DALE SOLVES THE ENERGY CRISIS

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.


hydro-dale
Copyright Dale Rogerson

Written as part of theย Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more detailsย HERE).ย 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 weekโ€™s prompt, visitย HERE.


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My novel, โ€˜A Justified State,โ€™ is available now
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91 responses to “DALE SOLVES THE ENERGY CRISIS”

  1. Oh, no! Why Montrรฉal?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Dale lives there, simple as that – just bad luck for Montreal!

      Like

  2. Wonderfully and whimsically inventive, Iain

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I think Dale’s going to be gunning for you when she wakes up Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m hoping she’ll see the funny side…

      Like

  4. Dear Iain,

    Poor Dale. I have it on good authority her intentions were honourable. Fun story. You made me smile.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rochelle, always nice to know I have spread a smile or two ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  5. Yikes! What an ending! Great story, Iain.

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Poor Dale. I’m sure she meant well…. We’ll see if she still means well when she responds ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I am bracing myself…

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I was just reading about electric cars the other day and something like this story was in the comments.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can only see electricity produced this way leading to disaster.

      Like

  8. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, of course, I am only killing a fictional Dale – I may have to take cover later! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Oh my gosh! Macabre and funny all at the same time. ๐Ÿ˜Ž Thanks Iain, I really enjoy these.
    Blessings
    Debbie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Debbie, glad you enjoyed ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  10. Oh, that made me chuckle, Iain! A literal use of the prompt that manages to be very original – how beautiful is that? Kudos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  11. aheartforafrica641064503 Avatar
    aheartforafrica641064503

    Your story made me chuckle. Poor Dale. Her heart was in the right place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  12. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 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!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. If we live till then, there is something to learn.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. This was a fun story, Iain. Although it might get you in hot water with Dale ๐Ÿ™‚ Just kidding. Dale is one cool lady. I’m sure she’ll get a chuckle out of this.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. What an interesting take… one canโ€™t blame inventors if nature misbehave can we. :0

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We still try to control nature, even after we should have learned long ago that it cannot be tamed.

      Like

  15. Oh dear, what a shame, never mind…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You sound heartbroken…

      Like

  16. Such nice humor. Dale should have been a smidge more careful with such an extreme innovation~

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A lab test first would have been wise!

      Liked by 1 person

  17. The best laid plans….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. …of mice and Dale.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I like the way you show the double-edged sword of technology.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome, Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  19. 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…
    ๐Ÿ˜€

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It seems she is still out there, lurking around… ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿคฃ

        Liked by 1 person

  20. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. True, a test may have helped!

      Like

  21. Oh no, poor Dale! Good job it’s just a story. OR IS IT…?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Only Dale knows the truth…

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Rekha Rajgopal Avatar
    Rekha Rajgopal

    Very good use of the prompt…macabre yet funny story!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. 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. ๐Ÿ˜€ — Suzanne

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Suzanne, it appears, thankfully, that Dale has survived after all! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  24. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Russell, a new name for Dale that I’m sure will catch on!

      Like

  25. Poor Dale! She is missed ๐Ÿ˜‚.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not by all those poor souls in Montreal ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  26. I’m sure Dale meant well. Very creativeโ€‹ story, love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Everyone starts out with the best of intentions! ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Bernadette Braganza Avatar
    Bernadette Braganza

    Ouch! Poor Dale ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

    Liked by 1 person

  28. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks James, true, Dale has sacrificed herself so someone else can pick up where she left off!

      Like

  29. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s one way to look at it ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  30. That was pretty drastic, killing the inventor!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Dying for their science!

      Like

  31. It seemed a good idea at the time. A Dalectable tale!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Keith ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Oh dear. One Friday Fictioneer less. But a fun experiment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. She still seems to be writing, must’ve been another Dale.

      Like

  33. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dale didn’t resurface with new plans for destruction. Best keep your head down Iain. (Great story)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I may be a target…!

      Liked by 1 person

  34. she took the risk and failed. hopefully, someone can learn from her mistakes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Without the risks we would never get anywhere.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  35. Now we know, it’s all Dale’s fault. But killing her off? Tsk… Iain… ๐Ÿ˜€

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know, I’m in trouble!

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Oh no! Gosh what an ending. Hilarious but could it happen I wonder? A weather machine? Love the idea

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m sure someone will be trying it!

      Like

  37. Interesting take on the prompt… We are all being sucked in hell…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Something like that!

      Liked by 1 person

  38. Gulp. You did Dale in?! (It’s a darn good thing she’s so good-natured or there could be repercussions.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think there still could be repercussions for me!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. I can see from Dale’s comment that she does indeed see the humour in her fictional demise. ๐Ÿ˜Š
    Engaging writing, as always.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thankfully, she does! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  40. 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 ๐Ÿ˜Ž

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I certainly hope it doesn’t happen! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

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