Summary

While Valerian, Laureline, and Mr. Schroeder are in the prison bubbles, a lava field erupts. The bubbles are uncomfortable but protect the three from the lava. They are “half conscious” and are “tossed around” inside the bubbles (41). They are clear of the lava before their bubbles open, setting the three free. Though Mr. Schroeder is certain they are only a half hour's walk from the lab, they walk for hours before reaching it to find that Sun Rae was in remote control of the prison bubbles, and that he moved them out of the lava field before releasing them.

Sun Rae then says that Xombul did return to the lab, but that he has escaped in a rocket. Dr. Schroeder explains that there was a rocket at the facility. In the event of a nuclear attack, the president was supposed to board the...