CHUFFER TRAIN - a little story in a hundred words

CHUFFER TRAIN

The landing craft circled, its cameras focussed on the train below.

“A primitive form of transport,” the Commander decided, and sent Phtam to make First Contact.

Slightly wobbly on her unfamiliar legs, Phtam walked along the platform and approached the nearest figure. “Good day.”

The man didn’t even acknowledge her. She tried each person in turn with no success. A train chuffed into the station but still no-one moved, and when it left, so did Phtam.

“They’re all dead,” she reported. “Probably a virulent virus.”

The ship left hurriedly – without spotting the sign on a gate --

‘Model Village closed today’.

...............................................................................................

Apologies to the real people - if they ARE real - on this station, but Sandra Crook's photo reminded me of a model village on the Isle of Wight which I visited recently with my granddaughter.

Thanks as ever to https://rochellewisoff.com/ for hosting Friday Fictioneers - if you care to follow the links from her blog you can read other stories prompted by Sandra's photo.

PS to Sandra - is that Corfe Castle in the background of your photo?

This is the Isle of Wight model village...

DINNER - a story for Friday Fictioneers in 100 words

DINNER

People were enjoying a peaceful dinner when the power failed, plunging the restaurant into darkness.

In the ensuing confusion tables were overturned, glasses smashed, and then the screaming started. One after another the voices rose to a crescendo ... and stopped. Then there was another sound, like a child slurping thick milkshake through a straw, but amplified a hundred-fold.

After a few moments there was nothing but silence.

When the police arrived, three strange tubes were disappearing into the ground, smeared with gore, and the floor of the restaurant was a foul, pulpy mess.

.........................................................................................................................
Not the most pleasant way to make my reappearance after a few weeks absent, but those waving arms look menacing to me! Two weeks ago I was in Northern Ireland visiting my elder daughter and her husband and drinking Guinness. And last week I was painting my bedroom and my desk was inaccessible!

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.

...................................................................

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.

ALIEN INVASION - a story in 100 words

ALIEN INVASION

They appeared out of a shimmering heat-wave and overran the town by sheer weight of numbers. The townsfolk were powerless to prevent them billeting themselves in every house.

The creatures loved heat, turning off air-conditioning and basking in the sun like lizards. They took many specimens from the countryside, but when they stole human DNA for an inter-breeding programme, there was talk of killing them despite the risk. Wiser souls said “Wait – Mother Nature will sort them out.”

It snowed unseasonably early that year, and as the aliens staggered to their ship, the townsfolk broke every egg into a snowdrift. 

-------------------------------------------------

This story was written in response to the photo prompt, which was taken by Rochelle and posted on her blog https://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/

When you've left a comment on my story please feel free to browse before following the links on Rochelle's blog to scores of other 100 word stories.

ANTS - 100 word fiction

ANTS

“What do they look like to you?”

“Ants,” Jin said instantly.

“That’s the standard answer,” the examiner replied, “You’ll have to do better if you want to be allowed to land on this planet.”

Jin tried again. “A migrating herd.”

“They’re not migrating – they’re not actually going anywhere.”

“But they are animals and there’s a lot of them.”

The examiner sighed. “I’m looking for a much simpler word. Look at them again and what’s your gut reaction?”

Jin realised she was trying to help him and the penny dropped. “Food.”

“Finally!” she smiled. “Pack your weapon and let’s go.”

 ==================================

Thanks again to  http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/  for the photo that prompted this story, which I wrote in a tearing hurry because I should be packing!

We are off the England tomorrow for two weeks to help my mother celebrate her 90th birthday and to catch up with children and grandchildren. Fortunately my daughter here will water the garden, because the little rain we've had isn't enough.