The Professor has a new invention ready. But when it falls into the wrong hands, it's his friends who pay the price...
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Professor Calculus inserted his hearing aid.
"Well gentleman, what do you think?" he asked, showing Tintin and Captain Haddock his latest invention, a satellite that he had built on a pier in Germany.
"It's amazing, Professor. You've really outdone yourself again!" Tintin beamed.
"Aye," the Captain agreed. "But what does it do exactly?"
"I'm glad you asked, Captain. The satellite is made from a very powerful and deadly substance that I have discovered, dubbed Calculium, after myself. Now, what the satellite does is picks up sound waves from various metals across the world and convert them into Calculium!"
"That's amazing!" exclaimed Tintin.
A scientist approached them. Snowy growled at her.
"What is it, Snowy?" asked Tintin.
"Professor, we're ready for the first test," the girl said.
"Thank you, Thelma. Come Tintin, Captain. Allow me to show you how my beauty works."
The Willibur, his prized invention, reflected the sun's bright rays. Tintin, Snowy and the Captain had to shield their eyes from the reflection.
"Tintin, do you really think this new invention of his is going to work?" The Captain glanced over at his friend.
"When has Calculus ever failed us?" Tintin asked with a smile.
"I suppose you have a point there. We did go to the moon, after all. But I can't help but think..."
"Activate the satellite, Thelma," commanded the Professor. "And be careful. Don't accidentally activate the TNT like last time."
"TNT?" the Captain asked. "Why would you have an activator for TNT?"
"In case someone were to get locked in a room, from this control pad we could get them out."
Thelma flipped a few switches, and the Willibur rotated ninety degrees, the antenna pointing downward. It made a humming noise as it picked up the waves. A screen near the controls blasted with white noise and small black waves appeared, but soon a bunch of numbers appeared on the screen.
"Blistering blue barnacles in a thundering typhoon," whispered the Captain.
"Ah, it's most remarkable," mused the Professor. "Now I will be able to perfect the substance and make it into a non-toxic, economic material."
"I don't know if I would say that, Professor," a voice said.
Tintin, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus whirled around.
"Rastapopoulos!" Tintin said under his breath.
"What's that megalomaniac doing here?" the Captain muttered.
Snowy barked at him. Tintin had to hold him to keep him from attacking Rastapopoulos.
"How did you find this place?" the Professor asked in a hostile tone.
"I've come to see your invention, of course. Quite a beauty, isn't she?" Rastapopoulos asked, a grin growing on his face.
"But no one knew about his invention except for the Captain and myself!" exclaimed Tintin.
"Which means..." Calculus began.
"...that one of you told! How dare you betray your own friend!" Rastapopoulos shouted, his voice echoing in the spacious, dome-shaped room.
