WEBVTT 1 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:16.519 Did you miss out on that big football game last week? 2 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:20.519 Can't get rid of that head cold? I want to 3 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:21.320 get away from it all. 4 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:25.120 CBS offers you Escape. 5 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:37.679 You are groping your way slowly through the dark hold 6 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:41.439 of a ship at sea, moving carefully step by step, 7 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.119 searching intently for something you dread to find, because you 8 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.960 know that this ship carries a cargo of death. 9 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:53.759 The Columbia Broadcasting System and it's affiliated stations presents Escape, 10 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:57.600 produced and directed by William N. Robson, and carefully plotted 11 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:00.240 to free you from the four walls of today for 12 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:02.000 a half hour of high adventure. 13 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:11.719 Tonight, we escaped to a harbor front in Venezuela and 14 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.319 a grim voyage that started there. As told by Martin 15 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:19.319 Storm in his Gripping Story, a shipment of mute fate. 16 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:36.159 I stopped on the wharf at Laguira, looked up the 17 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:40.079 gang plank toward the liner chan K standing quietly there 18 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:43.400 at her moorings. The day was warm under a bright 19 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:47.120 tropic sun, when the harbor beyond the ship lay drowsy 20 00:01:47.159 --> 00:01:50.239 and silent. But all at once, in the midst of 21 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.879 these peaceful surroundings, a cold chill gripped me and I 22 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.319 shivered with sudden dread, dread of the thing I was 23 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:03.200 doing and was about to do. But too much had 24 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:07.319 happened to turn back. Now I'd gone too far to stop. Well, 25 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:09.159 I set the box down on the edge of the wharf, 26 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.560 placed it carefully so as to be in plain sight 27 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:15.439 and within gunshot of the captain's bridge, and then I 28 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:18.199 turned and started up the gang plan. I knew what 29 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.080 I was going to do, but I couldn't forget that 30 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:24.120 a certain pair of beady eyes were watching every move 31 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:28.719 I made, eyes that never blinked and never closed, just 32 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:33.159 watched and waited. Oh a bigger part. 33 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:34.960 What it's mister Warner? 34 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:37.240 Hello, mother Willis? How's the best looking stewardess on the 35 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:37.759 Seventh Sea. 36 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:41.599 I'm fine, mister Warner, I guess better run along, now 37 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:42.639 get on, I'm sure. 38 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.240 Now wait a minute, that's a fine greeting after two months. 39 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:46.800 Well, it's just that I'm so busy. 40 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.199 I don't believe a word of it. Sailing days tomorrow. 41 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.479 You're simply avoiding me, that's all. 42 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:51.680 Oh no, really, I'm not. 43 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:53.280 And on the trip down from New York you said 44 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:55.319 I was your favorite passngor. But I'm only a wait 45 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.000 a minute, what s that you're carrying in your acreer? 46 00:02:57.159 --> 00:02:57.400 Nothing? 47 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:02.479 Just supplies, supplies, have a luck? No, please, what do 48 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:03.840 you know? It's a cat? 49 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.680 It's Clara, mister Warner. Mister Bowman said I had to 50 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:08.960 leave her ashore and. 51 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:09.800 I just couldn't. 52 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:11.919 Who's mister Bowman, the new chief steward. 53 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.479 Clara's been aboard with me for two years and I 54 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:18.840 just can't leave her here in a foreign country, especially 55 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:20.039 with her condition. 56 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:21.000 It's delicate. 57 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:24.680 No, yeah, I see what you mean. Well, I hope 58 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:25.400 you get away with it. 59 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.240 You you won't tell anyone. 60 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:30.400 Not a soul. As a matter of fact, if things 61 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:33.159 don't work out right, we may both end up smuggling. 62 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.680 To have you on board on the trip down two 63 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.800 months ago, Christopher, I'm very glad you're coming along with 64 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.280 us on the run back to New York. 65 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.479 Thanks, Captain. When there is one thing though, I'm having 66 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:52.319 a little trouble with the customs men here, and I 67 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.159 wondered if you might. 68 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:56.360 Just can't do it, Christopher. I just came with your 69 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:59.080 father this morning, told him I've done it for you 70 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.000 if I possibly he sent it a question. 71 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.400 New York, you know, Yeah, I thought he would. I 72 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:05.960 wired him from upriver last week. 73 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:08.879 I hate to refuse, but it's absolutely out of the question. 74 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:10.719 A captain whin, I'm afraid I don't follow you. 75 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:14.639 There, responsibility to the passenger's son. But have women and 76 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.360 children aboard on a liner. The safety the passenger comes 77 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:19.120 ahead of anything. 78 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.199 But with proper precautions. 79 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:24.560 Something might happen. I don't know what, but something might. 80 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:28.519 You've carried worse things, there isn't anything worse, and then 81 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.000 you skip it a float to bare me out. Now, Christopher, 82 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.160 I simply can't take the chance. And that's final. 83 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.480 Final. Well, it wasn't final if I could do anything 84 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:46.720 about it. I hadn't come down here to spend two 85 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:48.800 months in that stinking back country and then be stopped 86 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:53.680 on the edge of the wharf two months of it heat, rain, insects, malaria. 87 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.240 I'd gone clear in past the headwaters of the Orinoco, 88 00:04:56.720 --> 00:04:59.000 traveled through country where every step along the jungle trail 89 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:04.480 might be the last one. Oh, Sanchez, you better start 90 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:06.079 looking for a place to camp. Be dark in a 91 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:06.519 little while. 92 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:10.759 Very soon we turned the river, camp on rocks by water. 93 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.079 This very bad country. 94 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:14.959 This very bad country. You've been saying that for ten 95 00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:16.279 days now, very bad country. 96 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.399 We wander this very bad country. 97 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:21.160 I'll skip it. For all the luck we've had so far, 98 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:26.279 it might as well be Central Park, Central Fike. I understand, 99 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.519 I'll never mind if we don't find something here. What's 100 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:30.959 the matter? Quiet now, sanchus? 101 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:32.199 What's wrong in the path? 102 00:05:32.519 --> 00:05:34.079 See Bushmaster? 103 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:42.480 Bushmaster The deadliest snake in the world. Bushmaster. Its Latin 104 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:46.600 name was Lacasis muto mute fate. It lay there in 105 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:48.800 the center of the path, a ten foot length of 106 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:52.759 silent death, coiled loosely in an undulent loop, ready to 107 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:56.319 strike violently at the least movement. Here was the one 108 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:58.800 snake that would go after any animal that walks, or 109 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:02.199 any man. It lay there and watched us, not moving, 110 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:06.920 not afraid, ready for anything. The splotch of its colors 111 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:10.199 stood out like some horrible, gaudy floor man, lying there 112 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:13.319 on the brown background of the jungle, waiting for someone 113 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.920 to step on it. Here was what I'd come two 114 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:20.040 thousand miles for a bushmaster, Sanchez. I didn't want that 115 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:20.759 snake kill. 116 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.959 No kill senor he gone bush muster A very smart, 117 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:27.439 very quick must always see bullet in time to dodge the. 118 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:29.279 Anyway he's gone, and the only one we've seen in 119 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:29.920 five weeks. 120 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:33.319 Oh, we find the others this very bad country. 121 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.680 We'll lay off that gun the next time. Don't shoot 122 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:36.319 you understand? 123 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.519 Why are you saying no? 124 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:38.040 Shoot? 125 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:40.240 You want bush muster. 126 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.560 Sure, but I want it Alivebrisa Cristo. 127 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.120 Senor Wonder, you tell me you want bush mustard, but 128 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.560 you not say alive. 129 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:51.120 You're getting two hundred dollars for it? 130 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:55.680 Or dead man? What is two hundred dollars? Tomorrow we 131 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:56.879 go back to Caracas. 132 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.680 I'll make it five hundred centses I. 133 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:03.279 Catch water snake, grattlesnake, any other kind, but I know 134 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:04.959 catch bushmaster Sanchez. 135 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:06.079 I'll give you a thousand. 136 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.040 Dollars, will go back to Caracas. 137 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:11.920 It cost me fifteen hundred American dollars. But three days 138 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:14.160 later Sancezuz brought me the snake in a rubber bag. 139 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:16.600 He was shaking so hard I thought for a moment 140 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:17.560 the thing had struck him. 141 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:21.160 One thing, you make sure, Senor Wonder, not turn him 142 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:25.040 loose in Venezuela, because he know either one who catch him, 143 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.040 and he know where I live. 144 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.160 All right, sancez I'll keep an eye on him. 145 00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:32.120 Come then he know you pay me to catch him 146 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:36.279 all the time he watch and wait. You know, forget that, 147 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:46.879 Senor Warner, because he no forget not ever. 148 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.120 Well, after going through all that trouble and danger and 149 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:54.040 laying out fifteen hundred bucks, I wasn't going to let 150 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.600 a pigheaded ship captain stop me at the last minute, 151 00:07:56.839 --> 00:07:58.480 at least not as long as the cables were still 152 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:03.120 in operation. Between Laguira and Yorke morning, Captain would the 153 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:04.680 boy at the hotel says, you want to see me? 154 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:09.519 That's right, Christopher, and sit down, thank you. It seems 155 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:11.560 you weren't willing to let matters tend the way we 156 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:12.480 lift them yesterday. 157 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.600 I'll sorry to go over your head, Captain Wood, but 158 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.839 I had to. The museum sent me all the way 159 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:18.639 down here for it, and I'm not going to be 160 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:21.000 stopped by red tape. This will be the only live 161 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.240 bush Master ever brought to the United States. Mmm. 162 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:29.040 Yes, and if I had my waive it well, orders 163 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.039 or orders. I got a cable from the head office 164 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:37.080 this morning. All right, I suppose we talk about precautions. 165 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:38.159 I'll handle it any way. 166 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:42.240 You say, gotta have a stronger box that crate's too flimsy. 167 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.720 What's stronger than it looks. And that wire screen on 168 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.000 top it hold a wildcat. But anyway, I bought a 169 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.440 heavy sea chest this morning. I will put the crate 170 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:50.240 inside of it. 171 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:51.120 Sounds all right. 172 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:53.840 You got a lock on it, heavy padlock. It's fixed 173 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.799 so that the lid can be propped open the crack 174 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:58.120 without unlocking it. The snake's gotta have air. 175 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:02.480 But in dirty weather that lid stay shut. I'll take 176 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.639 no chances. Fair enough, I will keep the thing in 177 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.960 my inside cabin where I sleep. I can have it 178 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:13.120 in the baggage room, and nobody on boards to know 179 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:13.720 about it. 180 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.360 Whatever you say, captain, but we won't have any trouble. 181 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:18.879 After all, it's only an animal. It doesn't have any 182 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:19.840 magical powers. 183 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.360 I saw a bushmaster in the zoo at Caracas once 184 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:29.320 headed a glass cage to double walls. It had never moved, 185 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:32.919 just lay there, look at your as long as you 186 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:34.000 would insight. 187 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.399 Gave a man the creeps. I didn't know they had 188 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:39.000 a bushmaster at the Caracas zoo. 189 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:43.840 They don't. Now found a glass broken one morning the 190 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:50.120 snake night watchmen was dead. I never found out what happened. 191 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:52.240 Well, the watchman must have broken the glass by accident. 192 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.679 Some way away. 193 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.919 They figured it. The glass was broken from the inside. 194 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.120 H sail in four hours. 195 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:10.399 We steamed north into the Caribbean, with perfect weather and 196 00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:13.519 a sea as smooth as an inland lake. The barometer 197 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:15.559 dropped a little on the third day, but cleared up 198 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:19.720 overnight and left nothing worse than a heavy swell. But 199 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:21.919 in spite of the calm seas and the pleasant weather, 200 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:26.840 I found myself feeling more and more often an ominous foreboding. 201 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:31.679 I was developing an almost unnatural fear of that snake. Well, 202 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:34.759 I stayed clear of the passengers, pretty much got the 203 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:37.480 habit of dropping into Captain Wood's quarter several times a day. 204 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.639 He kept the heavy box underneath his berth. I'd approach 205 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:44.919 it quietly and shine my flashlight through the open crack. 206 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:48.679 Never once could I catch that twelve foot devil asleep 207 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:52.799 or even excited. He'd be lying there, half coiled, his 208 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:57.519 head raised a little, staring out of those beady black eyes, waiting. 209 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.679 It'd still be like that when I'd turn away to leave. 210 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:06.159 Maybe that's what bothered me, A horrible and constant watchful waiting. 211 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.840 What in the name of Heaven was he waiting for. 212 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.799 Well, hello there, mister Warner. 213 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:12.519 Oh how are you, Mother Willis? 214 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:14.399 Ah, but you and the captain spend an awful lot 215 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.200 of time around this cabin. I'm beginning to think that 216 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:19.399 two of you must have some guilty secret. 217 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:21.840 Oh, nothing like that, Mother Willis, I don't know about 218 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.080 Captain would, but I well, I certainly don't have any 219 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:37.919 guilty secret. Well, she's running quite a swell out there, 220 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:38.440 mister Bowman. 221 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.919 Yeah, it's a little heavy, all right, mister Warner. Yes, 222 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.039 a storm passed through to the west of us yesterday. 223 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.480 When the glass dropped, think it mist us then? Huh, yeah, 224 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:49.799 that's what the mate figures. Sure stirred up some water. 225 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:52.960 Though this will put half the passengers in their bunks, 226 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.639 makes it great for my department. 227 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.039 Two thirds of them will want a steward. 228 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.480 To hold their heads. 229 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:00.519 He'll keep Mother Willis so busy, she'll have wait. Look 230 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.399 at the size of that wave. 231 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.879 Huh, the great. 232 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.320 Jehus of it. 233 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:05.639 We're gonna take it on the port bow hang. 234 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:14.879 On, Well, that was a freak if there ever was one, 235 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.720 not another wave in sight to see him like that. 236 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:21.720 Sometimes, even in a calm sea, well, I gotta get below, 237 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:24.600 mister Wanner. That water probably did some damage on the 238 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.159 officer's deck. 239 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:25.960 The eyes oppose it. 240 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:27.120 What did you say? 241 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:30.320 The wheel companion wave was open on the port side. 242 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:33.080 Rich cabins must have taken a pretty bad smashing up. 243 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:34.159 They're right below the. 244 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:39.919 Here is something wrong, mister Warner. No, No, nothing at all, 245 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:50.039 mister Woman, at least I hope not. I looked first 246 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:52.159 for Captain Wood and couldn't find him. Of course, I 247 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.919 know it was only one chance in the thousand, but 248 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:55.679 the chances against that freak wave were one on a 249 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.120 thousand and two. Well, I couldn't waste any more time, 250 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:00.559 so I stumbled down the companionway in along the passage 251 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.879 to the captain's cabin. 252 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.480 Oh oh, come on in, mister Warner. 253 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.399 Brother willis hi? 254 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.600 Isn't this cabin a mess? Trying to get some of 255 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.639 these things out to drive? 256 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:11.360 Yeah? Well, I just wanted to check where's that box 257 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.639 that was under the captain's bunk? 258 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:13.440 Shot on that. 259 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.720 But where we didn't know. It was nearly dark when 260 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.440 we met together. We get a charge. 261 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:25.840 All the way around it. 262 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.559 We've risked all the time we can. We've got to 263 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.799 war on the passengers. Oh, we do it, Captain, Call 264 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.600 them all together in the lounge. Oh, if we did 265 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:34.440 anything like that, we'd be asking for a panic. 266 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.240 We'll get one, whether we ask for it or not. 267 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:38.639 Pick a few men and go through the cabin decks. 268 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:42.919 Tell them individually inside their cabins, watch for any act 269 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:45.320 that looks as though it might cause trouble, and we 270 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:47.440 will keep an eye on them. Handle the crew with 271 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.639 the same way. Right, Okay, as soon as you've finished 272 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.200 all the deck offices and start searching again. Our only 273 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.960 chance of preventing a riot is to find that damnable snake. 274 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.559 The slow nightmare that followed grew worse. For the hour, 275 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:09.440 none of us slept. All the ship's officers not on 276 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:13.799 duty kept on with that endless search. Passengers locked themselves 277 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:17.279 in their cabins, were huddled together in the lounges, knowing 278 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:19.360 all the time that no spot on board could be 279 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.960 called safe. Fear was a heavy fog, and the lungs 280 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.000 of all of us and every light on the vessel 281 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:29.399 burned throughout the night. Morning came and brought no relief. 282 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.960 Terror and tension mounted by the hour. 283 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:37.480 Then now, missus Crane, stop getting yourself or worked up 284 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:40.360 and go back to your cabin. The horrid things probably 285 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.639 crawled overboard anyway. 286 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:44.080 You're just saying that you're paid to say it. 287 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:45.039 You don't know. 288 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:47.919 Nobody does now, Now everything's going to be all right. 289 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:50.600 Or if you could only do something, if all of 290 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:54.279 us could only get off the ship, they could umilicate it. Yes, 291 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.919 that's what we've got to do. 292 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:58.600 We've got to get off this Wait, and it's the 293 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:03.519 moment he's gonna jump. Let me go, Let me go. 294 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.559 Night's working with a woman. 295 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:10.200 Get out down, Captain. Whatever you do, don't turn a loose. 296 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:17.440 You never know when it might strike you. 297 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:19.519 You can't put on a coat or move a chair 298 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:22.279 without risking your life. Now something's gotta be done. It 299 00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:25.279 might be right here in this flower. Let's all right, 300 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.360 mister Dave, you gotter quiet down, Take it easy, take 301 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:27.720 it easy. 302 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:30.559 Huh. You're a great officer. Why don't you do something 303 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:30.919 about it? 304 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.399 That thing might be crawling around here, right under our 305 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.919 feet somewhere. I said, shut up, you're trying to start 306 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.320 a panicing. I gotta right to talk. 307 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.080 I don't want to die. 308 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.960 Nobody's gonna tell you. 309 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.519 The second night passed and morning came around again, a 310 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:53.360 gray and rainy day, just as grim and tense dragged passed, 311 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:58.559 and the night came down again, third night of the terror. Again, 312 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:00.720 every light burned in the whole ship seethed in the 313 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.360 throes of incipient panic, faced by a horror they'd never 314 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.919 met on the sea before. Crew and officers alike were 315 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:10.000 on the verge of revolt. Passengers sat huddled in a 316 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:12.960 trance like stupor, ready to scream at the slightest unknown sound. 317 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.320 At seven bells, I made my way forward to the 318 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.879 chart room and found Captain Wood bent over a desk. 319 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:25.399 Ah, Hello, Christopher, Come on in, sit down, sir. 320 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.759 It's got to be somewhere, Captain Wood, it's got to be. 321 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.720 I don't know. You could search this ship for six 322 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:34.120 months and never touch all the places aboard. You can 323 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:36.000 only hold out for two more days. 324 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.720 We'll be in what's the home office? 325 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:37.919 Say? 326 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:41.480 Oh, here's the latest wireless from them? Keep quiet and 327 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:46.559 keep coming? Else can we do? How is it on 328 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.039 the decks? 329 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:49.080 Pretty bad? Anything could happen. 330 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.759 That's why I took the guns away from the men. 331 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:55.159 One pistol shopping. We'd never rot on our hand. 332 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.240 Oh the whole thing's my fault, Captain Wood. That's what 333 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:00.480 I can't forget. Take it. It's only some way I 334 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.039 could pay for it myself alone. 335 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:06.279 No, I know how you feel, but it's no more 336 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.960 your fault than mine or that man who asked you 337 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:14.359 to bring the snake back alive. Nobody planned this. You'd 338 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.960 better try and a little sleep. Sleep, mister Bowman made 339 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:21.400 some coffee down the stairs Gally a while ago. Better 340 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.960 go down, get yourself a cup, and then rest up 341 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.839 for a couple of hours. 342 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.440 Rest. 343 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.640 I can't rest, Christopher, it's no good going. 344 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.880 What are you gonna do? 345 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:32.920 You can't help anything. You just tumbled through a hatch, 346 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.839 half asleep and breaking. Nick, go on and get some coffee. 347 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:39.559 One way or another. We've got to hold out for 348 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.440 two more days. 349 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.480 The light was on in the stewards gallon. The coffee 350 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:56.599 pot was standing on. The stove was still warm, so 351 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.559 I didn't bother to heat it. I poured out a cup, 352 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:02.519 carried it over, and set it on the porcelain tabletop 353 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:05.839 in the center of the room. I started to light 354 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:09.000 a cigarette. The door of the pan cupboard beneath the 355 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:12.640 sink was standing slightly Ajar and I happened to glance 356 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:16.039 down toward it. Out from the dark interior, the cupboard 357 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:20.000 shone two glittering points of light two inches apart. I 358 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:24.599 dropped a cigarette and moved slowly backward. I'd found the bushmaster. 359 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:32.359 As I moved, the snake slid out of the cupboard 360 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.279 in a single, sinuous glide and drew back into a 361 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:38.440 loose coil on the galley floor, never taking his eyes 362 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:42.160 off me. I moved slowly back, waiting any moment for 363 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:45.880 that deadly, slithering strike. How had he known it was me? 364 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.839 He'd stayed quiet when Bowman was here. How did he 365 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.599 know it to pick the first time in three days 366 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.519 when I didn't have a gun O. My hands touched 367 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:57.279 the wall behind me, and I stopped. Only then I 368 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:00.400 realized in terror what I'd done. The call button and 369 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.000 the door were on the far side of the room. 370 00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:05.720 I backed into a dead end. I stared at the 371 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:08.920 snake in fascination, expecting any moment the ripping slash of 372 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:14.039 those poisoned fangs. The horrid coils tightened a little, and 373 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:17.680 then were still again. Ten million years of evolution to 374 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:22.359 produce this moment. Homo sapiens versus lacasis muta man against 375 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.599 mute fate, and all the odds were on fate. I 376 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:32.240 knew then that I was going to die. I could 377 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.200 feel a sweat run down between the painted wall, and 378 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.640 palms of my hands pressed against it. My skin crawled 379 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:40.119 and twitched, and the pit of my stomach was as 380 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.680 cold as ice. There was no sound but the rush 381 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.720 of blood in my ears. The snake shifted again, drawing 382 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.680 into a tighter coil, always tighter. Why the devil didn't 383 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:52.839 get it over with? And then for just an instant 384 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.039 his head veered away. Something moved over by the stove. 385 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:58.319 I didn't dare turn to look at it. Slowly it 386 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:01.160 moved out into my line of vision. There was a 387 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:04.200 cat that strawnye cat Clara that Mother Willis had sneaked 388 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:10.680 aboard in Leaguira. Its back was arched and every hair 389 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:13.319 stood on the end. It moved, stiff legged, now walking 390 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:16.559 in a half circle around the snake. The bushmaster shifted 391 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:19.720 slowly and kept watching the cat. He tightened he was 392 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:24.200 going to strike. At any second. He struck and missed. 393 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.559 The cat was barely out of reach. Now she was 394 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:29.119 walking back and forth again. She was asking to die 395 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.519 missed again by a fraction of an inch. He was 396 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.599 striking now without even going to a full coil, miss 397 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:42.960 again and again, always missing for the barest margin. Each 398 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.880 time the cat danced barely out of reach, and each 399 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:47.119 time she conned with one precise spat of a dainty paw, 400 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:49.960 bracing her skinny frame on three stiff legs. And then 401 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:55.200