This is science Friction on Hudson River Radio dot COG episode fourteen, The Storm
Key, Boss, you can't be serious. This isn't a job for Dutch,
Dylan. It's degrading, demoralizing, humiliating. Look, it's just a
flower show, Dutch. I know you always want to be chasing bad guys.
But we are currently a newspaper without any news. We need something for
tomorrow's front page. A boss flowers. Jeez, my buddies will never let
me live it down. I'm sorry, Dutch, I really am. But
you know we are short staffed right now since so many people left and moved
south because of the terrible winter weather. Come on, Dutch, take one
for the team. All right, I'll do it all. You owe me
big time flowers. So far, the spring of nineteen fifty four in Stony
Point, New York had been cold and wet, but it was finally a
warm, sunny afternoon. While the persistent rain had made all the residents miserable,
it had been wonderful for the flowers. Hello, Hello, can everyone
hear me? Good? I would like to welcome one and all to the
sixty third Annual Spring Blooms Show and Competition. I'm missus Marjorie Mullen, the
chairwoman of the planning committee, and I may be biased, but I think
this is our most spectacular assortment of flowers over So please everyone enjoy the show,
and don't forget to vote for your favorite tulips, daffodils and primroses.
Thank you for your patients, mister Dillon. Now how can I help you.
I'm with the gazette. I'm here to write a story on your show.
How delightful, simply delightful. It's so rare to have a man at
our show. I think you'll find the hyacinths particularly fragrant this year. I'm
sure I will. And the crocuses, well, if they aren't worthy of
a headline, I don't know what is. I don't know either, Missus
Mullen. Dutch looked like a man walking barefoot over broken glass as he made
his rounds of the seemingly endless floral displays. But finally there was a glimmer
of hope. Dark clouds were approaching fast. Thank Heaven's hopefully it'll start raining.
And so I've an excuse to leave. What was that, mister Tillon?
Oh, I was just saying, I sure, hope it doesn't rain.
Man. Oh my, yes, those are nasty looking clouds and they're
moving so fast. Before she could say another word, the ominous overcast swept
across the Stony Point fair Grounds. It began to rain, then poor,
and then enormous hailstones of biblical proportions fell like artillery shells. The ladies all
tried to shield their precious flowers with their bodies. What the run? Everyone
leave the damp flowers and un for cover. As missus Mullen protected her precious
peonies, a hailstone the size of a softball knocked her out. Coal Oh
Dutch picked up the unconscious woman and ran for the concession's tent, but the
relentless Hale quickly tore the tent to shreds and pelted him from head to toe.
He finally managed to call under a display table and watched in horror as
hundreds of women were struck down in the field. Oh my god, it's
like the beaches of Normandy. Out of you. After five long, hellacious
minutes of carnage, the clouds suddenly dissipated and the sun returned as if nothing
had happened. But where there had been fields of beautiful flowers. There was
now a tangle of broken and bleeding bodies. Dutch sprang into action and set
up a triage center and spent hours carrying the wounded and the dead. Later
that night at the Hudson River Gazette, here's some more ice for your bumps
and bruises. Touch. The doctor said you should be in the hospital.
I'm not going anywhere until I finished this story for the morning edition. Well,
only you Dutch can go to a flower show and have it turn into
a blood bath. One hundred and thirty eight killed, three hundred twenty injured,
everything destroyed. Mother nature can be so cruel. I don't think that
mother nature had anything to do with you. What what do you mean?
I mean there was something something wrong about that storm. It came out of
nowhere, held only on the fairgrounds, and then just dissolved. I think
it was man made. I think those bumps on your head did more damage
than you realize. The doctor did say you had a bad concussion. You
must be hallucinating. That's just crazy talk, is it. How come Stoney
Point had thirty six inches of snow during the Christmas storm, but every town
around us only got three on Valentine's Day? How come Stony Point got another
blizzard while the sun was shining a few miles away. How has Stony Point
gotten pouring rain every day of this spring while everywhere else there's a drought.
I know, it seems unusual. Remember a few months ago when we ran
that interview with Professor Raj from Hudson River University. He explained it all as
something to do with the way Stony Point sits between the mountains and the river
and creates its own what did he call it? Microclimate? A microclimate that
suddenly only formed last winter, and didn't all this start when Orage moved here
and joined the university. Just what do we know about him? Well,
I I don't know. I guess all I know is that he's French,
and that's enough to make me suspicious. I saw enough collaborators during the war
to make me suspicious of everyone who's French, all except one person, of
course, still carrying a torch for Angelique. Can't you ever forget her?
No? Never, Angelique is dead because her own people sold her out to
the Nazis. Look finish up here and go home and stay there tomorrow and
get some rest. Meanwhile, I'll check on the professor and see what I
can find. We'll be right back with more of Science Friction Theater on Hodson
River Radio dot com. Johnny, why don't you go ahead and play with
the other boys. I'm too tired, Ma, it's because you didn't need
a healthy breakfast. Young man. Here, try a bowl of delicious poco
cereal poo cereal. That's right, poco cereal not only taste good, it's
good for you, with plenty of sugar for energy and four times the caffeine
and a cup of coffee to put that bounce back in your step. You're
right, ma, I feel more energy already. Who make sure your children
start every morning with a nutritious ball of poco cereal, and I'll be bouncing
off the walls all day long. We now return to Science Friction Theater on
Hudson dot com. They do that night in the secluded house of Professor Orange,
down by the river, in a secret attic laboratory. One of my
greatest triumphs. These American fools. They have no idea what I am doing
to is am? Yeah, so busy with their freedom fries, they have
no idea. As soon as I finished perfecting my technique for manipulating the weather.
I will target New York City, then state by state, I will
freeze scorch and decimate these United States of America. The next morning, when
Dutchess article appeared in the Hudson River Gazette, the phone started ringing off the
hook as people across the country wanted to know if there was really someone who
could manipulate the weather as Dutch had suggested. Many thought this was just some
kind of a joke, but Professor Arrage was not laughing, so they do
suspect. After all, maybe these Americans are not as fat and stupid as
they look. Well, they are that fat, Well, I didn't make
sure the newspaper doesn't print another word. Back at the Hudson River Gazette,
miss standish closed those windows over there. That wind is blowing papers all over
the newsroom, Yes, sir, Sorry, sir. There wasn't even a
breeze ten minutes ago. The sky is looking awfully greenish black toward the west.
Great is another hailstorm coming. I'm afraid it could be worse than that,
sir. I grew up in Kansas, and that's the way the sky
looked just before a tornado hit. Maybe we should go into the basement.
A tornado, missus Stony Point, New York, not the land of Dorothy
and Toto. Next you're going to tell us we're all going to get blown
to oz. No, sir, Sorry, sir, I was trying to
be helpful. You can be helpful by closing those damn windows and then getting
me a fresh cup of coffee, Yes, sir, right away, sir.
But as miss Standish reached up to close one of the big windows,
a huge gust of wind blew her petite body clear across the newsroom floor into
the opposite wall before anyone could help her. It sounded like a freight train
hitting the building. Everyone get under your desks, take cover. The entire
building is collapsing. Later the next day, at Hudson River Hospital, Boss,
hey, boss, can you hear me? Duch? Is is that
you? Where am I? What's happened? A tornado knocked down the Gazette
building. We were lucky enough to find you under the rubble last night.
You got busted up pretty bad, But a lot of other people weren't so
lucky. Miss Standish. What about Miss Standish? She was trying to warn
me that a tornado was coming, but I wouldn't listen. Sorry, boss,
she didn't make it. No, oh no, not her. She
was just a bright eyed kid from the Midwest looking to make it in the
big city. And now she's gone because of some freak storm. Come on,
you can't still think this was something natural. Two hours after my article
is published claiming someone is intentionally causing the storms and the Hudson River Gazette is
destroyed by the first tornado in the history of Stony Point, and no other
buildings were even slightly damaged. I didn't know that. It does seem to
be more than a coincidence. Look, Dutch, if someone is responsible for
this, get the bastard and make him pay. Don't worry, boss,
I'll track him down and stop him, or my name ain't Dutch. Dylon.
Despite having a pounding headache, Dutch did a nifty little act of lock
picking at the office of Professor Arrage at Hudson River University late that night.
He wanted to see if he could find anything incriminating, but he hadn't taken
two steps before he felt the barrel of a gun stuck into his back,
so professor, you got the slip on me. Congratulations, It's not easy
to do to ace, reported Dutch. Dylon, confused as to why his
assailant dropped the gun, Dutch turned and lit his lighter. He could not
leave the face he saw. Gasp. No, it can't be. It
can't be you. I must be hallucinating. It is me, Dutch,
It is Anjelique, Marie Antoinette, aubou pain Auntjelie. But you're you're dead.
You died during the war when that building exploded. I was right across
the street and I saw it. We the collaborators blew up the headquarters about
French resistance. But I survived onto the rebel for seventeen days with just a
few bottles of champagne and a hunk of camembaire before I was able to dig
my way out. And when I couldn't find you, I assumed you had
been killed. Oh no, I'll never forgive myself for leaving you there.
Were you terribly wounded? Yes, as you can see, I still have
the scar where I got a booboo on my elbow. But what about you,
Dutch? Did you quickly forget me? Forget my friend Angel? Not
for one second. Dutch handed Angelique the lighter, then unbuttoned his shirt to
show the pair of angel wings tattooed over his heart. Oh money more montraisur
moncoo moo, Shelly, you didn't forget me. Angelique used the tip of
her finger to slowly trace the outline of the tattoo, and then let the
lighter drop. Several hours later, Dutch awoke on the floor of Professor Orrage's
office, and to his astonishment, Angelique was gone. It was almost dawn,
so he quickly went through the professor's files but found nothing. Back at
the hospital an hour later, not hallucinating, I'm telling you, boss,
it was Angelique in Rage's office. Listen to yourself. You get hit on
the head and suddenly Angelique Marie Antoinette au Bompan shows up in Stony Point.
Believe me, what happened last night was very real or a complete fantasy brought
on by your concussion. Tell me this. Why was she there? Well,
because because I don't know why, I didn't ask her. A dead
woman from France shows up at Hudson River University and you don't think to ask
what she's doing there. We didn't do a lot of talking, if you
know what I mean? And where did she go? All right? I
have no idea, but if she is also after a rage, then he
has to be the one causing all these storms. Or maybe it's the wicked
witch and you and Angelie can stroll down the yellow brick road together. Later
that morning, at Hudson River University, in the Dean's office, dean sums
us, what is this all about? I have a class to teach in
five minutes. Can this is not wait? Professor, We've heard several complaints.
You do not stand during the pledge of allegiance every morning. Yes,
that is correct. I understand your French by birth, but now that you've
become the United States citizen, it's your duty to say the pledge. I
have my reasons. Care to share them? Well? If you must know,
it's it's because of Maxine. Maxine. Was she your wife? Wife?
No? No? She was far more loyals than any woman could be.
Maxine was my minky. You're what my minky? My pet minky.
I found her as she was an open baby in the Amazon, when I
was studying the rainforest ze weather patterns. Maxine, she was the best friend
I ever had. She was the only real friend I ever had. I'm
afraid I'm not following what your pet monkey has to do with refusing to say
the pledge. When see American troops occupied my village, Maxine got scared and
ran away. I later heard that his soldier took her as their company mascot,
and I and I have never forgiven them. Well, I'm so sorry
that the American soldiers fighting and dying to liberate your talent from the Nazis was
so irritating to you. The next time, Frances conquered by an evil regime,
we'll just have to mind our own business then. And isn't ten years
a long enough time to hold a grudge? Is it? Obviously you have
never experienced the love of a minky. Oh, okay, whatever, I'll
discuss this with the board. You best get to your class now. While
Professor Urage taught his class at Hudson River University, a figure dressed in black
definitely climbed the side of the professor's house, unlatched an attic window, and
climbed in. Five minutes later, Dutch picked the lock on the back door
and began searching the house. He hadn't gone more than a few steps when
the barrel of the gun was stuck into his back. Angel Baby, you're
back. Spinning around, expecting to see Angelique, Dutch instead came face to
face with a sinister man with scars across both cheeks. Well the hell are
you? He's unfortunate you came here today, mister Dillon. May I must
eliminate you. As the man raised his gun to shoot Dutch, a strange
expression of surprise and pain spread across his scarred cheeks. A moment before he
fell face first dead on the floor, A large throwing knife protruded from his
back. What the who? A figure emerged from the shadows, and what
a figure it was. This is the eighth time I've had to save your
life, Dutch. Oh no, that's only seven. That tank can run
out of ammunition and you know it. You shouldn't have come here, Dutch.
It's too dangerous. Dangerous? My middle name? Baby? Now?
What gives? What's this all about? This is or was Agent Vronsky KGB?
The Soviets won't a rage as much as we do. Who's leave CIA?
Let's just say the international equivalent of the CIA, and twice as deadly.
I know it was something like that. My boss thinks I was imagining.
He thinks you're some sort of ghost. I am a ghost in a
way. In my line of work. I can't afford seems like a home
or relationships. To stay alive, I must be invisible. Well that'll all
change now that we found each other again. You'll love being a housewife and
stony point. Can we talk about this, lad, First, we need
to find Uraje's secret laboratory. Can't you hear me? Angel me Dutch tone
just proposed ouii moncherie, I heard you. But can we discuss this after
disposing of the Soviet spy and stopping this mad scientist from committing more mass murders.
Yeah, sure, of course. Thirty minutes later, after burying the
KGB agent in a flower bed, they found Uraga's secret laboratory in the attic.
This is incredible. He is decades ahead of modern science. What does
all this stuff do? I'm not sure how it works, but all I
know is that it kills people. Well, then let's start busting it up.
No, we need to study it and learn ourage's secrets of controlling the
weather. In the right hands, this will change the world, and in
the wrong hands will destroy it. I've seen his evil genius in action.
Trust me, Dutch, this is here's someone coming. Two sets of footsteps
could clearly be heard on the main staircase. Quick in this closet, Both
Angelique and Dutch pulled out their guns and waited breathlessly. This looks like it,
Charlie, Professor's secret lab. The Agency should give us a promotion for
this. Imagine the CIA having the power to control the weather. Let's make
the call and get all this stuff packed up, and then we'll grab the
Professor on his way home. He'll be very comfortable in our secret facility in
Alaska. I hope he likes forty degrees below zero. Yeah, well,
that's what you get when you're messed with Uncle Sam. Hey, Charlie,
look out, there's some sort of electric eye. Oh no, I think
I set off some kind of booby trap. Grant a handful of files and
run. They're gone, quick down the back stairs. But it was too
late. Before any of them reached the first floor, the house exploded.
Fortunately, although Dutch was knocked unconscious by the blast, he was thrown onto
the soft dirt of the recently dug flower bed, but Angelique was nowhere in
sight when he woke up. No, not again, angel baby, where
are you? The fire department found Dutch frantically digging in the burning rubble of
the house, where he remained for hours and hours, until every speck of
debris had been sifted. We only found the remains of two men. Dutch,
but chief she had to be in there. I'm sorry, My men
have combed through everything. There wasn't anyone else in the house. Looks like
you got a nasty wound to your head. Are you sure you didn't imagine
the woman? Yes, she was there. She isn't a ghost. I'm
not hallucinating. Dutch. Calm down. I think you need to rest in
the hospital for a few days. I'm fine. Angel Where are you?
Spies the CIA the KGB I. Dutch passed out from the fatigue and the
head wound, and he woke up in the hospital two days later in the
same room as his boss. Well, Dutch, good to see your back.
Oh my head, I feel like I was just on a bender in
Singapore. Well, don't worry, the doctor says, you'll be as good
as new in a few days. Anjelique have they found her? Come on,
Dutch, you still think she was there. There's been no trace of
her anywhere, no one else saw her, and the State Department has no
record of any French citizen with that name entering the country. It's because she's
a spy, living in the shadows, never stopping anywhere long enough to be
recognized, traveling under assumed names, battling the forces of evil. If you
don't believe me, go dig up that KGB agent she killed Dutch. The
FBI has gone through every inch of that property and no bodies were found.
This can't be What about Professor Rage, No one knows. He just vanished
after his classes, and the remains of those two men they found after the
fire are also missing, which I admit is a little strange. None of
this is strange for the CIA, the KGB and my beautiful French angel spy.
Some government has grabbed arage so he can build weather weapons for them.
Well, if it's true, every trace has been eliminated. But I don't
get is why wouldn't Angelique stay. I even asked to marry me. What
you Dutch Dylan get married? Now? I know you have to have been
hallucinating will be right back with more of Science Friction Theaton on Hudson River Radio
adult Com. And now for the exciting conclusion of Science Friction Theater on Hudson
Radio dot Com. A week later, when Dutch was recuperating at home,
he started to write his first spy novel, destined to become a bestseller,
Killer Angel. When he thought he heard a sound outside. Grabbing his Colt
pistol, he stepped outside and noticed something fluttering on the windshield of his studebaker.
What is this a motifly, No, it's a pair of angel wings.
Dutch clutched the wings to his heart and said out loud, Angel baby,
I get it. When your work of combating evil around the world is
done, you'll know where to find me. Dutch then blew a kiss into
the warm night breeze, where a woman lurking in the shadows pretended to catch
it and press it to her lips. This has been Science Friction Theater,
a production of Hudson River Radio dot Com written by Linda Cinnamon. Don't forget
to subscribe to the podcast so you'll never miss an exciting adventure. See you
next time on Science Friction Theater.