21. SAHARA ADVENTURE SERIES — DEATHTRAP IN THE DESERT
The story commences with Somala, a beautiful Arabian woman, journeying through the Sahara desert aboard a camel caravan. She is returning to her father, a respected sheik, after an extended holiday in Algiers. The caravan is suddenly assailed by a group of riders who resemble Arabs but whose conduct betrays their appearance. Three of the caravan drivers, along with several camels, are shot dead. Kemal, Somala’s protector, attempts to intervene but is also shot. The assailants, led by a tall man with blue eyes, abduct Somala with the intention of selling her.
Teuns Stegmann, a member of the French Foreign Legion, is dispatched with Captain D’Arlan and a small contingent of soldiers to investigate the abduction. They follow the kidnappers’ trail, discovering signs of a struggle and the remnants of Somala’s caravan. A piece of green silk, tied to a vulture’s leg, provides a crucial clue. D’Arlan’s instincts and Teuns’s keen powers of observation play a significant role. As the search progresses, the atmosphere becomes increasingly ominous. Tension mounts, dangers lurk around every corner, and unexpected events unfold.
The climax approaches rapidly. D’Arlan and his men, including Teuns, are led into an ambush, trapped in a ravine within the Atlas Mountains. The discovery of the kidnappers’ hideout and the true extent of their brutal scheme, a slave-trading operation, heightens the tension to a breaking point. Teuns’s resourcefulness and bravery, even in the face of death, prove decisive. Will he and his comrades escape, or will they fall victim to the ruthless slave traders?
