High Dragon Bump

A scientist and a glamour model are abducted by tentacled extraterrestrials who seek a mysterious artifact or process they call a high dragon bump, which the humans cannot explain; held aboard a windowless craft, the scientist attempts to deduce the aliens' need and to prevent them from using more destructive methods, while the model's attempts to influence him introduce humor and distraction. The story blends breezy comic tone with speculative technology as the humans translate between scientific explanation and alien intent, improvising solutions under time pressure to avert planetary disaster.