. The interior.

[John Steele]

That's jungle country.

[Sig McKee]

I don't know.

[John Steele]

I watch out for leopards. Better take a gun.

[Speed Conway]

All right, I will.

[John Steele]

I couldn't talk you out of this jaunt?

[Sig McKee]

Not a chance.

[John Steele]

I was afraid of that.

[Sig McKee]

John, I have just met the girl I want to marry.

[John Steele]

Like I always say. Tell me all about it when you get back.

[Sig McKee]

But don't you think I will get back?

[John Steele]

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 a narrow footpath and had to leave the car there. Sig didn't know it, but this was strictly Jin country. The natives worshiped demons.

[Sig McKee]

The end of the line, huh?

[Marie/Mari]

We don't have too far to walk, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Your hometown, huh?

[Marie/Mari]

I was born up here, yes.

[Sig McKee]

Well, come on. Let's go.

[Marie/Mari]

Don't take that gun.

[Sig McKee]

No. It looks pretty wild through here.

[Marie/Mari]

Well, there's no danger.

[Sig McKee]

Well, maybe not, but I'd feel a lot easier with the gun.

[Marie/Mari]

All right.

[Sig McKee]

Daddy, I don't get it.

[Marie/Mari]

It's all right. Take it.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I mean, you. You had some reason.

[Marie/Mari]

It's nothing. It's my people. A gun is symbolic of Europeans. They prefer not to be reminded of certain things.

[Speed Conway]

Okay.

[Sig McKee]

We'll leave the gun in the car. Now, which way do we go?

[Marie/Mari]

Hold my hand more close beside me.

[Sig McKee]

No animals around here.

[Marie/Mari]

Not during the day. At nighttime, sometimes there are leopards. They even come down here on the road.

[Sig McKee]

If one of them hasn't got insomnia and can't sleep during the day.

[Marie/Mari]

There is nothing to worry about, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Mari. Mari, look.

[Marie/Mari]

Yes?

[Sig McKee]

I may be crazy, but.

[Marie/Mari]

You think we're being watched? Yeah, we are.

[Speed Conway]

Yeah.

[Marie/Mari]

Only by my people.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, I see.

[Marie/Mari]

The road is always watched.

[Sig McKee]

Okay. Just as long as I know, darling. Yeah.

[Marie/Mari]

There is something I should tell you.

[Sig McKee]

Go ahead.

[Marie/Mari]

You may find my people's beliefs rather odd. They believe in jinns.

[Sig McKee]

Demons?

[Marie/Mari]

Yes.

[Speed Conway]

Okay.

[Marie/Mari]

You must not laugh nor show contempt.

[Sig McKee]

I'll be on my best behavior.

[Marie/Mari]

Come along, darling.

[Maria]

One more act.

[John Steele]

Half a dozen savages sprang out of the brush. Sig McKee 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. Murray stood in front of him, staring at him.

[Sig McKee]

Tell me something, baby. What do you do for laughs when you can't find a sucker like me?

[Marie/Mari]

You are angry only because you do not understand.

[Sig McKee]

Look, sweetheart, what's the gimmick this time?

[Marie/Mari]

Listen to the drums.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

They remind me of the cartoon they're telling the djinn.

[Marie/Mari]

I have a wish to marry a foreigner.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Marie/Mari]

You see, it is the custom among my people that when a girl wishes to marry a foreigner, she must offer him to the djinns as a sacrifice.

[John Steele]

Sacrifice?

[Marie/Mari]

If the jinns refuse the sacrifice. Sacrifice. Then the girl may marry the men.

[Maria]

Look.

[Sig McKee]

What is all this?

[Marie/Mari]

H. Don't laugh at the jin. Please don't make them angry. You frighten me.

[John Steele]

It was a real beautiful jungle night. Only my pal Sig McKee didn't appreciate it. He was tied up to a tree. He learned the men who had jumped him were priests. They belonged to the Order of the Leopard Jinn. The Leopard Jinn 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.

[Sig McKee]

There's no use trying to talk to you, is it?

[Marie/Mari]

Don't be afraid, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, darling, she calls me.

[Marie/Mari]

You are my darling.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I won't be if that leopard takes a dislike to me.

[Marie/Mari]

I am going to the temple in a minute.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, I would.

[Marie/Mari]

I shall pray that the djinns like you.

[Sig McKee]

It's the leopard that I'm worried about.

[Marie/Mari]

The leopard will be the djinn.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, come on.

[Marie/Mari]

I. I will go now, darling.

[Sig McKee]

No, wait.

[Marie/Mari]

I must go.

[Sig McKee]

Look, just a minute.

[Marie/Mari]

The djinn 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.

[Sig McKee]

You know, it would be very easy for you to cut me loose.

[Marie/Mari]

I love you. Remember that.

[Sig McKee]

Listen.

[Marie/Mari]

Goodbye, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Well, suppose nothing happens?

[Maria]

It will.

[Sig McKee]

Suppose the leopard doesn't come this way.

[Marie/Mari]

But he will.

[Sig McKee]

Suppose he doesn't? Do we try again tomorrow night for the jackpot? Or do I go free?

[Marie/Mari]

The jinn knows you are here.

[Sig McKee]

What if he doesn't come?

[Marie/Mari]

It could mean he is too busy or not interested. It could mean he sanctions our marriage.

[Sig McKee]

I see.

[Marie/Mari]

And then you would be set free, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Well, then I have an even chance.

[Marie/Mari]

Mari, he's talking to you.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I don't understand him, darling.

[Marie/Mari]

He is the head of our temple.

[Sig McKee]

Mari, I'm a good boy.

[John Steele]

What did he say?

[Marie/Mari]

He wants to know what you want with me.

[John Steele]

Tell him what I want.

[Sig McKee]

But I want to marry you.

[Marie/Mari]

I have told him that.

[Sig McKee]

What did he say?

[Marie/Mari]

He wants to know how old you are.

[Sig McKee]

I'm 37 years old.

[Marie/Mari]

I think he likes you.

[Sig McKee]

I'm so glad he likes me. That's nice. I like him too. Let me out of here. Marie, what is this?

[Marie/Mari]

He wants to know do you practice a religion?

[Sig McKee]

Do I practice? Tell him I'm a sun worshiper. What difference does it make to him?

[Marie/Mari]

He asked you a question. He asked you if you practiced a religion.

[John Steele]

Yes.

[Sig McKee]

Tell him I'm very religious.

[Marie/Mari]

Wants to know where you come from.

[Sig McKee]

I come from America.

[Marie/Mari]

What is your business?

[Ben]

Tell him.

[Sig McKee]

You know what my business is. I'm here to buy some spice.

[Marie/Mari]

Can you take care of me?

[Sig McKee]

Yes, I can take care of you if you just untie me from this tree. I'll take care of both of you. Who is this clown? All done. Up in this leopard skin.

[Marie/Mari]

Darling, I told you.

[Sig McKee]

I'm standing here like a crazy idiot. What am I going to be, a snack for some leopard?

[John Steele]

Sig had no chance at all of the leopard not showing up. Mari knew that the tree to which Sig 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 9 o' clock that night. A big male cat. It appeared out of nowhere, silently. It halted about 20ft away from Sig and stood there in the moonlight, staring in the man tied to the tree. It was a while before Sig even knew the animal was there.

[Sig McKee]

Holy smoke.

[John Steele]

It was a funny thing. Sigma Key froze to his bones. But the perspiration poured down his face. He felt it burning into his eyes. If he had wanted to 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 Sig. The long tail switched a few times.

[Sig McKee]

Go on, beat it.

[Maria]

Go on, beat it.

[John Steele]

Sig didn't even hear himself shout. The leopard didn't move. It just stared at the man. After a few moments, it backed away, puzzled. There was something he 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.

[Marie/Mari]

Darling.

[Sig McKee]

What?

[Marie/Mari]

You're alive.

[Sig McKee]

Huh? Yeah, it must be.

[Marie/Mari]

The sun is rising and I'm freezing. I'll cut you loose, my darling.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, you do that.

[Marie/Mari]

Everyone has left the temple. They've gone to the village to get things ready. Before we are married your way. We can be married my way, darling.

[Sig McKee]

We can.

[Marie/Mari]

There, you're free.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, you bet I am.

[Maria]

Move about a little.

[Marie/Mari]

You must be numb.

[Sig McKee]

Do you say numb or dumb?

[Marie/Mari]

Are you happy? I am. I'm so happy. The gin sanctions our marriage. Oh, we shall be so happy.

[Sig McKee]

You must be out of your mind.

[Marie/Mari]

What is it, my love?

[Sig McKee]

Me marry you?

[Marie/Mari]

Of course.

[Sig McKee]

Look, I have been mugged, made a jerk of.

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, no.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, no, she says. I have been tied to a tree all night. Offered as a human sacrifice to a leper.

[Marie/Mari]

But the gym did not harm me.

[Sig McKee]

Jin, my eye. I'll take a double martini.

[Marie/Mari]

We can be married now.

[John Steele]

Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

Well, what role do I play at my wedding? Do I get to be the wedding cake that you carve up to serve to your relatives?

[Marie/Mari]

Oh, Sig. Darling.

[Sig McKee]

Sig, darling, my eye.

[Marie/Mari]

Come.

[Sig McKee]

What, do you think I'm crazy or something? Crazy I would be to marry a dame like you.

[Marie/Mari]

Why do you talk like this? Why do I?

[Sig McKee]

Oh, listen, sweetheart. If I ever run into you again, I'll blow my brains out just to be on the safe side. Now, goodbye, honey. I'll see you around, if I'm real lucky.

[Marie/Mari]

Darling, come back, baby.

[Sig McKee]

You hop a slow phrase, huh?

[Maria]

Darling, come back. Come back.

[Sig McKee]

Okay, so I'm back, and I've told you all about it.

[John Steele]

Quite a gal you picked up.

[Sig McKee]

Well. Well, she never got dropped so fast in her life.

[John Steele]

You really ditched her, you know, though.

[Sig McKee]

She's a beautiful doll.

[John Steele]

Can you picture yourself married to her?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, But I'm glad I'm not.

[John Steele]

Now, you're sure about that?

[Sig McKee]

Sure about it?

[John Steele]

Well, you may never forget her.

[Sig McKee]

Maybe not.

[John Steele]

You must admit, though, she's different.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah?

[Ben]

Yeah.

[John Steele]

Finish your drink. You need it.

[Sig McKee]

I think I've had enough.

[John Steele]

No, you better finish it. Sig.

[Sig McKee]

Why?

[John Steele]

Have a look in the doorway.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, no.

[John Steele]

You're as nervous as a bridegroom on his wedding day.

[Sig McKee]

Don't say that.

[Marie/Mari]

Hello, darling.

[Sig McKee]

Hello, baby.

[John Steele]

Well, looked like Sig was hooked again. Marie stood in the doorway looking as gorgeous as ever. And her love for Sig was shining in her eyes as plain as 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 Sig's. But they had one common plane of understanding. They were in love. And the Sweetheart of Sig McKee became Mrs. McKee. 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 him. 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 Bangpu Khan. Enough sense of civic pride has established an ashram there. An ashram is a home for orphan girls of 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 Ramsat 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 Ramet Rangaya.

[Sig McKee]

Foreign.

[John Steele]

The American forum of the air will.

[Speed Conway]

Be heard 30 minutes from now over.

[John Steele]

Many of these same stations.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Makers of Old Spice after shave lotion for that top of the world feeling after every shave. Bring you top of the world in action drama for men.

[Speed Conway]

I adventure. Hello, friends. This is Ron, your host. And this is High Adventure. Or to be precise and practical, the weekly meeting of the High Adventure Society, whose members are those of you, wherever you are, who like stories of strong men, smooth women and hard, fast action. If I said it more convincing, I get excited myself. Anyway, meeting's in order. And on the agenda is Flight to Raynar, an aviation story of the new fighting the old with a beautiful woman in the winner's circle. Flight to Ranar. Written and directed for the Society by Bob Monroe. Another story of high adventure.

[Sig McKee]

It's funny how many different ideas there are about flying. I guess most people think a pilot on an airliner has an exciting, thrilling job. Well, you'd be surprised how boring long hops can be to the guy up front. Or how much hard work there can be when there's hard work to be done. To me, flying was just a business, no more. So I guess it was just plain boredom and the desire to make a few dollars that made me take the offer to ferry a ship south. I was waiting for assignment to the foreign schedule, so I had a month to spare. And that's how I happened to be landing a C47 solo on a strip outside of Diablo in the wilder part of South America. What a dump.

[Speed Conway]

Hey.

[Ben]

Hey, you. Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

This Woody Avlo?

[Ben]

I hope so. If it ain't they've been pulling me too wise. Where you been, huh? Come by way of Hawaii maybe?

[Sig McKee]

Sure, why not? I like flying twin engine without a co pilot.

[Ben]

We had an ETA on you for yesterday.

[Sig McKee]

Well, it happens, mister. I had to wait out of front in Caracas.

[Ben]

Bad weather, huh? Okay.

[Sig McKee]

And I think I did pretty good on dead reckoning. Hit this spot right on the nose with no fixes, no navigator, no range station.

[Ben]

A range station?

[Sig McKee]

Well, how was I to know? It's not on the chart, okay? Don't even have the name of the joint painted on the roof.

[Ben]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Sig McKee]

Where's Conway Airlines?

[Ben]

You're looking at part of it I'm.

[Sig McKee]

Supposed to deliver to tw Conway of Conway Airlines. After that, show me some food and I'll be ready to get back to civilization.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Well, where's TW Conway?

[Ben]

There he is.

[Speed Conway]

Where?

[Sig McKee]

Up there in the AT6.

[Marie/Mari]

Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

That crazy flathead. It's coming right at us.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

Buzz job.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Yeah.

[Sig McKee]

Watch it, do. That's fine.

[Ben]

What you so worried about?

[Sig McKee]

I suppose that's his idea of a welcoming committee.

[Ben]

Come on, I'll show you the office. Speed will roll right up to the front door. He always does.

[Sig McKee]

Somebody ought to teach him what you can and can't do with an airplane.

[Ben]

Somebody ought to teach Speed Conway.

[Sig McKee]

Speed Conway? Yeah, familiar name.

[Ben]

He was flying before you was walking.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, nice landing.

[Ben]

Never misses that. Speed.

[Sig McKee]

Speed Conway, race pilot.

[Ben]

Yeah. Well.

[Speed Conway]

So the Ten Goose finally came in, huh?

[Ben]

Hello, boy.

[Speed Conway]

Thanks for bringing her down.

[Sig McKee]

I got paid in advance. UTW Conway.

[Speed Conway]

Sure.

[Sig McKee]

Here's your invoice. One beat up C47. Is there a place I can get something to eat? And after that, will you tell me the best way to get to Santiago? I already got my ticket back, so.

[Speed Conway]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. You just got here. What's a hurry?

[Sig McKee]

Well, I have to go.

[Speed Conway]

Come on in the office. Marie will sign a receipt for you. She's the one that keeps the books. After that, we'll go to the best foodery this side of Panama. Come on, boy. The goose finally got here.

[Maria]

Honey, I saw it land. It's beautiful.

[Speed Conway]

The boy here set her down right on the edge. A perfect stall landing. So now you can meet a good violet. Excuse me. I don't even know what you call yourself. Breslin.

[Sig McKee]

Fred Breslin.

[Speed Conway]

Well, Freddie, meet the best and swellest gal ever to hang around an airport. I had to put Maria here to work to keep her out of the airplanes.

[Maria]

Hello, Freddie.

[Sig McKee]

How are you?

[Speed Conway]

Now, Freddy's hungry and we got something to celebrate. So let's close up shop and have some fun.

[Maria]

What are we celebrating this time?

[Speed Conway]

We're in business again. Conway Airlines now owns a 10 goose. Okay, Freddy.

[Sig McKee]

What?

[Speed Conway]

You'll feel better after you come over to get some of Papy's roast beef. You coming, boy? We'll have to get washed up.

[Maria]

You should go with Speed. Your face is very dirty.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, yeah, I guess I better.

[Speed Conway]

Ah, now there was the dinner. A little wine, Freddy?

[Ben]

Thanks.

[Sig McKee]

Go ahead and help yourself first.

[Speed Conway]

I never drink when I'm eating.

[Maria]

Or at any other time.

[Speed Conway]

Well, you feel better, Fred?

[Sig McKee]

You're right about that roast beef.

[Speed Conway]

Ah, you didn't answer my question.

[Sig McKee]

You feel better? I feel Fine.

[Speed Conway]

Not gonna bite our heads off anymore.

[Maria]

Don't tease him, Speed. He just come in from a long flight.

[Speed Conway]

Well, that shouldn't bother him. Look at all the beautiful scenery he had to look at.

[Sig McKee]

Trouble is, you're too busy to have a chance to see it.

[Speed Conway]

Why, that's half the fun of flying. Getting up there, looking over the top of mountain, seeing as far as you can see. Yeah, boy, that's half the fun.

[Sig McKee]

If you call it fun.

[Speed Conway]

Listen to him, Maria. Wisdom of youth.

[Sig McKee]

A lot of work to fly in.

[John Steele]

If I work.

[Speed Conway]

You mean money. You tell me where it is. I gave up trying to make my first million with airplanes. Thought maybe I better have better luck with my second. But all I get is red ink, honey.

[Maria]

Too much of it.

[Speed Conway]

Sit still. I'll be back. I want to tell Papy we liked his roast beef. We're glad you brought the goose, boy. Now maybe I can make that second million for it.

[Sig McKee]

Maria.

[Maria]

You like my name?

[Sig McKee]

It fits you.

[Maria]

Thank you.

[Sig McKee]

This your hometown?

[Maria]

Hometown? Oh, I have lived here all my life.

[Sig McKee]

Speak English very well.

[Maria]

I studied with tutors. Oh, and speed completed my vocabulary.

[Sig McKee]

I can imagine. Marianne. Yes, I. You like the music?

[Maria]

It is always very soothing.

[Sig McKee]

Care to dance?

[Maria]

I'm sorry?

[Sig McKee]

Why?

[Maria]

I always dance first with speed.

[Sig McKee]

I see.

[Speed Conway]

Well, I got the music going.

[Sig McKee]

That's fine.

[Speed Conway]

Ah, it's a wonderful night. Big full moon. Good food. Just a night to fly across to. Hey, Freddy. Come on. I want to show you something.

[Sig McKee]

Sure.

[Speed Conway]

We'll be right back, honey.

[Maria]

I will wait. Give you to dance.

[Speed Conway]

I didn't forget. Out of here, Freddy. I brought you out because you being a pilot.

[Sig McKee]

I figured you could appreciate it better than anybody else. Appreciate what? Look at that bright moon. Clear, calm air. Wouldn't you like to be up there tonight? I don't know. I'm pretty tired. You couldn't be that tired. That's why we come here. In addition to the roast beef. Why you can see so far from this patio?

[Speed Conway]

Just up on a little hill you.

[Sig McKee]

See for miles and miles. Just to get up where you can see. Yeah, you'll know what I mean. Because you're a flyer like me out there in the West. Can't see it at night, but it's there. They call it Ranar Pass. High up in the mountains. No man's ever been through it. Winds around steep sides. Clouds are real mountains. No man's been through it. Someday, when I got nothing better to do. I think I can make it with a six someday. I'm gonna try it. We ought to go back in. Maria's all alone? Yeah, suppose so. Oh.

[Ben]

Anyhow, it looks like we're all set, huh?

[Maria]

Yes, we can start tomorrow.

[Speed Conway]

What's all set, boy?

[Maria]

Ben has wonderful news.

[Ben]

I got all the bucket seats installed.

[Speed Conway]

That's my Benny.

[Ben]

We can start service tomorrow, Speed, if you want.

[Speed Conway]

Boy, do I want it.

[Sig McKee]

Wait a minute.

[Speed Conway]

What's the matter, Freddy?

[Sig McKee]

What kind of service you gonna start tomorrow?

[Speed Conway]

Regular passenger service between here and the coast. How do you like that, huh?

[Sig McKee]

Is that 47?

[Speed Conway]

You said it. Now that Ben has seats.

[Sig McKee]

Wait a minute. That ship needs a major. Engines won't rev up the rated rpm. The gas consumption is too high.

[Speed Conway]

You checked the ship, didn't you, Benny? That's okay, but I'll test hop it myself this morning. In the morning. Come on, honey, let's see the. Get that music, Speed. Yeah, boy.

[Sig McKee]

You ever flown a 47?

[Speed Conway]

Well, I must have sometime or other.

[Sig McKee]

You got to follow procedures in a ship that big.

[Speed Conway]

I'll figure them out as I go along.

[Sig McKee]

Can't do that.

[Speed Conway]

Well, sure you can. It's got wings and Eng.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, but if you don't.

[Speed Conway]

What's eating you, boy?

[Sig McKee]

It's your funeral. I just don't like to see you kill a lot of innocent passengers. I never killed anybody in my life. Well, I tell you what. You stay over and check me out.

[Speed Conway]

And before you leave.

[Sig McKee]

Will that make you happy? I don't want any part of it. Ship is barely airworthy. And before you hop any passengers, you ought to get it.

[Speed Conway]

Oh, come on. Won't take over a couple of hours.

[Sig McKee]

No, thanks. The flight down was enough for me.

[Ben]

Well, I ask you.

[Maria]

I wish you would stay, Freddie.

[Sig McKee]

What?

[Maria]

I wish you would stay.

[Sig McKee]

You're asking me to stay?

[Speed Conway]

Of course she is, boy. We're all asking you. Aren't we, Benny? Sure.

[Sig McKee]

All right, I will. I'll start checking you out tomorrow.

[Speed Conway]

Well, now we got that settled. Come on, honey. Let's see if we can get that music going again.

[Sig McKee]

So we can.

[Speed Conway]

What would you do if a beautiful girl asked you to stay when you knew to stay meant to fight something with logic as your only weapon? Well, stick around and find out what Freddy did. For this is the beginning of another high adventure.

[Old Spice Announcer]

There's nothing like the thrill and excitement.

[Sig McKee]

Of a high adventure.

[Old Spice Announcer]

But it's nice to know there are some things we can always count on. And every man listening can always count on Old Spice after shave lotion for the perfect finish to a shave. Old Spice aftershave lotion is soothing invigorating antiseptic and healing to the skin. It instantly takes away uncomfortable razor burn and adds real pleasure to your morning shave in two seconds. Its skin tingling freshness has you wide awake and ready for the day. Old Spice After Shave Lotion has a clean, pleasant, masculine scent that men prefer. Not to mention the girls. That's why more men buy Old Spice than any other aftershave lotion at a dollar. Yes, you can always count on this to be true. That men who appreciate real quality, men who know the value of good grooming, use Old Spice lotion after every shade.

[Speed Conway]

Let's continue our High Adventure meeting and get back to flight to Raynar. Fred Breslin's story of high adventure.

[Sig McKee]

It took more than a couple of hours to check Speed Conway out on the 47. After the first ride around the field, he was ready to take it himself. But I talked him out of it. Speed might have been the best seat of the pants pilot in the business. But when it came to flying the gauges and instrument landing procedures, it was rough going for him. The day I was going to stay over turned into five, and then a week. I'll give him credit. Speed tried. He tried hard. And the harder he tried, the more I noticed the change.

[Speed Conway]

How am I doing, boy? How am I doing?

[Sig McKee]

Watch your airspeed. Keep it constant. All ready to descent.

[Speed Conway]

I mean about the beam signals right there, aren't they?

[Sig McKee]

Sound all right to me. Just remember to keep to the side of the beam to protect against traffic.

[Speed Conway]

There's no traffic around here.

[Sig McKee]

Then why have a range station?

[Speed Conway]

I got a chance to buy a cheap, more surplus. Makes the customers feel good.

[Sig McKee]

Hold that air speed. I am manifold. Pressure's up. They go together, you know.

[Speed Conway]

Don't feel solid unless I keep her fast.

[Sig McKee]

Got to follow procedures.

[Speed Conway]

Okay, boy.

[Sig McKee]

That's better. You're heading. What heading? You're off course.

[Speed Conway]

Compass?

[Sig McKee]

Read the same. Go by the beam. Can't you hear it?

[Speed Conway]

I always forget which is which.

[Sig McKee]

Correct. To the left.

[John Steele]

Yeah, to the left.

[Speed Conway]

I'm doing it.

[Sig McKee]

Watch your air speed.

[Speed Conway]

It's okay.

[Sig McKee]

Building up.

[Speed Conway]

Get her on the course first.

[Sig McKee]

Nose up.

[Speed Conway]

Want to get her on course?

[Sig McKee]

Nose up.

[Speed Conway]

It's okay.

[Sig McKee]

Watch the hangar.

[Marie/Mari]

What?

[Speed Conway]

Oh, I'm so busy.

[Sig McKee]

I'll take it.

[Speed Conway]

So busy reading the instruments and listening to the signals.

[Sig McKee]

All right, take her around and land her.

[Speed Conway]

That's it, huh?

[Sig McKee]

I guess so. Handle it.

[Speed Conway]

About as good as I'll ever do it.

[Sig McKee]

Yes, Pete. That's right.

[Speed Conway]

Watch me. Bring her in when I'm looking.

[Marie/Mari]

Brakes.

[Speed Conway]

Want to roll Right up the hanger.

[John Steele]

Not throw it.

[Speed Conway]

They'll hold you just sitting. Hey.

[John Steele]

Like that.

[Speed Conway]

Okay, boy?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah. Yeah. Let's get out of this box.

[Speed Conway]

How'd you like that landing, bunny boy?

[Maria]

Okay.

[Ben]

Why don't you use the idle cutoff?

[Speed Conway]

What?

[Ben]

The idle cutoff.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, yeah.

[Speed Conway]

I don't want to keep them running any longer, and I have to.

[Ben]

Yeah, but that's why it takes so long to start the engines. They load up if you don't use the idle cutoff.

[Speed Conway]

When son told you that?

[Ben]

Freddie told me about it. Speed, huh? It works, too. He was showing me.

[Speed Conway]

Well, I'll try to remember next time.

[Ben]

Save me a lot of work if you would, huh?

[Speed Conway]

Sure.

[Ben]

Now, don't forget it, huh?

[Speed Conway]

I said I wouldn't. What else you want?

[Ben]

Okay. Okay. Okay.

[Speed Conway]

Well, honey, just the one I want to see.

[Maria]

That was a beautiful landing.

[Speed Conway]

Go home. Tell your father and mother. You'll be late. We're going to celebrate.

[Maria]

What, this time?

[Speed Conway]

This is something big. Freddy here says that I'm all set on the 47.

[Maria]

Well, that's wonderful.

[Sig McKee]

Well, I. I didn't mean.

[Maria]

Thank you for being so patient with me.

[Speed Conway]

Well, it's only that I. Freddie here took his time. But we finally did it, didn't we, boy?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess so.

[Speed Conway]

So now that the Ten Deuce goes into operation, I got some other big news to tell you. Tell you? About the dinner. This time we're going to celebrate for sure. Come on, let's get washed up and get going. You coming, Benny?

[Ben]

Okay. Okay.

[Maria]

Well, I'm glad to hear that. Now, perhaps I can put some black ink in the book. There's no person in the world like Speed.

[Sig McKee]

No, I guess not.

[Maria]

So beautifully quiet in the early evening.

[Sig McKee]

Yes.

[Maria]

And now you will leave tomorrow. You have not danced with me.

[Sig McKee]

Maria.

[Maria]

Yes.

[Sig McKee]

This is the first chance I've had to talk to you alone.

[Maria]

Why do you hide behind words, Maria? That is what you told me, that sometimes words are not necessary.

[Sig McKee]

No. Not necessary.

[Marie/Mari]

Freddy.

[Maria]

Freddy. I didn't know it was you until.

[Marie/Mari]

I didn't know what your name would.

[Maria]

Be, what you would look like.

[Sig McKee]

I had to find out. Couldn't leave till I found out.

[Marie/Mari]

Are you sure? Are you sure?

[Speed Conway]

Hey, Freddy, you better go on in and get cleaned up. You're going with us, boy.

[Sig McKee]

I. Oh.

[Speed Conway]

What's going on?

[Maria]

Speed. Speed, we have something to tell you.

[Sig McKee]

What?

[Marie/Mari]

You.

[Maria]

Freddy, tell him.

[Speed Conway]

Well, I.

[Sig McKee]

That sounds foolish, but Maria and I.

[Speed Conway]

You and Maria?

[Sig McKee]

Yes.

[Maria]

Speed, isn't it wonderful?

[Speed Conway]

Well, I. Yeah, well, that is. Well, that's Your something. Now we really got something to celebrate tonight. I'm sure happy for you. I'll get the car out and we'll go to Baby's.

[Sig McKee]

Hurry up, kid.

[Speed Conway]

Don't keep old Speed waiting.

[Maria]

I'll wait for you at my house, Freddy. I'm glad Speedy's happy for us. Speed is so wonderful.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah. Ye.

[Speed Conway]

Benny.

[Sig McKee]

Hey, Benny.

[Ben]

Oh, thought I heard somebody.

[Sig McKee]

Speed been around?

[Ben]

He's over by the six.

[Sig McKee]

Thanks.

[Ben]

Some party last night, huh?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Ben]

Even Speed was like getting over to the field. What do you think of that?

[Sig McKee]

No surprise after what he put away.

[Ben]

Nah. Hey, I told him I was going to major the engines in the 47th. Like you wanted them.

[Sig McKee]

Fine. Me neither.

[Ben]

I'll get on it tomorrow.

[Sig McKee]

He's over at the 6.

[Ben]

Yeah, I don't see him. I think he's working in the cockpit.

[Sig McKee]

What are you doing?

[Speed Conway]

Oh, nothing.

[Sig McKee]

Going up and ring around. I don't know. You forgot to tell us something last night. What, boy? You said you had big news. Oh, wasn't important. Speed, I want you to know that I'll be.

[Speed Conway]

You want to teach me some more about flying?

[John Steele]

No.

[Sig McKee]

They got wings and an engine. I can fly them. Come on, climb out. We'll talk.

[Speed Conway]

No, you're going back. Tell Benny how to do maintenance. Right the way it ought to be done. Hop down, boy. I'll stick to flying.

[Sig McKee]

Think I'll try that. Pastor. And I got nothing better to do, Speed.

[Ben]

Be seeing you, boy.

[Sig McKee]

Flying them before I could walk.

[Maria]

Is that Speed going up?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah, up where you can see.

[Maria]

Who else could it be if not you? It must be Speed.

[Sig McKee]

He's a great flyer.

[Maria]

He's going to stunt again.

[Ben]

Look here.

[Maria]

You said it's so strange.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, it's nothing.

[Ben]

Hey, you see that? Huh?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Ben]

He's ringing out the six today, ain't he?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Maria]

What do you call that stunt, Freddie? Snap roll Just as he looks.

[Ben]

That's right. Hey, that one there's a Nimbleman.

[Maria]

Fred.

[Sig McKee]

Huh?

[Maria]

Something wrong?

[Sig McKee]

No. I'd rather see him do acrobatics than try the pass.

[Ben]

Just watch old Spade. He can sure throw it around.

[Sig McKee]

Old Speed.

[Maria]

I don't understand.

[Sig McKee]

Everything is all right.

[Ben]

Look at this one, Freddy. Power spin, huh? Bet you never seen it done better.

[Sig McKee]

No.

[Ben]

Old Speed's a hot rock today. Any.

[Sig McKee]

It's enough speed.

[Ben]

4, 5, 10.

[Sig McKee]

Start your pull out now.

[Speed Conway]

Now.

[Maria]

Fred. What is it?

[John Steele]

Pull out.

[Ben]

Hey, Speed, really, for a second I didn't think he was gonna tower.

[Sig McKee]

Hey, the radio tower. Come on, we gotta get him out. What's the matter? Come on.

[Ben]

I better start majoring them engines. What? Get him started today. Finishing my day.

[Sig McKee]

Are you crazy? That's your boy Speed in that crack up. You want him to burn to death? It's going to fire up any second.

[Maria]

Speed always said that when he went in to walk away. Don't run to the wreck. Walk away as if it never.

[Sig McKee]

Speed has got ideas. Aviation outgrew 20 years ago and that's one of them. If he's alive, I'm going to try to save him. I think that much of him anyway. Silly romantic. Failure. Pulse? Yeah, pulse.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Breathing.

[Speed Conway]

Ben.

[Marie/Mari]

How?

[Speed Conway]

Still alive.

[John Steele]

Give me your hand.

[Ben]

Alive?

[Speed Conway]

Yeah, alive.

[Sig McKee]

Now help me with him. Here. Put him down easy. Once we move him, the better. Open his jacket.

[Ben]

Okay.

[John Steele]

Stay back.

[Sig McKee]

Maria. Speed. Chest is crushed. Get him to hospital.

[Ben]

No hospital here.

[Sig McKee]

Where's the nearest one? I don't know.

[Speed Conway]

Speed.

[John Steele]

Maria.

[Maria]

Yes?

[Sig McKee]

Where's the nearest hospital? And stay back.

[Marie/Mari]

Hospital.

[Sig McKee]

Where is it?

[Maria]

Over the mountains.

[Sig McKee]

Where? Over the mountains.

[Maria]

He's alive.

[Speed Conway]

Yes, Ben.

[Ben]

Maybe a docket.

[Sig McKee]

Get the 47 gas and bring it over here.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Clouds over the mountains. How high do they go?

[Ben]

Like 16,000.

[John Steele]

All right.

[Sig McKee]

Put some oxygen and equipment in the cabin. Maria, you're coming along to take care of him.

[Ben]

We don't have no.

[Sig McKee]

You'll help us? A co pilot, Ben?

[Ben]

I don't have no oxygen equipment, Fred.

[Sig McKee]

Oh, that's fine.

[Speed Conway]

Bad?

[Ben]

Crushed. He won't last.

[Sig McKee]

You got sharks on the mountains?

[Ben]

Yeah, over in the office.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Sure.

[Sig McKee]

The latest ones are clipped to the board.

[Ben]

You can't make no 16,000.

[Sig McKee]

He always wanted to fly Rainar Pass. Okay, boy. We'll try to get him through it, huh? Maybe I'm crazy too. Let's go.

[Ben]

Hey, wait a minute. You don't know what you're asking for.

[Sig McKee]

Speed thought it could be done, didn't he?

[Ben]

Well, he could do it.

[Sig McKee]

Maybe that's the only way we'll get through.

[Speed Conway]

Now.

[Sig McKee]

Get on the gas pump.

[Ben]

Speed and me flew over the top of it once. You can't hold a level, the winds are too.

[Sig McKee]

What's the matter, boy?

[Maria]

We will go, Ben.

[Ben]

Okay, okay.

[Sig McKee]

I'll get the charts. You gas up the 47.

[Speed Conway]

Well members you on the edge of your seats. From here on, about three things can happen. Fred could try to get through the pass and fail. He could make it and save Speed's life. Or he could. Well, you don't want me to spoil it for you. And at this point, I think we're agreed. It's the kind of story that can only Be called high adventure.

[Old Spice Announcer]

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[Speed Conway]

Back to Flight to Raynar, Fred Breslin's story of high adventure, of life and death in an airplane flying through the Andes.

[Sig McKee]

That's it up ahead.

[Ben]

Up the valley.

[Sig McKee]

Not very wide.

[Ben]

Don't get much wider neither.

[Sig McKee]

Check the port engine mixture. Temperature's going up on her.

[Ben]

Hey, it is.

[Sig McKee]

Well, here we go.

[Ben]

Mixture same as the other.

[Old Spice Announcer]

With it on full rich.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Maria]

Are we in the passage?

[Sig McKee]

Just entering house.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Speed.

[Maria]

Unconscious too.

[Sig McKee]

Better get back and belt them down. It's going to be rough in here.

[Ben]

Once we get oil pressure down.

[Sig McKee]

Southern vibrating Shake the whole ship. Cut switches.

[Ben]

She stopped.

[Maria]

Is it bad?

[Sig McKee]

Get back with speed. Bell them down.

[Maria]

All right.

[Ben]

You got to turn back.

[Sig McKee]

Gotta compensate.

[Ben]

Can we do it on one engine?

[Sig McKee]

I don't know. We're lightly loaded.

[Ben]

You better make up your mind.

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Ben]

I knew them engines needed a major. Eh, What? You gonna turn back? You don't know. You're not gonna be able to. Not enough room between the mountains. Hey, Freddie, you hear me?

[Sig McKee]

Yeah.

[Ben]

You gotta make up your mind. You're gonna turn back, huh?

[Sig McKee]

Turn back? Freddie boy. We've just started.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Speed Conway]

Okay.

[Ben]

Speak. Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Watch the temperature gauge. If it starts climbing, let me know.

[Ben]

Sure. Getting rough.

[Sig McKee]

Lean around a little.

[Ben]

Hey, we're losing altitude.

[Sig McKee]

We're still climbing. The valley's closing in. Getting tight. Hey, keep your belt tight.

[Ben]

We're lowering the ridge up there.

[Sig McKee]

I see it.

[Ben]

Can't you climb this thing more?

[Sig McKee]

Sit tight.

[Ben]

Heading right for it.

[Sig McKee]

Increase rpm.

[Ben]

But we're heading for it.

[Sig McKee]

Change that pitch.

[Ben]

Yeah, sure.

[Sig McKee]

That's it.

[Ben]

Do something. Hold on. Gonna hit it.

[Sig McKee]

Hope the charts are right.

[Speed Conway]

Watch.

[Ben]

What happened?

[Sig McKee]

Make it show. 1850 again.

[Ben]

Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Clouds are coming down on the peaks.

[Ben]

How come we didn't hit the ridge?

[Sig McKee]

Chart showed a turn to the left, banked around it.

[Ben]

Oh, you're gonna have to go on Instruments. If them clouds come down anymore, can't get into those.

[Sig McKee]

Got mountains in them. We're almost to the hump.

[Ben]

How can you see?

[Sig McKee]

I'm guessing.

[Ben]

Huh?

[Sig McKee]

Relax, Benny boy.

[Ben]

Hey, we can't go through there.

[Sig McKee]

I hope we can.

[Ben]

Don't look as wide as a wing.

[Sig McKee]

I'm gonna need your help, Ben.

[Ben]

Okay. Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Call off the instrument readings, go round the board, then start over again. I don't have time to look.

[Ben]

Okay. Okay.

[Sig McKee]

Start with air speed.

[Ben]

Air speed, 140. Altitude, 12. 5. Rate of climb, 0 RPM, 2100.

[Sig McKee]

Manifold. Hold tight.

[Ben]

This is a big 160.

[Sig McKee]

You wanted to fly the pass. Speed. Okay. Boy, when you got nothing better to do. Across the horizon, Boy, this is it.

[Ben]

Cylinder head temp 260.

[Sig McKee]

Okay, Ben. I can handle it. We made it.

[Ben]

I figured we would.

[Maria]

It is calm now. Are we all right?

[Ben]

Yeah, we're swell. Be in Renault in a couple of minutes.

[Maria]

I'm glad.

[Speed Conway]

Speed.

[Sig McKee]

Ride the pass okay?

[Maria]

Yes.

[Sig McKee]

It's rugged for a few minutes, then didn't bother him. Hasn't regained consciousness yet?

[Maria]

No, he was dead when I went back to fasten the belts on him. I would have come and told you, but it was so rough I could not stand up.

[Ben]

Well, he flew to pass here.

[Sig McKee]

When I go in, walk away. Don't run to the wreck. Walk away as if it never happened. Walk away and forget I ever hung around a joint.

[Ben]

There'll never be another guy like him.

[Maria]

No, not completely, huh? Not the wild, foolish speed, but what he loved and what made us love him. I think so.

[Speed Conway]

Yeah.

[Maria]

Don't you, Freddy?

[John Steele]

What?

[Sig McKee]

Oh, sure. Now, honey. Watch how I float her in. Right on the edge. You'll never know when we touch. Move over, Benny boy. Let her get a ringside seat.

[Ben]

Okay? Okay, Freddy.

[Sig McKee]

Oh.

[Speed Conway]

Flight to Renr. Pilot Fred Breslin story for the files of the High Adventure Society. That boy had a pretty rough time, didn't he? Too bad he went through those mountains and then found out it was all for nothing.

[Sig McKee]

Or was it?

[Speed Conway]

Anyway, in the closing minutes of the meeting, we credit the members who participated Assisting were John Larkin, Inga Adams and Jim Bowles. Guest soloist Geraldine Beitzel and music under the direction of Mr. Lou Davies. And next week, the High Adventure Society will present a very unusual story called Export item. About a man who signed on a tramp steamer and sailed into world intrigue through a sea of life, love and death. Sounds all right, doesn't it? Well, until next week's meeting then. To make life interesting. Good luck and high adventure.

[Old Spice Announcer]

Remember to join us again next week when Schulten brings you another exciting story of High Adventure export item. And remember too at Old Spice at Aftershave lotion gives you wonderful value for your money. There are two generous sizes of this quality lotion, a dollar and a dollar 75. Look for the handsome red Old Spice cartons at drug and department stores everywhere. And for that top of the world feeling, use Old Spice lotion after every shave.

[John Steele]

Now over most of these stations, American Forum of the Air on NBC.

[Relic Radio Host]

There's more John Steele, High Adventure, the Relic Radio show and all of the other podcasts at the website relicradio.com our shoutcast stream is there as well with even more old time radio lots to listen to, all made possible by your support. Visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on one of the support links in the show notes if you'd like to help out. Thank you as always to those who have and thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back back tomorrow with an hour of mystery and crime on Case Closed and next Tuesday with our next episode of the Relic Radio Show.