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THE PIRATES OF SHAN
A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY
BY JOHN BLAINE
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK, N. Y.
1958
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
_Printed in the United States of America_
[Illustration: _Rick wielded the kris with deadly effect_]
Contents
I THE MISSING SCIENTISTS
II THE HINDU MERCHANT
III BAGOBO COUNTRY
IV THE HEADMAN'S SECRET
V TRAIL OF THE "SAMPAGUITA"
VI THE MAN IN THE RED FEZ
VII NEWS AT ZAMBOANGA
VIII THE "SWIFT ARROW"
IX THE MORO KNIVES
X SOUTH OF SULU
XI THE DANCING PIRATES
XII SEARCH THE WIDE SEAS
XIII THE TWO DATUS
XIV THE HIGH FIRE
XV PLAN OF ATTACK
XVI THE BLACK CLIFF
XVII THE RADIO LINK
XVIII UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS
XIX CHAHDA SWEEPS THE SEA
XX THE PATROL TAKES OVER
List of Illustrations
_Rick wielded the kris with deadly effect_
_The warrior shook Rick's hand and smiled_
_The man's back was tattooed with a strange design_
"_All hands on deck! Pirates!_"
_A sudden jerk would attract the guard's attention_
_Rick braced himself for the shock_
THE PIRATES OF SHAN
CHAPTER I
The Missing Scientists
"We'd better do something," Rick Brant stated grimly, "and we'd better
do it fast." He picked up a stone and threw it far out into the green
waters of the Atlantic, a gesture that did little to relieve his worry
and anxiety.
Don Scott, nicknamed Scotty, said soothingly, "I know how you feel. I
feel the same way. But don't forget that Dad is just as worried as we
are--maybe even more so, because he feels responsible. Besides, I don't
think we have long to wait, not with Colonel Rojas here."
Rick knew that his dark-haired pal was right, but inaction, even under
ordinary circumstances, made him restless, and now that two staff
scientists had mysteriously disappeared, his normal desire to keep
things moving swiftly was augmented by fear for their safety.
The Spindrift Scientific Foundation, with headquarters on famed
Spindrift Island off the New Jersey coast, was regarded by most people
as a typical group of scientists, impersonal and efficient, who
sometimes made important discoveries or got involved in scientific
adventures. But the picture of the Foundation, given mostly through
impersonal scientific publications, was wrong.
The scientific efficiency and purpose of Spindrift could not be denied.
But what the public failed to appreciate was that the staff, headed by
Rick Brant's scientist father, was more like a family than a
corporation. The center of activity was the big Brant house and the
adjoining laboratory on Spindrift Island. The scientists were not only
colleagues, but close personal friends.
As a consequence, when the staff zoologist, Dr. Howard Shannon, and the
staff archaeologist, Dr. Anthony Briotti, failed to turn up on schedule
from an expedition to the Sulu Sea, the entire Foundation became
personally concerned. All work stopped while the staff speculated on
what might have happened, what course of action to take.
Rick Brant and his pal Scotty were particularly upset when the days
passed and Hartson Brant failed to decide on a course of action. Rick
knew, of course, that his father was proceeding logically, obtaining
information by cable and phone from the Philippines, but he resented the
passing days.
"I'm glad Rojas is here," Rick said. "That must mean Dad is making up
his mind. And you know what I hope, don't you?"
"Same as I do. But don't hope too much. Maybe Dad will decide this is a
job for professionals, and not for us."
Hartson Brant had returned only a few minutes ago from a hurried trip to
New York. He had brought with him Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippines
Constabulary. The tall, slender officer was at present on duty with his
country's United Nations delegation. He was an old friend, dating back
to the adventure of _The Golden Skull_ when Rick, Scotty, Chahda, and
Tony Briotti had gone to the fabulous rice terraces of Ifugao.
The colonel was having a belated lunch with Dr. and Mrs. Brant, and
Rick's father had indicated politely but firmly that the two boys were
not to broach the subject of the missing scientists until the colonel
had finished eating. Dr. Brant had promised to call them for the meeting
which was to take place immediately after lunch. Both boys were so
impatient for the meeting to begin that it seemed to them the others
were taking an unduly long time to consume the meal.
"Rick, Scotty. Come on into the library."
The boys turned swiftly at Hartson Brant's call and hurried from the
waterfront to the big Brant house. As they entered, Hobart Zircon was
just coming down the stairs from his room. The distinguished nuclear
physicist greeted them with a comradely wink. "So you two are attending
the meeting too, eh? I have an idea we may be joining forces again."
Zircon had shared many adventures with the boys. More than once, his
enormous size and legendary strength had gotten them out of a tight
spot. The physicist was considerably over six feet tall and built like a
fighting bull, and he had a booming voice that fitted his physique.
Hartson Brant introduced Zircon to Colonel Rojas, waved the group to
seats, and got down to business. He addressed the Filipino officer.
"First, let me say for all of us that we are indebted to you for leaving
your office on such short notice to give us the benefit of your advice
and counsel."
"It is nothing. If I can be of help, I will be grateful. Perhaps if you
will start at the beginning, it will clarify things."
The scientist nodded assent. "I'll be glad to. As I told you on the way
over, two of our staff members are missing. You know one of them--Dr.
Anthony Briotti. The other is Dr. Howard Shannon, our zoologist. Tony,
of course, is an archaeologist. They departed for the Sulu Sea several
weeks ago on a joint expedition to try to find new evidence for a theory
of migration of the early peoples in the Pacific."
Hobart Zircon added, "We started on this theory some time ago with a
trip to an island in the western Pacific. Dr. Briotti continued that
work during the rice-terrace expedition. I believe you met him then."
"I did," Colonel Rojas agreed. "How is the present expedition connected
with your previous work? The combination of an archaeologist and a
zoologist seems unusual."
"Tony has determined that the origins of the Bajaus, the Sea Gypsies of
Sulu, may be of importance," Hartson Brant explained. "In addition, he
wanted to check some details of Bagobo culture. Dr. Shannon hoped to
contribute some evidence based on the early migration of some animals
from the Asia mainland to the islands."
Colonel Rojas nodded. "I understand. The presence of some animals may
show that a land bridge existed between Sulu and the mainland across
which the early peoples may have migrated."
"Exactly. I'm sure you also know that our staff has been co-operating
with Dr. Remedios Okola of the University of the Philippines. It was
from him we learned that our friends had vanished, when they failed to
keep an important appointment."
"You know their itinerary?"
"Yes. They flew to Manila and spent a few days with Dr. Okola. At that
time he persuaded them to revise their schedule, to return to Manila
long enough to join him on a trip to the rice terraces. They flew to
Zamboanga, chartered a boat of some sort, and sailed to Davao by way of
Cotabato. They were supposed to leave the boat at Davao and fly back to
Manila to take the trip with Okola, after which they would return to
Davao, pick up the boat, and go into the Sulu Sea." The scientist's lips
tightened, then he added, "They never kept the appointment with Okola!"
"What did Okola do about it?"
"He got in touch with the constabulary and asked for a check on their
whereabouts, thinking they might have been delayed. The constabulary at
Davao reported that Shannon and Briotti had reached Davao and hired a
truck to take them to a Bagobo village. The truck driver let them off at
a foot trail to the village. No one has seen them since."
Rojas rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You have heard from the American
consulate at Manila?"
"Yes, by phone, on the same day I talked with Okola. The consulate has
asked your government for help. However, yesterday I received a cable
stating that a second investigation has uncovered nothing new. It
appears that both our governments have done all they can, but obviously
we cannot stop there. So I have decided to send Dr. Zircon, with Rick
and Scotty, to hunt for our friends."
Rick and Scotty exchanged relieved glances. It was what they had hoped
and expected.
The colonel nodded. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Zircon
until now, but I have seen Rick and Scotty in action. They are
resourceful, and they are lucky--two necessary qualities for a
expedition such as this. Do you also plan to use their Hindu friend,
Chahda?"
Rick leaned forward anxiously. He had suggested getting Chahda to help
out several days ago, but his father was at that time waiting for
further word from the American consulate. Chahda, a one-time Bombay
beggar boy, had been a close friend since the Tibet relay expedition. He
was a real wizard at uncovering information.
"Yes," Hartson Brant replied. "I have sent him a cable, through his
organization, but he has not yet replied."
Chahda was now a combination assistant and secretary to the chief Far
East agent for JANIG, the secret government agency charged with the
protection of United States top secrets. The Hindu boy's boss, Carl
Bradley, was an old friend of Hartson Brant. Rick knew that Bradley
would release Chahda at once, if assistance to Spindrift was involved,
not only because of his friendship for the Brants, but because the
island scientists had once helped to solve a case for the Far East
agent. Chahda would be especially helpful in the search for the missing
scientists, because he knew his way around the Philippines and had
friends there. It occurred to Rick that his father had probably wired
Chahda, in care of Bradley, via the Spindrift contact in JANIG--Special
Agent Steve Ames.
Colonel Rojas lighted a Manila cigar and settled back in his chair.
"First of all, let us examine the area in which your friends have
disappeared. Davao is on the island of Mindanao, the largest in the
Philippines. It is peaceful, for the most part, even though we have a
mixture of Moros, Christians, and pagans there."
Rick knew about the Moros, Filipinos of the Moslem faith. They were
known as valiant and deadly fighting men. The pagans were primitive
people, like the Bagobos.
"Davao is a large, fairly modern city. But once outside of the city
itself, the country becomes wild. Some of the Bagobo villages are quite
close to Davao. They are peaceful folk, and quite harmless, but there
are savages in the back country who may not be."
"Perhaps we should take arms," Zircon said.
"I would say so. At least a rifle and a sidearm of some kind."
Scotty spoke up. "I can take my rifle."
"And I can borrow Hartson's forty-five automatic," Zircon added. "That
should be enough."
"True," the colonel agreed. "You can always call on the constabulary for
help. I will give you letters to all commanding officers in the area."
Rick knew that would open many doors, because Rojas was not only a
former commandant of the constabulary, but popular with the entire
force.
"How about clothing, Colonel?" Rick asked.
"I assume you will go by air. That means very little baggage. One
tropical suit and the rest rough clothing would be my suggestion."
Scotty changed the subject. "Sir, have you any idea what might have
happened to our friends?"
The officer shrugged. "No more than you have. Scientists generally are
not rich enough to rob, but they are not so poor that they can be harmed
with impunity. Robbery is always possible, although unlikely, with one
exception. Did they have any weapons with them?"
"Shannon had a hunting bow and arrows," Mr. Brant replied. "He planned
to collect some specimens. Briotti had no weapon at all."
"Then that eliminates the only robbery possibility I can think of. Had
they been well armed, Moros might have attacked to get their weapons.
The Moro loves weapons of all kinds, and may even kill to get them--a
point you might remember."
Rick shook his head. "It's hard to imagine why anyone would want to harm
them--if anyone did. I think we'd better get to Mindanao as soon as
possible. When do we leave, Dad?"
"Tomorrow night, son. I made reservations for you while I was in New
York this morning."
"Are we going to take special equipment?" Scotty asked.
Rick had been thinking about that very point. "I'm planning to take the
Megabuck network. It will be useful if we have to separate."
The little network of three miniature radio units, transmitters, and
receivers combined, had been of invaluable help in rounding up a group
of foreign agents bent on stealing the plans for a United States
intercontinental ballistic missile.
The unusual name, Megabuck, had grown out of a joke Rick had conceived
about a "million bucks" television quiz program. Two of the sets were
pocket size, and used hearing-aid-type earphones. The third had been
made in the form of an ornamental hair band for Rick's sister Barby to
wear. The tiny microphone worked by sound induction through the bones of
the head. The earphone was incorporated into one end of the band.
Zircon and Scotty agreed that the radio units might come in handy, and
the physicist added, "I have a pocket-size, battery-operated wire
recorder I use for making notes. I think I'll take that. It may be
helpful for recording conversations for later translation."
"A good idea," the colonel approved. "The local dialect is called
Chebucano. Of course many people speak some English. Have you an atlas?
I think it might be useful if we went over a map of Mindanao and the
Sulu Sea area."
The map study was very helpful. The three absorbed Colonel Rojas' fund
of information about the area. It was a part of the world none of them
had ever seen, located only a few degrees above the Equator in the deep
tropics. To the west of Mindanao was the Sulu Sea, with the Celebes Sea
to the south. The widely scattered centers of civilization had famous,
imagination-stirring names, like Jolo, Tawi Tawi, Cotabato, and
Zamboanga.
Later, the Filipino officer dictated letters of introduction to Rick's
sister Barby, a pretty blond girl a year younger than her brother. Barby
took the dictation directly on the typewriter. Once the letters were
signed and turned over to Dr. Zircon, Hartson Brant escorted the colonel
to the mainland, where arrangements had been made for a local taxi
service to drive him back to New York. Rojas' parting statement was
"This affair worries me. I shall be most interested in developments, and
you may hear from me sooner than you think."
Later, Scotty and Rick gathered in the latter's room and talked while
loading the radio units with fresh batteries.
"Wonder how long it will take to hear from Chahda?" Rick asked.
"Depends on where he is and how fast Steve Ames can get a message to
him. He'll join us if he can. You can bet on it."
"I hope so," Rick said thoughtfully. "We'll be in Manila in a couple of
days, and we'll need him. We've got a job ahead of us, because Tony and
Shannon aren't lost. You can be sure of that. They're not the kind to
get lost. And if they had been in an accident of some kind we'd have
heard."
"Meaning what?"
Rick's eyes met Scotty's. "That leaves only one logical answer, doesn't
it? They've either been killed or captured!"