Brains and Tin-Tin mount an expedition to find treasure in a temple on the bed of Lake Anasta in the Middle East, but The Hood learns of their plans through his psychic link with Kyrano. Ferried to the desert in Thunderbird 2, Brains and Tin-Tin make the final leg of their journey in a desert jeep towing a pair of caravans, rendezvousing with archaeologist Professor Blakely before completing the journey. Arriving at Lake Anasta, Brains and Tin-Tin use scuba gear to dive in and take a first look at the lost temple. Brains takes a rock sample from the central column for later examination but The Hood, observing from a mini-submarine hidden in the lake, believes that they have found the treasure already. That night, disguised as a Bedouin tribesman, he steals into the expedition caravans and hypnotises the three team members. The next morning, Brains regains consciousness to find himself buried up to his neck in the desert sand...