17. SAHARA ADVENTURE SERIES — GUESTS OF DEATH
In the scorching Sahara, at Dini Salam, an outpost of the French Foreign Legion, Teuns Stegmann, a tall, blond South African, along with four fellow legionnaires, Fritz Mundt (the German), Petacci (the Italian), Jack Ritchie (the Englishman), and Podolski (the Pole), are compelled to lie daily, unclothed, upon the ramparts. They protest, yet remain unaware of the purpose behind this. Colonel Le Clerq and Captain D’Arlan reveal to them a secret, oblong wooden chest. Doctor Bretan examines the five men and discusses dyeing their hair and beards. The colonel subsequently unveils a secret French weapon, one that fires not bullets, but small rockets.
Teuns Stegmann plays a central role in the mission, having been appointed its leader. He, together with his comrades, becomes the linchpin of a desperate attempt to gather intelligence on the Doelak people’s military preparations. They must disguise themselves as Arab traders and, using the new weapon as their passport, infiltrate the Doelak capital, Doetra. Tension mounts as Teuns grapples with the dangers, especially the fear of being recognised by the cruel white princess, Brigitte Bonnet. Teuns and his companions experience several setbacks in pursuit of their objective, such as the loss of the secret weapon and an unexpected skirmish.
Teuns plans to use the disguise of a shepherd to enter a sheikh’s tent and retrieve the stolen weapon. He also intends to escape and warn the Foreign Legion about the imminent danger they have discovered. Will Teuns, with his ingenuity and the help of his comrades, succeed in completing the perilous mission, or will they fall victim to the growing conflict in the Sahara? A dark secret, like a serpent in the sand, awaits discovery.
