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

Governor’ sounded quite impressed with the idea, and said it shouldn’t be a problem. However, before he’s prepared to invest in any project, he’d like to have a good look at the vehicle.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Arthur suggested. “I’ll contact Henry and let him know. We can then make some arrangements.”
“Will you be taking the new model vehicle to California?” asked Frank.
“Probably,” said Arthur. “I’ll sort this out first and let you know if the Governor will have to travel to the UK. Do you know how urgently the Governor wants to view the new model car, or can he wait a little while?”
“Is there a problem?” Frank queried. “I don’t think the Governor likes to be kept waiting. He has a busy schedule.”
“There shouldn’t be a problem,” said Arthur. “Try to get a firm date from the Governor, or would you like me to speak to him?”
“I’ll speak to him,” Frank insisted. “He’s expecting to hear from me anyway.”
“I’ll bet you never thought this whole idea would ever get off the ground?” Arthur said to Frank.
“Well, I’ve learned never to dismiss things out of hand,” replied Frank. “Especially after that asteroid, or whatever it was. Which reminds me, do you mind if I ask you something?”
“I can’t say too much at the moment, I’m afraid,” said Arthur, who could guess what Frank was about to ask him. “You may want to call me in a few hours time. I’ll be at home then. I may have a bit more information for you by then, as well.”

When Arthur left work that afternoon, he contacted Henry on his new mobile from outside the observatory. He found it easier to make contact from here as it was high upon the dormant volcano of Mount Teide.
He told Henry that the California project was now beginning, and that the Governor wanted to see the new vehicles for himself. Henry said he could make arrangements with some of his team to go to California. They had no major commitments and so could fly out at any time which may be convenient. He asked Arthur to arrange a meeting on a date suitable to the Governor, with a week's notice so they could arrange to take the new model vehicle along.
Henry and Arthur agreed that the plan for a solar-powered vehicle would be a good suggestion to put forward to the Governor, so Henry would email the plans to Arthur, to send to the Governor of California.
After Arthur arrived at his home in Tenerife, he expected a call from Frank, though to his surprise, he hadn't heard from him by that evening. The following evening, however, Frank called.
"Hi, is that Professor Arthur Wagstaff?" he asked.
"Oh hello, that's Professor Frank Marshall, isn't it," said Arthur. "I've got some positive news for you, and for the Governor of California."
"Oh good," said Frank. "Will you be coming to California?"
"Probably," replied Arthur. "The manager of the project, Henry, says he should be free most of the time, so we can make arrangements to suit the Governor. We'll have to arrange transportation of the new model vehicle, so he may have to wait another week or so."
"I'll let the Governor know. What if he wants to see the vehicle sooner?" Frank then asked.
"He's always free to fly to the UK to visit the site," Arthur suggested. "The premises are in Yorkshire, so there may be an additional trek from Heathrow. If he'd prefer to do that could you let me know?”
"I'll see what I can arrange," said Frank. "You don't mind if I ask, but do you think it may be easier if I spoke to Henry?"
"Possibly, but I shouldn't worry for now," said Arthur. "When this whole project gets off the ground, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity to speak to Henry. And to the Governor of California, I hope. Who knows, he may make you Managing Director."
Frank just laughed, as he didn't know what else he should really do.
"No, really," Arthur insisted. "If you play your cards right, you may get to run the business. You'll be the best-placed person for the role. It's not as if you haven't run anything else before."
Frank thought to himself for a few seconds.
"As I recall, in San Bernardino you said that you were from that asteroid," he queried.
"That is correct," said Arthur.
"I presume Henry's from the same place, too?" Frank asked.
"That is correct," Arthur said again. "You needn't worry about him though - Henry's not some Jabba the Hutt."
"I'm glad to hear that," said Frank.
"He's no Yoda or Chewbecca, either," Arthur added. "He's like many people on the planet. You should get the opportunity to meet him soon."
"Didn't you say something about your ancestors originally coming from Earth, and that they left the planet as an asteroid approached?" Frank then asked.
"Yes, that's what I believe happened," Arthur told him. "That's what I've read, though what happened was a long, long time ago."
"About 65 million years ago, at the time of the Cretaceous mass extinction?" Frank queried.
"I believe so, though I can't be absolutely sure," said Arthur. "What happened afterwards is unclear.”
"You don't suppose they may have been from the Juraasic mass extinction, or the Triaassic' even?" asked Frank.
"I doubt it very much," replied Arthur. "While I was on the asteroid, we managed to pick up the world wide web as we approached Earth. We debated this issue and came up with a calculation that suggested our ancestors departed the planet around 65 million years ago."
"Do you know whereabouts on the planet these people lived?" asked Frank.
"I believe something was mentioned about an ice-land, away from monsters," recalled Arthur. "I should imagine they lived around the north or south poles."
"But no human fossils have ever been discovered dating back that far," said Frank.
"That's probably because their fossils are buried somewhere at the bottom of the ocean," replied Arthur. "And that's if the fossils have not already merged into limestone, under the intense ocean pressure. Don't forget, Antarctica will not have been in the same position it is in now when they left this planet."
“Do you have any idea where they went to after that?” asked Frank.
“Not really, we had no records to go on for quite some time after that,” said Arthur. “I think the people will have been more concerned in building a new life. They possibly tried to settle on Mars until they developed spacecraft to travel at fast speeds. I know there was reference to a few crafts going their own ways eventually.”
"Have you noticed any more asteroids?" Frank asked.
"I haven't seen anymore similar to the one which is no longer orbiting Earth" queried Arthur. "I think I mentioned yesterday that there is one in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter, which looks very much like it."
"Do you think that's the one you're searching for?" asked Frank.
"Probably," replied Arthur.
"Do you think they may be up to something, while they're lurking there?" asked Frank.
"I would surmise that they may be assessing Mars, with a view to settling there," said Arthur. "I believe a comet smashed into the planet sometime last year. It probably went unnoticed, as that asteroid was approaching Earth at the time."
"We didn't notice anything from Earth," said Frank.
"It didn't cause a great eruption," Arthur told him. "Mars is mainly composed of Iron and ferric compounds. When water impacts with that sort of surface, the iron is likely to oxidise.”
“Which is why the planet is a rusty red," commented Frank.
“They may also be watching this planet from a safe distance,” Arthur suggested. “They may even be waiting for the next mass extinction, before re-colonising Earth.”

“They may have a long wait,” said Frank.
“It may not be as long as you imagine,” replied Arthur. “The way this planet is going, it’s not likely to remain the same for very much longer.”
“They’re not going to destroy Earth, I hope?” Frank asked, disturbingly.
“No, no, no,” said Arthur. “They won’t have to destroy Earth to create the next mass extinction. The people of today are making an excellent job of doing that themselves.”
“We’ll get things sorted,” Frank replied.
“But when?” asked Arthur. “There are wars happening on different parts of the planet, for a start. Certain countries are trying to gain nuclear access. Other presidents may wish to use a nuclear missile, perhaps in Afghanistan, for instance.”
“That may be the ideal event,” Frank insisted. “It could wipe out the Taliban and their source of income in one exercise.”
“It could start a nuclear war as well,” emphasised Arthur. “You’d only need a band of terrorists to take over Pakistan or India, which already have nuclear missiles don’t forget, and you’ll end up with a nuclear war.”
“Perhaps we need to use nuclear weapons to remind some people who’s running this planet,” said Frank.
“You’re not fighting the same enemy as in World War Two,“ Arthur reminded him. “Today’s warfare has no boundaries, nor is it determined by the colour of someone’s skin. You can’t assume everyone in Afghanistan, for example, supports the Taliban. Many people there hate them as much we you.”
“I take your point,” said Frank reluctantly.
“And what about global warming?” asked Arthur. “The way things are going, you probably have another hundred years to survive, and even less if you want to do something serious about it.”
“What about this project?” Frank asked. “This will help towards global warming, surely?”
“This is an excellent project, but it isn’t going to happen overnight,” Arthur pointed out. “Even then, it may only curb global warming at the current rate. The requirements of the growing industrial nations will make up for gains this project alone may have.”
“There are other projects to combat global warming, all over the world, though,” insisted Frank.
“Oh definitely,” said Arthur. “However, they need to be co-ordinated, and we need certain nations, like the US, to lead the way, and to take the problem seriously. Thank goodness your current president is on his way out – let’s hope his successor has a bit more foresight.”
“We’ll get by, one way or another,” Frank insisted. “We’re tougher and broader than you might think.”
"And then if you manage to survive, or rather curtail violence and global warming, there's the third issue," said Arthur.
"What issue is that?" queried Frank.
"World population," Arthur replied. "Even I've noticed how much it has increased over the past two thousand years. It can't continue at the current rate."
"Man will survive that," said Frank. "We've survived every other catastrophe in that time."
"The rate at which the world's population is growing cannot continue at the same rate for the next two thousand years, if you make it that far," commented Arthur. "The world is full of urban jungles, and they're getting bigger all the time. One day there will not be enough land to accommodate everyone."
“If that day ever comes, we'll just have to build accommodation upwards," replied Frank.
"Yes, but will all other life forms survive?" asked Arthur. "The more land is used to build accommodation, the less land there will be for animals and agriculture. These sources will reduce and will not be able to meet the increasing world population. Especially if leaders like Mugabe desecrate fertile pastures."
"I accept your point, but that's a long way off," said Frank. "Besides, there are other sources of food, such as fish."
"Fish stocks have been reduced substantially in the past hundred years alone," Arthur pointed out. "Some fish are becoming depleted. You may think I'm some sort of a geek, portraying myself in a unique image in order