Summary

Page 39 shows the scenery as they enter the Master's place. The bottom half of the page is a single panel that shows a cave with a series of chutes that would empty food into a huge, jelly-like creature that is the Master. Each of the aliens has a different idea of what to do, with the women urging a firm but polite protest. Laureline suggests they destroy the Klaar chutes so the creature will starve. Valerian begins firing, saying that someone else should pick up the fight if he fails.

Page 41 is a full-page panel filled with oranges and reds at the top, fading into blues and grays at the bottom. Valerian destroys the first of the chutes and then falls down. He is overcome by images of “unbearable nightmares” (41). The Master's words appear to Valerian, forcing him to relive the cruel choices...