Synopsis
In South America, Doctor Quest and a colleague, Doctor Gregory, have been developing
a top secret jet aircraft that is being test piloted by Race Bannon. A mechanic,
Bruce Wayne (no relation to Batman), who works at the hangar, hears the men talk
about the top secret project dubbed Prince of Darkness
and quickly reports this information to Lou Redfox who owns a nearby aircraft manufacturing
company. The two plot to sabotage the plane as Redfox sees the project as a threat
to his business. Wayne and some cronies return to the hangar to carry out the mission
when Race stumbles upon their activities. Race is then ambushed, kidnapped, and
held in an abandoned warehouse nearby.
The next morning the Quests discover that
Race is missing and are concerned. Jonny, Hadji (misspelled as Haji throughout the
book, although consistent with the spelling seen in the official license mark),
and Bandit start to sniff around the hangar where Race was abducted, and Bandit
discovers a broken flashlight on the ground, the very flashlight Race had dropped
during the struggle. Bandit picks up the scent from the flashlight and the three
head off in the path of the abandoned warehouse. As they investigate the area, Hadji
falls through a soft spot in the structure and lands inside the thugs' lair. Jonny
runs back to call for help, while Hadji awaits his return. Having heard the loud
crash, the thugs begin to snoop around but don't discover the hiding Hadji. In the
meantime, Jonny arrives with reinforcements to save the day and Hadji gratefully
meets them while the police flush out the criminals with megaphones and arrest the
thugs.
The Quests then depart on a flight when they run into a hurricane that forces
them to land on a mountaintop in the Andes, and what unfolds is a plot similar to
the episode "Shadow of the Condor". It is noteworthy that upon meeting
Baron Francois-Marie de la Valliere (son of WWI German aviator Major Gustave
de la Valliere), Doctor Quest introduces himself as a professor at the University
of Chicago! It should also be noted that the baron and his servant, Julio, are depicted
differently than the illustrated characters in "Shadow of the Condor" television
episode.