When seven archaeologists find an ancient Inca temple, they become victims of an ancient curse. Back in Europe, one by one they fall into a deep sleep and only once a day, all at the same time, they wake up for a few minutes and experience hallucinations where the sinister living mummy of Rascar Capac appears.

Tintin is sent to guard Professor Calculus, who has invented a machine that can duplicate anything, and is staying in a village near the border of Syldavia and Bodouria. Rastapopoulous, an infamous and ruthless international criminal, tries to lure Calculus and Tintin away by kidnapping two children, who live nearby, in order to get his clutches on the machine.