Bugged!

"The White Cloud."

By Arthur Porges (1915-2006; Wikipedia HERE.)

First appearance: Shell Scott Mystery Magazine, April 1966.

Short short short story (3 pages).

Online at The Luminist Archives (HERE; go to text page 130).

   "We've got to find Professor Neal, and fast."

WHEN a very important scientist is kidnapped by a vicious terrorist group, the F.B.I. is at a loss. To their credit, though, the Feds do realize that, like that old saying about a thief being most qualified to catch another thief, it's going to take a scientist to find another scientist . . .

Main characters:

~ Sheriff Reardon, Tanner, Professor Neal, and Dr. Jacobi.

References:

- "limestone all through the county":

  "While draining, water and organic acid from the soil slowly (over thousands or millions of years) enlarges these cracks, dissolving the calcium carbonate and carrying it away in solution. Most cave systems are through limestone bedrock. Cooling groundwater or mixing of different groundwaters will also create conditions suitable for cave formation." (Wikipedia HERE.)

- "a Snooperscope":

  "Parallel development [with the Germans in World War II] occurred in the U.S. The M1 and M3 infrared night-sighting devices, also known as the 'sniperscope' or 'snooperscope,' saw limited service with the U.S. Army in World War II and in the Korean War, to assist snipers. These were active devices, using an infrared light source to illuminate targets. Their image-intensifier tubes used an anode and an S-1 photocathode, made primarily of silver, cesium, and oxygen, and electrostatic inversion with electron acceleration produced gain." (Wikipedia HERE.)

- "Sophia Loren":

  For many years her name has been a synonym for an exotically beautiful woman.

  "Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren, is an Italian actress, active in her native country and the United States. With a career spanning over 70 years, she is one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema." (Wikipedia HERE.)

Resources:

- Our involvement with Arthur Porges's short fiction has been substantial; see a list beginning (HERE).

The bottom line:

Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.

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