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

on it before passing the sheet to Frank. “These are your details are they not?”
Frank was surprised as he read the piece of paper.
“If anything’s wrong please let me know,” Arthur added. “It’s probably too late to pass the info on to the ‘Governor now, but I can try to send the message another way.”
“Erhh, everything appears to be in order,” mumbled a rather gobsmacked Frank, before handing the piece of paper to Dermot.
“I see you’ve got my details, too,” said Dermot. “Where did you get all the information from?”
“Basically, it’s just telepathy,” explained Arthur. “I hope you don’t mind me passing on this information?”
“I don’t mind, though I don’t think Jeanette would be too keen,” said Frank. “I’d be grateful if you kept this information to yourself.”
“Of course I will,” said Arthur.
“I notice you haven’t got my details,” Clint then queried.
“I was going to pass them on, and my own details too, but that was when Dr Ferguson got in the way,” Arthur replied. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I didn’t think you were as keen on the green issues as Frank, Dermot or myself, so I was going to leave your details ‘til last.”
“Well, I’m not really a green person, so to speak, but I am coming around to many of your ideas,” Clint admitted. “The question now is, how are you going to demonstrate your ideas if you’re taking the car home tomorrow?”
“He’s got a point,” added Frank.
Arthur then stared briefly into Frank’s eyes, before turning his attention to Clint, and eventually to Dermot.
“There we are,” said Arthur, as the others shook their heads for a second. “You should all know as much about the digital motor as I do, now. I’ll send some images to your home PCs. That should help if the Governor asks to see the model, although I suppose I could leave the motor behind, if you’re prepared to take care of it.”
“Erhhh, I think you’ve done enough to help for the time being,” Dermot told Arthur, as he could see Frank and Clint weren’t too keen on the latest suggestion. “Besides, how are we going to get to LA airport without your car?”
“That’s fine by me,” said Arthur
“Where are you two flying to?” Clint then asked.
“Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport,” said Dermot. “We were considering traveling via Heathrow, but I’m glad we’re not now. We may have had to go through Terminal 5, with the car ending up in Tokyo! And I don’t think that would help our cause.”
As they were all laughing, a waiter came along with the drinks, and asked if they were ready to order food. The four of them each had a quick look at the menu, before giving their orders to the waiter.
“So, Arthur, what do you think of California?” Frank then asked after the waiter left.
“I don’t think I could really comment,” said Arthur. “I’ve certainly enjoyed the nights out, and I quite like the town of San Bernardino, but I gather there’s a lot more to see in California.”
“Well, what do you say we stop off in LA tomorrow?” suggested Dermot. “We could probably take a bus ride to Beverley Hills to see the stars.”
“The TV & movie stars, he means,” added Clint.
“Yes I did work that one out myself, actually,” commented Arthur, to which Frank and Dermot laughed.
“So, is there anyone in Hollywood that takes your fancy?” Dermot asked him.
“I don’t watch a lot of movies, but if you mean ladies, I quite like Cindy Crawford,” said Arthur.
“She’s a cracker, ain’t she,” commented Dermot. “How about you, Clint – does anyone take your fancy?”
“I’m not really one for movies, though I once had a soft spot for Raquel Welch,” Clint replied.
“I used to like her, but I’m more for Jody Foster, right now,” said Frank. “I’m more for easy listening these days – I love relaxing to Celine Dion, and I don’t mind a little Whitney, now and then.”
“How would the two of you like to come along to LA with us?” Dermot then asked. “We can take a ride to Beverley Hills, what do you say?”
Frank and Clint looked at eachother, a little unsure. Arthur wasn’t too keen either, as he wanted to get back home and speak to (Major) Henry Retono.
“To be honest, it’s probably a bit too far for us,” said Clint.
“It shouldn’t be too far, only about 50 miles I should imagine,” said Dermot.
“I know, but don’t forget we’ve travelled from the opposite side of the country,” Frank pointed out. “It would add another 100 miles to our journey.”
“Couldn’t you pick up a flight from LA airport to Colorado?” Dermot queried.
“Not at short notice,” replied Clint. “Besides, I don’t think our wives would be too happy if they found out we’d been to Hollywood.”
“Oh well, never mind,” said Dermot. “The more ladies for us, eh Arthur!”
Arthur just smiled, but said nothing, while Frank and Clint picked up their pints.
“I would like to go to LA, but you don’t mind if we get back to business just now?” Arthur then asked the others.
“I didn’t think there was much more to discuss, now that you’ve ‘informed’ us of your digital car,” said Frank. “The ‘Governor knows our telephone numbers and site addresses, and is going to contact us at some point.”
“Ah yes, but what are we going to tell the ‘Governor?” Arthur asked the others.
“Well, we’re going to have to sell the idea to him,” Frank said.
“Exactly,” said Arthur. “And do you know how you’re going to sell the idea to him?”
“First of all we’re going to have to convince him how good the motor is and emphasise all the benefits,” said Frank.
“Especially the car’s green credentials,” added Dermot.
“That’s fine,” said Arthur, before turning to Clint. “Do you want me to include you in this?”
“I don’t mind being part of this, but I thought you hadn’t given my details to the ‘Governor?” he queried.
“I would have done so if my contact with the ‘Governor hadn’t been broken,” Arthur told him. “If you don’t want to become involved, however, please say so now.”
“You may as well,” Frank said to him. “You now know how the motor works, and besides, I could do with a bit of support.”
Clint wasn’t too sure, but nodded in agreement, to be part of the project, to the relief of the others.
“Good,” said Arthur. “Now, I don’t know which of you the Governor of California is going to contact, but I’m sure if you emphasise your own credentials, it will help to settle him.”
“What, like mentioning during the course of discussions, that I’m the Director of Development for the European Space Agency,” queried Dermot.
“Exactly,” said Arthur. “I’m sure he wouldn’t be any less impressed by you, Frank, if you mention that you were the former Professor in Chief at NASA.”
“Oh sure, sure I will,” Frank replied.
“Good,” said Arthur. “Now, if you can sell the idea of the digital car to the’ Governor, you’ll have to emphasise how positive this all is, but that you haven’t sufficient support to make the project work.”
“Like manufacturing the digital car?” queried Dermot.
“Precisely,” said Arthur. “Before then, however, he’s going to want to see the digital car in action. If you don’t really want the car kept here, that’s where I’m going to have to come in. If you can let me know, so as I can arrange to take my car over here at some point.”
“Didn’t you say you know the bloke who’s producing these cars?” Dermot asked Arthur, to which he nodded. “Do you think you could arrange for me to have one of those digital cars?”
“Possibly, possibly,” replied Arthur, giving the suggestion careful thought. “I quite like the idea of this, and would like the support of the European Space Agency, but remember, this isn’t their project.”
“Oh no, no, no,” Dermot replied. “I’m sure they’d support the idea, but I doubt they would have enough funds to take on this sort of project. They haven’t enough for the current program of space exploration.”
“We can discuss this on our return home,” said Arthur.
“This man that you know, who’s producing these cars - is he like you?” Frank asked. “You know what I’m getting at, don’t you?”
“Oh yes, he’s a nice chap - a good friend of mine,” said Arthur, trying to divert the question.
As luck would have it, a waiter came along and asked which of them had ordered a Tex-Mex Special, to which Frank put his hand up, so the issue was quickly ‘swept under the carpet’.
The four of them agreed a plan of action to take for their project, but didn’t stay too long that evening. They agreed to keep in touch with each other, and waved farewell as they went to their hotels.

Frank and Clint had intended to leave early the next morning, and sure enough, left San Bernardino before the rush hour began. They had a long day ahead of them, on their 1000-mile journey home to Colorado Springs. Neither of them could quite believe they had met a man not born on Earth.
“Do you believe that guy we met, Arthur?” Clint asked Frank a couple of times.
“I’m not totally convinced myself, and I know it seems very difficult to believe, but there was definitely something very odd with that asteroid last year,” replied Frank.
“Yeah, but do you think he is who he told us he is, or do you think he’s an imposter?” Clint queried.
“I don’t know, I really don’t know,” said Frank. “After those events with that asteroid, or whatever it was, nothing would surprise me. Do you believe he was from outer space, or do you think that car of his was made by magic?”
“I don’t know,” said Clint.
“He’s certainly managed to inform me about the car and it’s itinerary,” said Frank. “How about you?”
“I’ll give him that,” said Clint. “Are you going to follow-up that idea of manufacturing a car like the one Arthur had?”
“I’d like to, but I haven’t got the money to do something like that,” said Frank. “Not even with what I received for my retirement.”
“I suppose that was peanuts compared to what you’d need to build a car manufacturing plant,” Clint mumbled.
“Exactly,” said Frank. “Besides, I’m not going to risk what I’ve earned, all on a new idea which ain’t even guaranteed to give me my money back.”
“I don’t think that was what Bill Gates said, twenty-odd years ago,” said Clint.
“Well I’m not Bill Gates!” exclaimed Frank. “Besides, let’s wait and see if we hear anything from the Governor of California. That may tell us a little more just how authentic this idea really is.”
“And how authentic Arthur may be?” added Clint.
“And what about that asteroid, or whatever may have been orbiting the planet?” added Frank. “As hard as it may be to believe that he came from that thing, I just can’t rule it all out.”
“Well I don’t believe for one minute that the asteroid disappeared,” said Clint. “Do you think it could have been broken up into thousands of little pieces, by the Earth’s orbit?”
“It’s possible, but I doubt it,” answered Frank. “Someone, somewhere on Earth should have observed something.”
Frank and Clint spent much of the time on their journey home discussing Arthur and the asteroid. They each tried to change the subject from time to time, but inevitably ended up in one way or another, referring back to original debate. As was the case since the asteroid was first discovered hurtling towards Earth, it seemed to