Plot Summary:Shortly after accidentally bumping into general Alcazar, a Latin American multiple (ex-)president by coup, Tintin and captain Haddock get a delegation from the petro-emirate of Khemed to deliver the emir's son and heir Abdallah, an incorrigible rascal whom nobody dares discipline, with a letter imploring to take ware of the prince as the dynasty is in danger. Just when the captain resolves to send the little devil back, a coup is reported, during which the emir went missing. Tintin and the captain travel to Khemed but find themselves and/or aviation the target of sabotage and bomb terrorism, while they weren't even admitted in despite valid papers, as part of an arms smuggle intrigue. They still travel on by land after surviving crash, and sneak to an old friend there who explains some of the intrigue.