The initial idea had been so simple.
Now it was a reality.
Dale stood before her innovation. Three giant prongs extending into the sky.
The metal forks would extract moisture from the atmosphere and turn it into electricity.
She proudly hit the switch to turn it on.
***
It took Montreal months to recover from the damage that Dale’s Hydro Extractor caused.
The swirling mass of clouds drawn towards her machine had caused an atmospheric storm that brought cyclones, monsoons, flooding, severe electric shocks and untold misery.
Buildings were swept away, thousands perished.
The three-pronged extractor survived. Dale didn’t.
Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
My novel, ‘A Justified State,’ is available now
Iain Kelly 
91 responses to “DALE SOLVES THE ENERGY CRISIS”
Oh, no! Why Montréal?
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Dale lives there, simple as that – just bad luck for Montreal!
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Wonderfully and whimsically inventive, Iain
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Thank you Neil
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I think Dale’s going to be gunning for you when she wakes up Iain.
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I’m hoping she’ll see the funny side…
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Muahahaha!
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Dear Iain,
Poor Dale. I have it on good authority her intentions were honourable. Fun story. You made me smile.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you Rochelle, always nice to know I have spread a smile or two 🙂
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Yikes! What an ending! Great story, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan
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Poor Dale. I’m sure she meant well…. We’ll see if she still means well when she responds 😉
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Yes, I am bracing myself…
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I was just reading about electric cars the other day and something like this story was in the comments.
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I can only see electricity produced this way leading to disaster.
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Oh, man, you are such a meanie… killing Dale that way. (shakes head, closes eyes, and prays for your wayward soul.). Great story, though… and an interesting idea…what if we could extract electricity that way… without the damages, of course.
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Thank you, of course, I am only killing a fictional Dale – I may have to take cover later! 🙂
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Oh my gosh! Macabre and funny all at the same time. 😎 Thanks Iain, I really enjoy these.
Blessings
Debbie
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Thank you so much Debbie, glad you enjoyed 🙂
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Oh, that made me chuckle, Iain! A literal use of the prompt that manages to be very original – how beautiful is that? Kudos!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Your story made me chuckle. Poor Dale. Her heart was in the right place.
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Thank you! 🙂
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Cloudbursts and storms do occur in nearby areas, after nuclear tests are conducted in deserts. Linkages have not been established, and will probably never be.
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For all that science can tell us, we still don’t know exactly what causes lightning, so who knows what else nature has in store!
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If we live till then, there is something to learn.
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This was a fun story, Iain. Although it might get you in hot water with Dale 🙂 Just kidding. Dale is one cool lady. I’m sure she’ll get a chuckle out of this.
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I do hope so!
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What an interesting take… one can’t blame inventors if nature misbehave can we. :0
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We still try to control nature, even after we should have learned long ago that it cannot be tamed.
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Oh dear, what a shame, never mind…
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You sound heartbroken…
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Schmuck
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Such nice humor. Dale should have been a smidge more careful with such an extreme innovation~
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A lab test first would have been wise!
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very much
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The best laid plans….
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…of mice and Dale.
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👍
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I like the way you show the double-edged sword of technology.
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Thank you
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You are welcome, Iain.
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Yanno, Iain… that Dale is a tad precocious to say the least. No lab tests? No testing on American soil near the Whitehouse? Honestly… to blow up a lovely city like Montreal is blasphemous. You sure she didn’t make it to her home on the south shore of Montreal? She’s done for, for good?
Sad day…
😀
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It seems she is still out there, lurking around… 😉
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😂🤣
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That is why it is important to do a pilot before introducing an innovation for mass consumption. Poor Dale did not have many good advisors.
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True, a test may have helped!
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Oh no, poor Dale! Good job it’s just a story. OR IS IT…?
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Only Dale knows the truth…
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Very good use of the prompt…macabre yet funny story!
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Thank you Rekha
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Oh, poor Dale. Montreal will never be the same. Wednesdays on this blog will never be the same. Check again and see if she’s still there somewhere. If it was me, I’d be in hiding. Funny disaster story, Iain. Even Dale enjoyed it. 😀 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne, it appears, thankfully, that Dale has survived after all! 🙂
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Instead of Dudley Do-Right of the Royal Canadian Mounties, we have Dale Do-Right of the Montreal Mistake-Prone Canucks. I love it! Well done, Iain.
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Thanks Russell, a new name for Dale that I’m sure will catch on!
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Poor Dale! She is missed 😂.
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Not by all those poor souls in Montreal 🙂
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I’m sure Dale meant well. Very creative story, love it!
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Everyone starts out with the best of intentions! 😉
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Ouch! Poor Dale 😦
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😉
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Oh Dale! Perhaps some good will come out of the Dale’s Hydro Extractor, modified; it could be used to control the weather and the climate. So who’s working on the invention now?
A fun and light hearted read.
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Thanks James, true, Dale has sacrificed herself so someone else can pick up where she left off!
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Energy crisis solved! If we destroy civilization, we don’t need energy. It’s kind of an odd workaround, but good job, Dale. Problem solved. Next job, try to solve American politics. The same method is acceptable.
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That’s one way to look at it 🙂
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That was pretty drastic, killing the inventor!
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Dying for their science!
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It seemed a good idea at the time. A Dalectable tale!
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Thanks Keith 🙂
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Oh dear. One Friday Fictioneer less. But a fun experiment.
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She still seems to be writing, must’ve been another Dale.
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It wouldn’t surprise me if Dale didn’t resurface with new plans for destruction. Best keep your head down Iain. (Great story)
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I may be a target…!
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she took the risk and failed. hopefully, someone can learn from her mistakes.
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Without the risks we would never get anywhere.
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Really a great read!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Now we know, it’s all Dale’s fault. But killing her off? Tsk… Iain… 😀
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I know, I’m in trouble!
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Great ending.
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Thanks Lisa
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Oh no! Gosh what an ending. Hilarious but could it happen I wonder? A weather machine? Love the idea
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I’m sure someone will be trying it!
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Interesting take on the prompt… We are all being sucked in hell…
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Something like that!
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Gulp. You did Dale in?! (It’s a darn good thing she’s so good-natured or there could be repercussions.)
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I think there still could be repercussions for me!
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I can see from Dale’s comment that she does indeed see the humour in her fictional demise. 😊
Engaging writing, as always.
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Thankfully, she does! 🙂
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I have to admit, lain, I had a good chuckle at the end. I wonder if it’s because of the fact that I know who Dale is. LOL GREAT take on the prompt. Hopefully, this doesn’t really happen.
Isadora 😎
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I certainly hope it doesn’t happen! 🙂
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