When the Golden Child, the ancient gold-covered corpse of the African ruler of Garamantia, arrives at a London museum, it instantly becomes the sinister focus of a web of intrigue spun by all manner of museum personnel: the triumphant archaeologist who now refuses to look at the treasure, the grizzled guard, and especially the hapless junior officer Waring Smith.<BR>While prowling through the museum late one night, Waring is almost strangled with a golden wire belonging to the Golden Child. Who could be responsible, and how could the wire be so strong after thousands of years? Two outside experts cast doubt on the exhibit's authenticity, and Waring is swept up in the ensuing mayhem.