I grabbed my design file, rolled up the plan sheet, and ran up the stairs. I was fresh out of Rose and barely twenty-two. Walking into the big office, my heart raced. There was my boss, Jim, an imposing man who was a couple of years younger than Dad. Like Dad, Jim was a farm raised Purdue grad. Throughout the go-go 60’s, he had designed rural water systems. Thousands of folks in southern Indiana now have ‘city water’ thanks to…..
Slipping through the window, Jim dropped to the floor; breathlessly he listened for his pursuer. The watchman had spotted him climbing the fence, and gave chase. Dashing through the dim moonlight, Jim had evaded the guard. Now he waited. Outside of the window footsteps approached, stopped, and then retreated. “That was close,” Jim muttered, surveying the room. It was a mess; books piled on the floor, drawers emptied, wall safe open. “Someone’s already searched this room,” he whispered. Ignoring the…..
Consider the compass; an ancient, deceptively simple tool. For decades it marked the pinnacle of human innovation, coveted by both voyager and explorer. Rendered from the world’s finest brass and jewels, these were priceless works of art. Ironically, today you can buy a plastic one for a few bucks. An interesting thing about the compass; every one ever made can do but one thing – point north. That is all it does, yet consider all we have accomplished using it. It…..
The Midwest Book Review gave Olivia’s Story: Protector of the Realm an excellent review. It appears in the December 2016 Midwest Book Review Small Press Bookwatch (click the Fantasy/SciFi Shelf, it is the second review listed). “Olivia’s Story: Protector of the Realm is an original, deftly crafted and consistently compelling historical fantasy novel by David Dahl. While very highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of fantasy fans that “Olivia’s…..
Surrounded by a thick fog, Alzenia gathered coal for the stove. It was early, and it was dark, but lighting the stove was her job. An owl hooted from a nearby tree, and the river ice softly popped as the floes ground against each other. She never liked that sound; it meant danger. Zenia carried the full coal bucket into the house. With five kids in the loft, Mom and Dad in the back room, and Grandpa and Grandma in…..