Cloak and Dagger Broadcasts

Suspense Radio Shows - Lord of the Witch Doctors

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Duration:: 30m
Broadcast on:: 14 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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See terms at mason.fanduel.com. Gambling problem, call 1-800-gambler. [Music] The Sphinx. [Music] The thrill of the night time, the hushed voice and the prowling step, the crime that is almost committed, the finger of suspicion pointing perhaps at the wrong man, the stir of nerves at the ticking of the clock, the rescue that might be too late or the murderer who might get away, mystery and intrigue, and dangerous adventure. We invite you to enjoy stories that keep you in, suspect. For suspense, tonight we present The Lord of the Witch Doctors by John Dixon Carr. The drums were beating that night, The Lord of the Witch Doctors was on his way. Twenty miles off the East African coast, and by the blistering heat of the Indian Ocean lies the island of Zanzibar, here many years ago. The exact year 1889, three nations were rivals for trade in imperial Germany go, at Mogadishu for the Italians, a mixed population boiled along that coast Portuguese, Arabs, Swahili, are the island itself, Sayed Khalif, Zootan, Zanzibar, rule the rims of a once mighty empire, a hamadon bunters of the tribe of Zing, took over there in the moonlight, that white building patched and rotted, but the palace where Sayed Khalif lived with his fat wives and his captive liar. That far away on the hill overlooking the harbor stood the British residency. The British resident, or crown official, held an easy sway against German and Italian influence, and that the residency on that hot night gone. Come on up, come away from the windows please, but Father, there's crumbed around the mainland. That'll mine. Maybe miles from here. I'd rather you stood back. If the fires I don't like, sir, you can see the red light all this distance, having a bino of some kind, if you're gonna stand back to Mr. Harris, yes, Mr. Harris, I've been your diplomatic attaché in this place for three years. Couldn't you call me by my first in the human private, just as you please, law the sun blinds and turn down the wick of that lamp. I don't think there's any danger. There's no danger, whatever, but you don't think that can't be restless tonight? Only natural, my dear, with the drums going. Everybody seems restless. This has been going on for days. Have you got to get in your know? So you feel it, too, eh? And I do wish there a colorful and teased narrow, jab at him with a neat fork and that kind of thing. If that lie, never knock me with my nerves, my dear, nothing but nerves. Let's face it, sir, there's something very clear going on over on that mainland. Well, suppose there is. All we know is what Nyoka knows. This great witch doctor, whoever he is, been making a triumphal progress to the coast. The whole bush is afraid of him. You alarm me. Nyoka says he's got horns. He can make himself seven feet tall, like stretching an accordion. Oh, really? They'll have. Well, I don't say I believe it, I say it might be dangerous. Now, for instance, could this be one of Dr. Schmidt's tricks? Dr. Schmidt is a friend of ours. Yes, he's also head of the German East African Company. Dr. Schmidt is a gentleman. Look at that coast over there. He's got every native chief in his pocket. Dr. Schmidt assured me that the German Emperor has no more territorial claims in East Africa. We get our trade concessions from Said Khalif. Said, our only friend, but we can't even be sure of him. The Germans give him trade gin and a grand piano. The Italians give him three new wives for his harem. What do we give him? I have no instructions from London about the situation in this island. No. Somebody in Whitehall probably forgot to post. For the last time, Mr. Harris, I will not hear his Majesty's government criticise like that. Sorry. These things take time. If there's any danger, we'll be notified in due course. Yes. Well, they're only our own natives. They beat their own drums, you know. Somebody went past that window. That's probably only an IOKA idea. Surely you're not afraid of our own stuff. No, but I... Dr. Dr. Dr. IOKA. Listen to me. Don't hang on to that big curtain. You'll pull it off. Now stand up straight and tell me. What is it? He here by the heat here, yes, please. Who's here? Think we'll stop to hear. Yes, please. He come up past him. More like he walks low, bow, bow. He just big deep eats with yachts. I'm sorry. No. No. No. No. No. No. What was that? The drums are stopped. IOKA's right, sir. We have got a visitor. There's somebody coming down the hall that returned on that lamp, Arthur. I... I can't think to find the lamp. My finger, they're all plums. There's a revolver in the table drawer behind you, sir. I don't need it. Stand perfectly still, all of you. Now, please, friends, all don't be alarmed. Are you English? That's right, Miss. Born and bred in Stratton, in which of you is the British Consul? I am the British resident, sir. My name is Richardson. May I ask the meaning of this tomfool? Well, that's just what I'm here to tell you. Or maybe I better show you. Now, observe me right hand. I own it up so, and as I live, I light it cigar. But perhaps the lady does who like smoking in the drawing room. Now, lucky, there's nothing of me sleeves. I wouldn't deceive you for the world. I turn over me and then, would you believe it? A glass of water. Is this man insane? Father, I think he's trying to tell you he's a magician. That's right, Miss. Direct from the Egyptian or Piccadilly. Animal, tame, and magic. That's my line. Then you're the famous witch doctor. Let's get all the natives in an uproar. Nobody else, young fellas. Well, you tell us what you mean by this nonsense. Scaring everybody when there's no danger. No danger. I suppose you haven't heard about, say, his caliph and his Gatling guns. Gatling guns? Kindly presented by Dr. Otto Schmidt. And believe me. All you've got is an appointment with a Gatling gun, unless my nonsense steps in. Yeah, take a look at this. What you can't be from the British Foreign Office, isn't it? It's just what I am, Governor. I'm going up in the world, don't you think? By the way, I'd better give you your instructions. The envelope's pretty dirty and a little bit smelly from being under my furs and devil paint. But, uh, we did, sir. Go on and read it. Foreign Office, quite all. Oh, British Consul, Zanzibar. There, out of this letter, the Great Mythister. That's me. Real name, Bonnie. They must be out of their mind. Are they? Listen, old man. I've been three weeks in that jungle with a swively interpreter. I've been bitten and stung and fried to death. But Schmidt or no Schmidt, I've got those native chiefs just where I want them. You see what happens when I announce I'm a friend of the Great White Queen? Well, I love them eating out of your hands. Well, that's true. And all we've got to do is get around, say Kelly if you're on this island. But do we need to get around him? Hey, young lady, be good enough not to speak until you're spoken to her. All right. All right, Father. Say it, maybe lazy and instead of the hippopotamus. He's got her a fine old boy. Is he? You said something about gaffling guns. Now, listen. Here's the game. Father, I don't like this. I've never heard any of those records again. Oh, never mind, Nero. Go on. Well, I came over here tonight in the steam launch. Tomorrow, I'm paying my state visit to the Great Sultan, say it, Kelly. Now, you present me as your friend and a friend of the Great White Queen. And I do my best tricks and... Oh! Is anything wrong with your native boy? Nio, Garvey Stu. You're not afraid of our witch, Dr. Friend, are you? No, I could, Christian. Yeah, what are you doing? Come out, come under that sofa. But, Father, I see something. I look out through windows. I see Father Ball's head coming apart. - Father Ballhead. - Yes, Dr. Schmidt. Dr. Schmidt. He mustn't find me, is he? He's quite a grieve. This is most irregular. He did it back way out of you. Yes, through that arch. Stay in the back room. Nio, close, shall you? Me, go with witch, doctor. - Can't find any keys. - I know like... Never mind what you like, you go. All I must know. It's all right, they've gone. Yes, not time, too. Good evening, Dr. Schmidt. Pleasure to see you. Always a pleasure to see you. My friends, I wish I could say it was such a pleasure to see you. Isn't it, doctor? It isn't any time, but now. I do not mistake my pick of you. It is such a confounded line, Nio. All means I say it will happen, and now it has happened. What about Nio? My friends, I regret. Yes, me, it is killed. Yes, it is to black. What's that? You permitted I sit down and take off my son helmet. I am not young and I'm tired. It's not say it, Kelly. Yeah, yeah. It is so. Yes, he's at nine, one store. Oh, poor old boy. He was our friend. He's not dead. Yeah, yeah. Her regret. Yeah, he is dead. Sultan of sense, a bastard. Yeah. But how did the lion ever get at it? He drank too much puma. That was his trouble. You get drunk and think he can do too much. So you open the door and go into the lion's cage. You enter the cage? Yeah. Would you believe it? Not easily, but it is true. Over to Paris says what you call nashing of teeth. The son knows this in tears. Did you see this happen, doctor? No, no, no. I go there later and they tell me it. It's all over us because of some foolish toy. Tombhead's toy. But he has been stuck over the head and thrown into the cage by someone who did not like him. Well, that's more likely of you, ask me. You might have been to this foolishness. Everybody liked our man. It was a father to his people and a kind friend. Doctor, are you telling us that, say, may have been put into that cage unconscious? It is what, when I forget a soldier says, "Yeah." Well, then he may still be alive. Alive? It's impossible. What's more than possible? A lion may maul an unconscious man, but it doesn't often kill him. This is vital. Vital to say it himself and others as well. You're a doctor. Don't you go and make sure? My friend, directly. I am not that kind of a doctor. There is. You may be right. I think I'd better go myself. Is this a good idea, sir? I'll stay here and, uh, entertain Doctor Schmidt. Unless, of course, he wants to go. No, no, no. I think, uh, I do not like sides of that sort. I have a tender heart and I have illnesses. Besides, you can do nothing. I tell you he is dead. We'll see. Mother, you'll better come with me. Your nurse is training. Maybe if some use at last. Come on. Um, how can we better go the back way and speak to Nyoka? Yes. Nyoka mustn't be troubled in that back room. Very good evening to you, Doctor Schmidt. Ah, Mr. Harris. They have good hearts, but they're so foolish. I would give my own right arm day that poor man. What? Well, they must have philosophy. They must cheer and bear it. Yes. Now, Doctor, we're all alone. So we are. So we are. We must sit down and have a nice, comfortable chat. Yes? Definitely, yes. Oh. Very good. I wanted to have a word with you anyway. Ah, so? About what, Mr. Harris? Oh. Various things. I am happy to give you all the time in the world. I, I like talking to young people. It makes me feel young again myself. Like, uh, Nobi? Nobi? Say, Caleb's eldest son. The new Sultan. Ah. One. Nine young men. For a savage. Yes. But, uh, weak. Easy to manage. And very fond of his father, too. It's a wonder he didn't have a lion shot after they got the body away. (chuckles) You have to be part of my friend. I beg your pardon me, but I, I do not consider them at this point. No, no, no. I, but, uh, we shot with that. These boots, they have nothing but muzzle-loading muskets. You're near with those? No. Suppose they had gatling guns. But, uh, just suppose that, of course. Of course. Well, ah, my friend. Gatlings would be of no better use. You only wound. Can a lion must reach eye or heart with a high-power bullet? What is the matter with us? Why are we talking? Why are we talking of these things? Talking of death, you mean? Uh, say, Calif, who gave all the trade concessions on Zandabout to the British? My friend, I was talking about express rifles. Okay, don't you find it warm in here? Yeah, yeah, at least you. Yes, it, uh, smells of animals fur, doesn't it? I'll just raise the sun blind. No, no, no, no. You must not trouble yourself to do that. It's no trouble. I, I, I beg of you, not to trouble. It is not necessary. Doctor, you've been mopping your forehead ever since you've been here. A little fresh air never hurt anybody. Yeah. Yeah, not better. Much. Much. Why not sit down, my boy, and we have a nice chat. Find enough night. No smell of the animal's cage here. My friend, you talk like a hunter. Yes, or a victim. Yes, a fine light. At least for this part of the world. Fire is still burning on the mainland. I wonder if that's a good sign. A flat. I wish I knew. And the sea is like skim milk under the moon. And good lord. What is it? Let me keep chump. Look there in the harbor. My friend, I see nothing. Perhaps if I take off my spectacles invite, why man, you must see it in the harbor out at the left there. Beyond the shadow of those big palm trees. Don't you see our riding lights? It looks... By George it is. It's a warship. To soon your chairman gun put my friend. Only very little chairman gun put. German gun put. My friend, you must not be so distrustful. That is not kind. Let me get a telescope. But I tell you who she is. It is nothing. She is on what you call a good will to her. You're not angry. Angry? My friend. Good enough. No, I could not guess. That is the England, the Sir, the heart and the stench. We know that ourselves. I tell you something in confidence. The chairman is sensitive. The bullet is subjected. The native sphere is too strong. I tell the gun both to go away. I buy and express I put. It has a sound. Boom! You cannot mistake one another. That is why I think of an express I put. But you. Nobody will object. Why not the least bit? Tell me, doctor. You and I get here on this island. Well, just not barely. Don't you ever want to get away from a forsaken mud heap like this? My friend. I am a chairman. I do this here. It's I stay here. Yes, I know. Between ourselves, that's exactly my position. But you are young. That's not the point. It's the importance of the job. The British don't rules and the bar. We hold the trade concessions from Said Caliph and our residency has to protect them. But even you, doctor, would be surprised at the amount of trade that we have to protect. And the revenue that comes out of this island. So now, you don't say so. I do say so. You say it so much more than you think. Of course. I'm not allowed to give you any figures. No, no, no. Of course not. I would not need them if asking you. How much would you say it comes to? Oh, come now, doctor. As one gentleman to another, you're not asking me to give away secrets. Oh, no, no, no. That's certainly a joke I understand. Please do not try to uptrip me. I would try to pull your leg and it was only a joke believed. It was all in the game. Yes, sir. But in the game as gentlemen, doctor, you're quite a humorist. Yeah, not dependent, not at all. No, as I was saying, I hold a rather important job. Of course, Mr. Richardson holds an even more important one. He's been very friendly with old Said Khalifa in this job. Of course, you know what that job is. Of course. It's the British concert. What is the matter with you? You're not smiling in an alcohol. Are you looking at me like that? So that's it. That's the game. You made exactly the same mistake that he did. Yes, who did? Dr. Schmidt, have you met the great lord of the witch doctors? The maker of spells and the tamer of lions? I am a good Christian. I pay no attention to what native say. I do not believe in big stuff. No, neither do I. Not in this one, at any rate. But when? The witch doctor who came here tonight and said that he was on a mission for the British Foreign Office. He's an imposter from the word go and you're working with him. Oh, don't upset your chair like that, Dr. Schmidt. Because if you fall on it, you may hurt yourself. I have not met myself young man. Oh, yes, you have. The fellow who came here tonight addressed Mr. Richardson as the British Consul. That might have been a sip of the tongue. But then you see the letter on the table there. I have eyesight, I thank you. That letter is supposed to come from the Foreign Office. And it calls him the British Consul too. I heard it read aloud. The Foreign Office may make mistakes. But they don't make mistakes like that. That letter to the doctor is a forgery. It was forged by a German and probably by the German who calls himself Barney Hicks or the Great Mephisto. He's in the back room now. No, he's not governor. He's standing in the doorway behind you now. Yes, I thought I heard you. Don't turn around to look at me. I'm just warning you. Have you got anything to enforce that? Yes. I've got a 5-0 express rifle that gets me all over the opposite wall. Carl, faster off him a toost. No, no, no, no. Put the gun in. The gun in the front, the front, the front. If you fellas are going to shoot me, I wish you'd speak English about it. Carl, I beg of you. No, no, no. Don't fire that rifle exactly. You see, Carl, I'm turning around. This is all day. No, Carl. You see what the doctor means, Carl? If you fire that rifle, you'll send your gunboat out of that harbor just when you need it. Isn't that the signal, doctor? To send the gunboat away. Carl, I beg of you. Yes, it is. Very simple, economical German signal. So? You two killed side coming. Get the cylinder. That cannot be pulled. I had to do it, I imagine. Side was the one chief that you couldn't buy or frighten with your witch doctor, so you got rid of him. Tomorrow morning, the witch doctor would have appeared. He'd have scared the daylights out of a weakened superstitious son, Novi. I tell you, I was fairly good at me, weren't governor. And I am. Yes. And then the witch doctor would have taken over everything. The British resident had to be bamboozled for 24 hours to keep him out of the way with a ghost story about a British agent. And there was a gunboat in the harbor in case of trouble. Slide me straight there, governor. There is the gunboat in the harbor. Yes. It's really worked out beautifully. The emperor should be pleased. I don't think your white queen would be very happy, though. I'm the great witch doctor to that fight whom I'm over there. Say it is dead. And there's a German gunboat in the harbor. Listen. I think I hear something. Wherever's out there, stay back. Wherever's out there, stay back. Listen to me. Say it's alive. He's alive. This is impossible. We can see him breathe. We don't even think he's badly hurt, but he's still in the cage unconscious. Still in the cage? You mean they can't get him out of there? Did he wake up on the attempt anything narrow or tear him to pieces? The whole crowd over there is nearly crazy, but they don't dare go into the cage. Well, gentlemen, you should have been more careful. If they do get side out of there alive, you're done for. Be quiet. This is... No being the rest of the native becoming up here now. See him, Miss. Can you talk about the old boy, son? No, but yes. He wants to see the witch doctor. Witch doctor. Let's put you at some slight trouble, Carl. Listen to me, Miss. I couldn't get that old bus in front of them. I can't wait to hold my line, even if I... I've got to get out of here. You make now my dear witch doctor. The natives have surrounded the house. Who says? It's Noby. He's coming down the hall. Emma, how poor do's that me? I know me. Speak wide language. Harry Salton's want. Witch doctor. Much respect. Fall and flow. Go ahead. Play your part, Carl. Play your runny part. Get up again. Great medicine man. Father heard. In case with a lion. You'll come. Say something, Carl. You can't be a dumb wizard. You'll come. Mikey and Noby, my friend. Witch doctor can't understand you. Hey witch doctor. Let's speak everything. But witch doctor. But witch doctor. No, it is not that. It does not hear you. It's in another world. See, see, see how his eyes close. See how he say? I know this. He saved my father. Or maybe all of you. We will kill all white people here. Witch doctor, save my father from lion. You'll come. Noby, listen to me. You needn't worry. The great witch doctor can save your father. Go in cage? No, not go in cage. Strike with fire. Yes, that's it. Strike with wizard fire. Open heaven. Flash great light. Narrow scream and die. Father save, Carl. You must not save him. We remain alive, people talk. Then the natives will know. You'll not want to say father. The witch doctor does want to save your father, Noby. You see that gun under his arm? Gun? Gun no good. Not used gun. Only wound lion. Lion in pain kill father. No. That's not like your muskets, Noby. It's an express gun. It's... It's a magic gun. Magic gun? Listen, Noby. Magic gun save your father with one shot. Just like that. Lions fall over dead. Your father will again. And our friend. We use gun. Give me gun. No. You could not use it, Noby. Witch doctor can use it best. Tell him to use it. Tell him to be sure that he hits the lion. Here, Harris. Other than enough of this. Yes, Noby. If he wants to hit Narrow with that white fire, he can strike the lion dead before you could weak your eyes. Then do. You better try it, Carl. And you better not miss him. Or you know what will happen to every white person in this room. My hand with a shaky knife. Fishing with shaky hands? That won't do. Right. Take your shoulder. You follow. Y'all off! You can go on both. All both. There is change. My fellow store. All caught over river. Riders stay. Thousands horses. All make life. Now do. Now do. You are quiet again. Noby raises his hand. You're brave. So are we. Don't do it. You better. I told you that. There are a lot of hand now. If you miss, you'll know which doctor. And if you hadn't thought of hitting Sayeed instead, just imagine what they do to you. I can't see it. These torches planted. You do. I think the old man's moving. If he stirs the lion or kill him, you know what that means. That's right. Up with a rifle. I was a shaker. He fights. It's a point blank shot. Hello. Who called? All right, Noby. The lion is dead. They can go in and carry a father out now. Lion. Dead. German magic. It's great, magic. Yes, Noby. It is. But English magic is greater. English magic. Better than German magic. Yes, Noby. Now prove it. Turn around. Look out towards the harbor. I stand here. I wave my hand like this. Nothing up my sleeves. I wouldn't deceive you for the world. I wave my hand towards the gunboat in the bay. The gunboat sails away. English magic, Noby. English magic. English magic. And so ends the lord of the witch doctors. Tonight's story of the pen. [music] Next Tuesday when CVS again brings you suspense. Our story will be The Devil in the Summer House. The broadcast for next week only is scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern wartime, a half hour later than usual. William Spear, the producer. John Deets, the director. Bernard Herman, the composer conductor. And John Dixon Carr, the author, are all collaborators on... [music] Suspense. [music] This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. [music] An official message from Medicare. A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. You may be able to save too. With Medicare's extra help program, my premium is zero and my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year or a married couple who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp, paid for by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. What's next? At Moss Adams, that question inspires us to help people and their businesses strategically define and claim their future. As one of America's leading accounting, consulting and wealth management firms, our collaborative approach creates solutions for your unique business needs. We leverage industry-focused insights with the collective technical resources of our firm to elevate your performance. 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