The Crab with the Golden Claws (Le crabe aux pinces d'or)

THE CRAB WITH THE GOLDEN CLAWS

Well, Snowy!

That's what happens when you go through rubbish bins...

I don't go scavenging, do I?

Lucky you didn't cut yourself.

Look at these jagged edges!

Come on!

And don't do it again or I'll put you on a lead.

- One more! - Yes, Sir.

Tintin, nice to see you!

To be precise... It is nice to see you, Tintin!

Cheers!

Ah... Thomson and Thompson! Nice to see you!

So, what's new?

Everything's fine.

We're on a very important case.

To be precise...

a very important... a very important case.

Have you read this?

"Watch out for counterfeit coins" Yes, I saw that.

Well, we're in charge of cleaning that up.

Ah, jolly good!

- Are the duds easy to spot? - Well, we've studied them.

We can spot one in a flash, but...

- Waiter! How much? - 45p, Sir.

Here's 50 pence.

But most people are fooled.

Sorry, sir.

Good gracious! Someone's slipped me a dud!

Here!

Come and we'll show you the papers from our investigation.

With pleasure.

- Where did you put the papers? - You had them last!

What's this?

That?

It's from Police Headquarters.

It was found on a drowning victim.

Did you notice?

He had five coins on him... all duds.

Odd, isn't it?

Very odd.

Excuse me... I'll be right back!

I'll follow him!

My cane!

He forgot his cane!

There he is!

What's the matter?

Well, the scrap of paper found on the drowned man...

comes from a tin.

And I was holding that very tin just before I met you.

I threw it into that dustbin.

One moment!

Tintin, shame on you!

Rummaging through dustbins like a common mongrel!

It's gone... but I'm sure I put it there.

It was a tin of crab.

- Open your sack! - No, it's not here.

This is odd... even fishy.

To be precise: It is fishy.

- What's all the fuss about? - They're absolutely daft!

They're looking for an empty tin...

- A crab tin. - A crab tin?

Another bone! Where did you get this one?

When will you learn? Now, don't do it again!

Where is it?

The scrap of paper must have blown away.

Here it is!

Now let's have a look.

Have I gone crazy?

I'm sure I put my magnifying glass here.

I'll trace over this in pencil. There's a 'K'...

an 'A'...

And that's an 'R' or an 'I'. I've nearly got it.

Karaboudjan.

That's an Armenian name... Karaboudjan.

An Armenian name.

That doesn't help me much.

HELP!

HELP!

HELP!

That was the landlady!

A Japanese or Chinese man had a letter for you.

But before he handed it to me, a car stopped and 3 men got out.

They jumped on the Chinese man and beat him up.

Of course I shouted, "Help!"

but they threatened me with a huge revolver!

Then they threw the Japanese man into the car and drove off...

with the letter.

A tin can, a drowned man, 5 counterfeit coins...

Karaboudjan, a Japanese, a letter, a kidnapping!

It's a real Chinese puzzle!

Yes.

Oh, it's you! What's new?

What?

Yes, we identified the drowned man...

who had that mysterious bit of paper and those five dud coins.

His name was Herbert Dawes, from the cargo ship, Karaboudjan.

The Karaboudjan. Did you say Karaboudjan?

Darn! Missed him!

- What happened? - Ah, it's you.

I was almost crushed by that crate.

What brings you here?

The chain broke.

We're boarding the Karaboudjan to ask about that drowned sailor.

May I join you?

- Will you be on board long? - No, 30 minutes at most.

Take care of him while I talk to the detectives.

- He must not leave this ship. - Got it!

Okay, I'll meet you here in half an hour.

Here? Okay.

Hello, Mr. Mate... We've come about that poor sailor.

I'm at your service, gentlemen. Will you come to my cabin?

We can talk more easily there.

Careful... Mind the step!

I see it.

...and the door frame!

So this sailor liked to drink?

On the night of his death, you saw him in town very drunk.

Then he fell into the water trying to get back to the ship.

For me... it's plain as a pikestaff.

To be precise... plain as a pikestaff.

Mr. Mate, I've finished that job.

Okay, I'll come and see.

As a matter of fact, we must go too.

We've wasted enough of your time.

Not at all!

I'm delighted if I was able to help.

Yes, that door frame really is a bit low.

- A bit low, yes. - A bit too low.

The young man who was with you said he couldn't wait.

He's just left.

That's right... We forgot about Tintin!

Mind the step.

Goodbye!

What could have happened to Tintin?

Are you keeping up this little joke for long?

Yes and no, young man. It depends.

At least, tell me why I'm tied up here.

Don't play dumb!

You know better than we do!

But...

Snowy! Good old Snowy!

Snowy, bite through the ropes.

Then we'll say goodbye to these pirates.

Here's a coded radio message I just received from the boss.

Read it.

"Send 'T' to the bottom!"

And I just sent Pedro to feed him.

I'll go get some rope and a bit of lead.

How nice of you...

But how can I eat with my hands tied behind my back?

You're right. I'll have to loosen them.

But no tricks!

One false move, and...

He asked to free his hands so he could eat.

But as soon as I bent down, he hit me so hard.

That's nothing compared to what the mate will do to you!

Idiot!

Now we'll have to find him, you fool!

And now he's got a gun.

I hope this is food.

Then we can withstand a siege.

Otherwise...

Let's see.

Great snakes! Tins of crab!

They're the same tins.

We'll sort that out later. Let's go on checking our stores.

Champagne!

- Our supplies are taken care of! - And how!

Let me offer you a drink, Snowy.

Be quiet! They're looking for us!

No use trying to open that door. He'll have barricaded himself in.

We'll starve him out.

That's what you think!

Opium!

So we've got ourselves mixed up with drug-runners.

That changes everything.

They were right. We've nothing to eat.

Well, at least we have plenty to drink.

Let's see if we can't get out somehow.

Unless... Yes, I've got an idea.

The captain wants to see you.

What does that old drunk want?

Yes, I sent for you, Mister Mate.

It's wicked!

Just wicked!

I'm dying of thirst!

I haven't a drop of whiskey!

That's unacceptable, Captain.

I'll have some sent at once.

You're the only one who...

You know very well...

You know I wouldn't deprive you of your whiskey.

For then I'll be the only boss on this ship.

And I'll do as I like!

Perhaps it's the whiskey...

Shh... Not a sound!

Who are you?

Someone forced to sail in this vile tub.

Vile tub?