It was written in French by a Belgian author, Baudouin de Duve, who used the alias Bud E. Weyser, a name that is a play on the name of American beer, Budweiser.

As they discuss their plight, Jolyon Wagg's wife arrives and ask them to go to Thailand to search for her husband, who went there on a trip he won from his employer, the Rock Bottom Insurance Company, and never returned.

As they check into their Bangkok hotel, they are spotted by Derek Dimwit, a representative of the Marlinsprick Company which holds the rights to the Tintin franchise.

He calls his head office and is told he must stop them from going on any more adventures that could be used in a book not controlled by Marlinsprick.

Alcazar tells them he saw Jolyon Wagg in his bar, but he has gone north to Chiang Mai with a kathoey (transsexual).

The Belgian police organized a sting, with an officer pretending to be a prospective buyer; two arrests were made in Tournai.

However, the Hergé Foundation takes quick action to remove copies that are posted online.