How much is one man worth? When Ted Kihi is trapped in a Malaysian cave Peter Thornton turns the whole resources of Mogul, and his own skill as an oil man, to the rescue operation.
The lovely Mrs. Foss, wife of Mogul's founder, turns up in London in the middle of a takeover battle. Inevitably she brings chaos and confusion - particularly to Alec Stewart.
Alec and Roz Stewart find themselves in the uncomfortable world between east and west when they arrive in Japan, where the traditions of a thousand years conflict with life in the twentieth century.
Why should the manager of Mogul's Malaysian station insult the local sultan? Why does he not remember things? Why does he turn against Thornton, an old friend, when he tries to help? This is one of Thornton's most puzzling assignments, and even when he solves it he does not believe what he finds.
Mogul faces protests and demonstrations when a group of redundant employees occupy a distribution depot. A situation which starts as something small quickly develops into tension and danger.
Are Stewart and Stead trying to bribe their way to an important refinery project in Scotland? And what part does Zenith play in the attempts to corrupt a Scots official?
Thornton faces incredible hardship in Alaska. But added to the dangers and difficulties is the knowledge that the whole future of Mogul could depend on his success or failure.
A remote island in the Indian Ocean may seem the perfect drilling location. No population, beautiful weather, not even a foreign government to deal with for it is British owned. But - there's this bird, see.... and birds, feathered of course, spell trouble for Mogul.
The executives of Mogul's South African subsidiary think their office boy Zeke is only capable of 'totin' barges and liftin' bales', but Willy Izard has other ideas. Zeke has secret ambitions - and qualifications - which Willy decides to further. He expected to come up against apartheid, but another completely unexpected obstacle crops up which calls for uncharacteristic forcefulness from the normally gentle Izard.
Eccentric individualists cannot be successfully absorbed into big organisations, but Brian Stead decides to take up the challenge. He realises that an inventor has got something that Mogul needs. The big question is: what has Mogul got that the inventor needs?
Papuan headhunters are not a common danger to Mogul. But they are only one of the hazards Peter Thornton has to face. Why does the Australian District Commissioner try to stop him going to see Dr. Liebling? And what is Dr. Liebling doing there anyway? It takes a terrifying experience to clear up the mystery.
Ghislaine Foss's hand is sought by both Zenith and Mogul. Why? Because besides having a young and glamourous millionairess at the end of it it also contains a fistful of Mogul shares. Vital shares as the Mogul - Zenith battle reaches its climax.
Brian Stead takes the entire board of Mogul International across the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II. But this is no empty gesture. The moment of decision has arrived in the merger battle. For the crucial board meeting the directors must be away from outside interference.
Is Alec Stewart a spy? The Algerian authorities think so. It is possible. He travels all over the world, is accepted everywhere without question and he moves in the highest circles. But he has never expressed strong political opinions and he certainly doesn't need the money. So why should he spy?
Memories of 1945 come flooding back to Brian Stead when he revisits Berlin, where Mogul are drilling for natural gas. He served there at the end of the war, and an incident twenty-four years old is dragged up in an attempt to discredit him.
Thornton questions his loyalty when he is lost in the Australian outback without radio and without salt tablets. Struggling to survive he wonders whether Mogul's demands are too great.
Thornton resigns from Mogul. Lying peacefully on a beach in Fiji he resists attempts from Stead and Izard to change his mind. But Stead has a few tricks to pull before he admits defeat.
Thornton returns to the fold - straight into a row between the New Zealand government and Mogul over the movement of a drilling rig from that country to Indonesia.
An important contract can be won in Ceylon. But Mogul's manager there, Henry Burton, doesn't seem to be trying. Thornton must not only find out why but also take the decisions needed to put things right, including sacking Burton if necessary.
Thornton is taken prisoner on a Caribbean island paradise. 'King' George Watt doesn't want a Mogul invasion and he is supported by French anthropologist Dr. Leduc, who is using the islanders in a dangerous sociological experiment. She helps Thornton escape.
