106- The Golden Snake

Tired of the everyday routine? Ever dream of a life of romantic adventure? Wanna get away from it all? We offer you escape! Escape! Designed to free you from the four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure!

Tonight, we escape to Yucatan, with a man and woman who dared defy the curse of the ancient priests of Maya to find a hidden jungle shrine and millions in jewels and gold. As less Scratchfield and Paul Pierce tell it in, the Golden Snake.

It was mid-morning of the fourth day south from Orleans when the rusty little freighter The curry-blady dropped a hook a mile off the port of progresso, and the broad-beam tender walked alongside. The port itself and the jungle peninsula of Yucatan Bion lay in a steamy lethargy beneath an early blazing tropic sun.

I was in a hurry. I wanted customs clearance as quickly as possible for myself and the helicopter I brought with me. Then I wanted a few bottles of that subtly bitter beer that they brew in Monterey.

My mysterious employer, Dr. Conrad, was waiting at the Itza Hotel in Merida, 24 miles inland. But in heat like this, he could wait a few hours longer. I beg your pardon. Well... I presume you're Stephen Lane.

Yeah, good presumption, you're right. Well, I'm Gail Barry. Hello, Gail. I'm Dr. Conrad's secretary. Oh. I begin to see how the jungle might have certain conversations. Oh, you better slow down, Mr. Lane. You're going pretty fast, even for a pilot.

Uh, helicopter pilot. Not so much on speed, but I do a lot of hovering, especially around green-eyed girls and cold bottles of beer. Would the former like to join me over the ladder? I hope you can hang onto that sense of humor. You'll need it before this is over.