The Twins Paradox by Alan Gasparutti (best contemporary novels txt) 📖

you tell that these planets were similar to Earth?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“I could determine the planet size by the magnification from the star concerned,” replied Professor Wagstaff. “By monitoring the star on a regular basis, I determined the orbit of the planet, and hence it’s distance from the star. I suppose it’s a little bit like Galileo discovering the major moons of Jupiter centuries ago.”
“Have you been able to determine whether the planets support life?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“Not yet, I’m afraid,” said Professor Wagstaff. “I have referred this to NASA, as you may be aware, with a view to the particular planets being monitored by the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. I’m now going to focus on some other projects.”
“Can you tell us any of the projects?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“Most of them are in relation to the battle against global warming. We at the European Space Agency take the issue very seriously, and believe it prudent to give priority to our own planet,” Professor Wagstaff told him.
At this point Professor Wagstaff sensed danger within the premises. He couldn’t determine what it was, but believed it may be directed to someone he knew.
“Can you tell us if you have any cosmic projects in mind?” Dr Ferguson asked while Professor Wagstaff was trying to assess the situation.
“There are a few which I would like to undertake one day, to confirm some theories of mine,” said Professor Wagstaff.
“Would you like to divulge some of those theories?” asked Dr Ferguson. “I’m sure everyone would be interested to know of any ideas you may have.”
“Well, amongst them, I have my own theory on the Big Bang,” replied Professor Wagstaff, who wanted to get back to his seat.
“Can you elaborate on that theory?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“I believe that the Big Bang was caused by a super-mega black hole,” Professor Wagstaff told him. “I don’t believe in all this matter-annihilating-anti-matter mumbo-jumbo.”
The audience were surprised at this, and Dr Ferguson invited Professor Wagstaff to explain his views, much to the Professor’s displeasure.
“I’m sure you agree that at the centre of all galaxies lies a black hole,” Professor Wagstaff told Dr Ferguson. “Black holes have infinite gravity and will consume all matter around them, or stars which may stray too close. I accept that there are several black holes within each galaxy, but as they consume everything in their path, they will rotate to the centre of each galaxy, and will eventually form one massive black hole. Eventually, the black hole will consume the entire galaxy.”
The audience were all whispering to eachother. This distracted Professor Wagstaff a little. Again he could sense danger, but just as he thought he recognised what it was, Dr Ferguson requested he explain his theory further.
“This will mean that there will be two or more super black holes consuming a local galactic group,” explained Professor Wagstaff. “These will merge into a super-mega black hole, with the strength to pull other LGGs towards it.”
“Could you explain what are LGGs?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“Local Galactic Groups, please keep up with me,” commented Professor Wagstaff. “This is what will eventually pull galaxies back towards an epicenter.”
“But if the galaxies are all consumed by black holes, shouldn’t everything merge into one ultimate black hole, with no matter to create the Big Bang?” queried Dr Ferguson.
“Think of two magnets, pulling towards eachother,” Arthur then suggested. “Then think of another magnet approaching them, rotated at 180 degrees. It will repell the other magnets. Likewise, the forces of more than one black hole may not always pull together.”
“And you believe this will eventually cause another Big Bang?” queried Dr Ferguson.
“We don’t know enough about black holes, but I believe that the forces of several mega black holes will eventually tear eachother apart,” Professor Wagstaff explained. “Their energies will all be used pulling together, and the matter within too heavy to maintain. Eventually, this will cause an ultra-super-massive explosion, the Big Bang.”
“Well that’s certainly an interesting theory,” said Dr Ferguson. “Controversial, but interesting. Do you have any evidence for this?”
“No, not directly, but nor did Copernicus or Galileo,” replied Arthur. “People ignored Gene Shoemaker when he said that craters on the moon were created by meteorite collisions, believeing they were extinct lunar volcanoes instead.”
“It is widely acknowledged that the universe is not currently contracting, but expanding at a faster rate than first envisaged,” emphasised Dr Ferguson. “Perhaps you would like to elaborate on the reasons behind your theories?”
“I acknowledge that the universe is expanding, but not at the rate currently perceived,” said Arthur. “The furthest galaxies viewed are 14 billion light years away, hence we see them 14 billion years ago. This suggests that we see them traveling at speeds from 14 billion years ago.”
Everyone in the audience was quiet and looked at eachother.
“In galaxies, new stars are not being created at the same pace as old stars are dying,” Arthur then added. “Most will end up as red or white dwarfs, while a few will become black holes, though others will be consumed by them. Only a few will end up as supernovae, becoming nebulae to create new stars.”
“And you believe this will result in the universe contracting?” asked Dr Ferguson.
“Precisely,” said Arthur. “It is already acknowledged by many that the universe will eventually fade. As galaxies move further away, energy from the Big Bang decreases. As fewer stars explode into supernovae, even less energy is created. Black holes, however, have limitless gravitational forces, and as they increase, consume matter, merge and become larger and ever-more powerful, galaxies will slow down and, eventually, the universe will contract.”
Dr Ferguson was bemused as what to say next, and tried to refer to other astronomers in the audience, in the hope of finding support for current theories. The audience was transfixed with Arthur’s theories, as all was silent.
“I believe there has been more than one Big Bang, and that they may have occurred in different parts of the universe,” added Professor Wagstaff. “This is why galaxies are sometimes seen to be crossing paths. If there was just one explosion, everything would move in different directions, leaving nothing to move towards eachother.”
“That’s certainly very interesting,” said Dr Ferguson, who unsure what to say next simply invited a big hand for Professor Wagstaff, before he excused him from the stage.

As Professor Wagstaff went back to his seat, he felt the sense of danger once again. He looked up towards the stanchions at the top of the conference hall, which was dimmed to give the feeling of outer space. He could sense a man with a rifle, pointing towards Professor Frank Marshall. Fortunately, the items raised by Arthur had created an air of whispers and discussion amongst astronomers, so the gunman couldn’t get a clear view of Frank.
When Arthur sat down, Dr Ferguson raised the next topic on the agenda, at which point the audience went quiet. Arthur felt the sense of danger increasing. He managed to catch a view of the gunman, who was slowly squeezing the trigger. Arthur focused his force on the gunman, who felt put-off by this, and struggled to concentrate on his target.
“You never told me about those ideas of yours, Arthur,” Dermot commented to him, before noticing all may not be well. “Are you okay Arthur?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” replied Arthur, as he lost his concentration.
At this point, the gunman had steadied his aim on his intended target, and so Arthur had to re-focus his efforts. It was now becoming a battle of wills, as the gunman’s concentration wained, until the audience gave a welcoming handclap to Dr Ferguson’s next guest to appear on stage. This distracted Arthur, and gave the gunman the upper hand again.
As the clapping died down, the gunman focused at Frank once more, while Professor Wagstaff stared up at the gunman. With all the force from a star wars movie, he managed to distract the gunman enough to lose his balance, before toppling onto the stage.
Everyone was shocked. Dr Ferguson went to check on the gunmen, and the Governor of California ran onto the stage.
“Is he okay?” the Governor asked Dr Ferguson.
“He’s not dead,” Dr Ferguson replied as he felt the pulse of the gunman. “Shall we call an ambulance?”
“Just keep a check on him for the moment,” the Governor advised. “I’ll call security – they can take this gunman to confinement somewhere in this centre.”
The audience murmured to each other, wondering who the gunman had been aiming at, and who he may have been working for. Was this supposed to be an assassination attempt on the Governor of California? Was it an attempt on the Chief of NASA? Was it some crazy gunman with something against someone in the audience?
The audience couldn’t get a good view of the gunman, and pondered whether it may have been an Islamic militant? Only two men really knew the answer, and perhaps another man may have had a good idea who the target was. Frank, Clint and Arthur, each said nothing.
As security guards took the gunman away, the Governor of California stood up.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have your attention please?” he asked to the audience. “I will ask you all to remain seated for the time being, while security guards check the premises. I will keep you informed and confirm when it is safe to leave the building.”
Everyone remained seated, but the rumours began to circulate amongst the audience. Frank and Clint remained tight-lipped about their suspicions, though it didn’t stop them from debating the main rumours with their colleagues. Professor Wagstaff also said nothing about what had really happened. Eventually, security guards went to speak to the Governor’, who coughed to draw everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been assured that the premises are safe and secured,” he told the audience. “I’d like to thank everyone for attending today’s convention, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the rest of today’s agenda will have to be abandoned. I envisage that the convention will resume tomorrow morning, and will ensure that you are all kept informed of events. Notices will be placed at the convention centre to confirm arrangements.”
“Will we be called to give evidence on today’s events?” a man in the audience asked the Governor’.
“I cannot say with great certainty at this moment, but suggest this should not be ruled out,” the Governor’ replied. “Once again, I’d like to thank everyone for attending today’s convention. I’d like to wish you all a safe journey to your accomodation, and a happy day ahead. Thank you.”
At that point everyone began to leave. It was noticed Frank sometimes looked behind him, in case someone was watching him.
“Are you okay Frank?” asked Dermot.
“I’m fine,” Frank replied. “Just a little concerned, that’s all.”
“You don’t think the guy was going to shoot you, do you?” queried Dermot.
“I think it may be the shock,” Clint said quickly, fearing Frank would tell all his fears, how he was forced to retire, and his suspicions of what may have happened to Steve Di Pierri and Major-General Cornelius Smith. “Shall we go somewhere for a drink and snack?” he suggested.
“What like the café around the corner?” queried Dermot.
“No, I was thinking somewhere out of town,” suggested Clint. “Why don’t you all come in my car?”
“That sounds good to me,” said Arthur, who also noticed that Frank was worried, and felt it better to get away somewhere in case Frank ‘spilled the beans’.
“Where did you get those ideas of yours, Arthur,” Dermot said to him. “They seemed very controversial.”
“Yeah, you certainly caught Dr Ferguson by surprise,” commented Clint.
“Never mind catching Dr Ferguson by surprise,” said Dermot. “You certainly gave me a