"Hang on, Hadji!" "Here we go!" "Hey, look, I'm a bird." "You like it?" "You bet, Race." "It's the greatest." "Jonny, if you want to get up there, you'd better get your grades up." "Right, Dad." "We all have to learn our lessons." "Every day, right?" "Right." "I think Bandit is about to learn his lesson for today." "See what I mean?" "Only he learned his lesson the hard way." "Poor Bandit." "Come on, Jonny." "We'll both be able to concentrate better inside." "Okay, Dad. I think you better come along too, Bandit." "It'll keep you out of trouble." "Oterante Station Number One calling Palm Key." "Come in, please." "Oterante Station Number One calling Dr. Quest, Palm Key." "Come in, please." "Hello." "Someone's trying to reach us." "Turn on the transmitter, Jonny." "Oterante Station Number One calling Dr. Quest." "Come in, please." "Calling Dr. Quest." "Oterante Number One calling...." "More power, Jonny." "Oterante Station Number One calling Palm Key, Dr. Quest." "Come in, please." "Over." "This is Palm Key." "Dr. Quest speaking." "Repeat, this is Palm Key." "Over." "Benton?" "Benton Quest?" "This is Drena Hartman, Oterante Station." "I need your help." "Over." "Yes, Drena." "What has happened?" "Over." "It's Emil." "He's been captured by the Po-Ho's." "Over." "When?" "About three hours ago." "Now, now, Drena, keep your courage up." "The Po-Ho's usually hold their captives for the fire or water god ceremonies." "There's every chance we'll get there in time if we leave at once." "Drena knows that her husband and I are the only ones who speak the Po-Ho language." "So that's why she called you, Dad?" "That and the fact that Emil and I are old friends." "What do you see, Bandit?" "We're over the Po-Ho jungle now, Dr. Quest." "That's it." "Looks peaceful, doesn't it?" "lt sure does." "Even thicker than my homeland jungles." "Yes, Hadji, and far more deadly." "Race, did you check out the amplifier?" "Yes, doctor, it's working fine." "Good." "Circle low over the jungle." "I'll make an announcement to the Po-Ho's from the air." "I'm going to introduce them to their new god." "Their new god?" "Yes." "I'm about to become Aerio, the air god." "Drop the amplifier, Race." "Right, doctor." "Wow, that was loud, Dad." "What did you say?" "I said I was the god of the air." "I told them I was angry because they had taken a captive." "I told them to fear me and await my coming." "Do you think it will work?" "l hope so, Hadji." "Quiet, Bandit." "It's all right, Hadji." "The barks probably shook up those savages more than I did." "There's the station, Dr. Quest." "I'm going down." "There's Drena." "She looks quite upset." "Now, now, Drena, I know it isn't easy but try to continue." "Well, Emil had been working closer and closer to the jungle trying to talk to the Po-Ho's." "He could never get an answer." "How'd he know they were there?" "They're always there." "After he disappeared the drums said a stranger had been captured." "What are the drums saying now?" "They know you are here." "Hey, what is that strange creature, Jonny?" "That's an armadillo." "It's covered with tough, scaly plates." "He can't figure out what it is." "Maybe he thinks it's a rock." "He knows better now." "Look." "He's really enjoying it." "But not for long, Jonny." "What else did the drums say about Emil?" "They said the captive was to be a gift for Rahneo." "Rahneo?" "Their fire god." "The Po-Ho's make their offerings only at the full moon." "What can we do?" "Tonight I'll speak to the Po-Ho's as Aerio, god of the air." "Now, you all understand what to do?" "Yes, sir." "When you get to the edge of the jungle we'll throw the lights on you." "Savages will see you only in silhouette." "That's the idea." "After I start out, count 1 0 seconds and then hit those lights." "Right." "Be careful, Dad." "I will." "Now, start counting." "Time's up." "All set?" "All set." "Ready." "Here goes." "He's gone!" "Those Po-Ho devils!" "Dad!" "Dad!" "I'm sorry, Jonny, but we just can't go rushing off into the jungle." "But, Race" "What are the drums saying now?" "What we already know." "They have another captive." "He, too, will be offered to Rahneo." "At least we know they're still alive." "I'll paddle downstream so the Po-Ho's won't hear me." "Save the outboard for the getaway, if we're lucky." "lf there were only something I could do." "There is." "Take care of the boys." "And see that they stay out of the jungle." "I will." "Where are they?" "I haven't seen them." "Don't worry. I'll watch them." "Thanks, Drena." "Be careful." "The Po-Ho's are devils." "Race!" "Jonny!" "You crazy kids. I thought I told you boys to stay behind." "You did, Race, but I gotta go with you." "No." "There's too much danger." "Race, they've got my dad." "Well, you're right, Jonny." "Hop in and let's back out of here." "It's too dangerous close to shore." "Look out, Race!" "Wow, that big cat was playing for keeps." "Just like the Po-Ho's." "Now, keep your eyes open." "They could be all around us." "We will, Race." "Have you got a plan?" "Yeah. lt's a wild one." "And you both can help." "Here it comes, Quest, the test of nerves." "Pretty close." "Don't move." "They're tipped with deadly poison." "One scratch...." "l know." "And we're dead." "Did you hear that?" "l did." "Someone is coming." "They could be all around us." "We're ready for them." "I think we have no cause for alarm, Jonny." "Why not?" "Look at Bandit." "It's Race. lt's gotta be." "I've scouted the Po-Ho camp." "Let's hope our plan works." "Did you see Dad?" "Yes." "They're all right." "Hadji, I'll need some of those purple berries." "Jonny, get to your station." "Those savages are building up to something, and we've got to stop it." "Let's hope these purple berries work, Hadji." "You will look like the Po-Ho's water god." "I hope you're right." "All set for the bullhorn, Jonny?" "All set, Race." "Then let her rip and make it good." "Okay, here goes." "Calling Big Daddy." "Calling Big Daddy." "Calling Big Daddy." "Operation Big Lift will begin soon." "Do you read me?" "Operation Big Lift to begin soon." "Aquezio, the water god, is on the way." "Keep cool." "That's my son, Jonny." "Race has something up his sleeve." "You think it will work?" "That I do." "Look how these savages are reacting." "We're not cooked yet, Emil, not by a long shot." "Good work, Jonny." "The drums stopped." "Your voice must have slowed them up." "What next, Race?" "l'll pay them a little visit as Aquezio, the water god." "And let's hope this berry juice doesn't wash off." "I'll be back soon." "Looks like they plan to put us in this pit." "I'm afraid so." "Now what?" "He said to lower us into the pit." "Hurry up, Race." "That, my friend, is Race." "What's he up to?" "We'll soon find out." "Just wait." "All right get a look at Aquezio." "Dr. Quest, I'll be back later." "Take it easy." "And you savages better lay off or I'll take your village apart stick by stick." "They're scared, all right." "But the chief is tough." "He'll calm his people down and then go ahead with the ceremony." "He says Rahneo is supreme." "He wants us in the pit." "Here we go." "How did it go, Race?" "All right, I hope." "What do we do now?" "We wait." "We wait until it's dark and that village is asleep." "Come to think of it, there's something I better take care of first." "Like what, Race?" "Like taking care of some of those Po-Ho Indian war boats." "If we make it out, we don't want them chasing us." "Good hunting, Sahib Race." "Yeah, you bet." "Good luck, Race." "Race, how'd you make out?" "Not bad." "I just played Pin the Donkey's Tail on a Po-Ho Indian." "So this is the sacrificial pit." "lt is here we are to die." "The sides are hard and smooth." "We'd never climb out." "When the moon is right hot coals are poured in on the victims." "The god Rahneo is then supposed to watch over their fires till the next full moon." "Charming thought." "But we're not cooked yet." "Race is out there working on something, I hope." "Full moon, fire." "I have a feeling we don't have too much time." "What's it mean, Race?" "lt means I better hurry." "Stand by the engine, Jonny." "Pay out the rope as quietly as possible, Hadji." "Will do." "Good luck, Race." "Emil's on his way." "Hurry it up, doctor." "Someone is coming." "Can you see who it is?" "No, but I'm ready for them." "Here he comes." "Hold it. lt's me, Dr. Hartman." "Dr." "Hartman?" "Where's Dad?" "He should be here any second." "All set, Dr. Quest?" "All set." "Start the engine, Jonny." "Hang on tight, Dr. Quest." "You're in for a rough ride." "Let her go, Jonny!" "Gun it!" "Hang on, Dad!" "We'll pull you in!" "Hurry it up!" "Here they come!" "Stay clear of the propeller blades, doctor!" "I'll watch it!" "Just don't let go of the rope!" "Are you okay, doctor?" "A bit waterlogged, but okay." "Race, I thought you punctured those canoes." "I did, Jonny." "They should be filling up just about now." "Look, they're beginning to sink." ""Ugalla, ugalla" must be native for "stroke, stroke."" "That chief certainly has a one-track mind." "How's the arm, Benton?" "Oh, fine." "Thanks, Emil." "Just sprained from running into those Po-Ho's." "Better than being barbecued, I must say." "We'll never be able to thank you enough." "Emil would have done the same for us." "And Race." "Where is he, by the way?" "He's outside..." "...trying to wash off the berry stains." "l'm afraid Race is going to be god of the water for some time." "Why is that?" "Because the dye from those purple berries will not wash off." "It must wear off." "And how long does that take?" "At least three weeks." "Three weeks?" "Oh, no!" "And that'll be enough of that." "Yes, oh, god of the water." "Oh, yes, Aquezio." "We hear you and obey."