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7.12.16

RESERVOIR - a 100 word story

RESERVOIR

The city sprawl was visible from space, its airport runway a strip of light that silhouetted each plane’s takeoff and landing. The pilot of the largest craft didn’t join the circling queue, but waited confidently behind his radar shield.

Only when the city slept did he descend and slide stealthily beneath the surface of the reservoir, where their carefully-constructed outer shell blended seamlessly with the drowned landscape of abandoned farms and fields. 
Birds by day, bats by night, they explored, listened and observed.

They were in no hurry – there were several years to go before the invasion.

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Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers on her blog  https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/ and to Lucy Fridkin for the photograph which prompted my story. You can read other interpretations by following the link from Rochelle's blog.

31 comments:

  1. Dear Lizy,

    Invasion? If they wait long enough we'll destroy ourselves. Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. I try not to dwell on that possibility, Rochelle!

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  2. Ominous tone, a beautiful setup for the invasion to come. Well done.

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  3. Ooh... *checks sky suspiciously*

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    1. For bats, birds or spaceships?

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    2. All of the above, but mostly spaceships!

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    3. Every cloud could be one in disguise. Mwah-ha-ha!

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  4. They are already here... waiting patiently... actually a few of them have started blogging.

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  5. Is birds by day and bats by night the wildlife equivalent of burning the candle at both ends?

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  6. Very well done. This is very haunting. I loved it!
    xx Rowena

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  7. Leaves me wanting for more. Nicely crafted.

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    Replies
    1. thanks yarnspinner - one day I might expand on some of the score of flash stories I've written.

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  8. You've created a real sense of foreboding.

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    1. Deep water can do that to my imagination!

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  9. Well, now you've got me worried. Such a poet sense inside impending doom.

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    1. I've been thinking the invasion mightn't be so bad if they're only small?

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  10. This is great. And if they watch birds and bats--I'd rather they invade sooner than later, as long as there are birds, bats and other wildlife left. Since we're not able to take care of our planet, maybe they'll show us.

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    1. The only trouble with that view, Ga H, is that we cannot assume aliens are better than us. The question we should be asking is, why did they leave their own planet?

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  11. Wonderful. I love this. You've covered so much, from distant observations to arrival , concealment, and future plans. I'm in awe.

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  12. A unique take on the prompt - enjoyed the read thanks! :)

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  13. Sounds like aliens with drones. Now that's creepy. Good writing, Liz. :) --- Suzanne

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