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

SAB should run out of energy before a hurricane.”
“Besides, weather forecasting is much more accurate these days,” said Frank.
“That could also see the introduction of another innovative idea,” Dermot then suggested.
“Oh? What innovative idea would that be?” asked Joe.
“You could have solar stations, instead of petrol, pardon me, gasoline stations,” Dermot told him. “If we can absorb solar energy, including heat, into a car like this one, think what else we could do. It’ll be a lot easier than digging for oil beneath the ground.”
Henry, Frank and Arthur didn’t know what to say, but Gary grinned and patted Dermot on the back.
“That’s my man!” Gary said to Dermot. “I can see I’m going to get along with you just fine. I can see I’m going to get along with all of you just fine.”
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you said on your website that the digital car you have is currently being manufactured in the UK?" Gary then queried with Henry.
"We are producing a few of them, but we don't have a large enough factory or resources to manufacture the model in bulk," Henry informed him.
"Have you brought that particular project to the attention of Mr Virgin?" asked Gary.
"Do you mean Sir Richard Branson?"
"Yeah, that's the fella'," said Gary.
"No, not yet," said Henry. "We have considered raising this with him, and a couple of other entrepreneurs in the UK, but we thought we'd bring this your attention first."
"We feel that the US is probably the best place to develop such projects," added Frank. "If we can get the American public to take the lead in environmentally-friendly vehicles such as the ones we have here, the rest of the world will follow it's lead."
"That's a very valid point," admitted Gary.
"We felt that the Governor of California would be the ideal person to promote this project," Frank added.
"I see, I see. It's all beginning to make sense now," said Gary. "Tell me, where did you meet the 'Governor?"
"At this year's International Astronomers Convention in San Bernardino a few months ago," said Frank.
"It's a good job he wasn't assassinated, eh," said Gary.
"You don't mind me asking, but do you think this project can go ahead?" Frank then asked him.
"I think there's a distinct chance this project may well go ahead," Gary replied. "Before I give my full endorsement, I'd like to to try the digital car this afternoon, if that's okay?"
“That’s fine,” said Frank. “We just don’t want to be wasting our time and money here.”
"Would you mind if I had a drive of that digital motor you have with you?" Gary then asked Arthur.
"No not at all," said Arthur. "I'm afraid it doesn't go at 125 miles per hour, though I believe there is a sporty version of this car in the UK."
"That's okay," said Gary. "Not everyone in the US is going to want to drive a sports car. Not everyone can afford one, for that matter."
Gary then took Frank and the others for a meal, before he went to try the digital car. He was pleased with that car too, but stipulated that other factors had to be sorted.
"Henry, you have premises in the UK," he queried. "Do you know how much they cost, including all machinery, resources and domestic requirements?"
"Not off-hand, but I have the details in my laptop," he replied, even though this wasn't true. "I'll go and have a look at them in a little while, and confirm the expenses to you."
"That would be great," Gary said to Henry, as he handed the keys to the solar sports car back to him. Henry then asked Arthur if he’d mind coming along with him, at which point Arthur handed the keys of his digital car to Dermot before he went off with Henry.
“Frank, I believe you were Astronomer-in-Chief at NASA,” Gary then queried, to which Frank nodded. “You know a little about staffing, budgets and resources?”
“It’s a little over a year since I had those responsibilities, but I had a little look at Henry’s figures,” Frank replied, even though Henry hadn’t put any figures together.
“So what did you think of them?” Gary asked him.
“Well, they looked okay to me, but...” muttered Frank, trying to think of a way he could get out of this situation.
“But what?” asked Gary.
“I considered investing in the project,” said Frank.
“And did you?” asked Gary.
“I realised that I didn’t have sufficient cash to support such a project on my own resources,” Frank explained. “Mind you, I did realise that if the right person came along, this project could be the next big thing.”
“That’s why you stayed with the project, I presume?” Gary queried.
“That is correct,” said Frank.
“Well, I’d like to ask you to look at Henry’s figures again, from an American perspective, you know what I mean,” said Gary.
“I sure do,” said Frank, grinning.
“Good, good, that bit’s settled,” said Gary, before referring to Dermot. “Shall we go to see how the digital car performs?”
“Oh certainly,” said Dermot, as he led Gary towards the digital car.
Just then, Frank rang Henry on his mobile.
"Do you mind if I come and see you for a few minutes?" he asked.
"Erhh, Arthur and me are still in the car," Henry replied, a little unsure precisely what to tell him. "Why don't you wait for us in the hall reception. We shouldn't be too long."
"I think it's about time we told Frank just who we really are, and how we're producing our vehicles," Arthur then commented.
"Are you kidding?!" Henry said to him. "I've now 'focused' on him, and wiped out any recollection of what you told him at that convention. I don't want anyone to know how we go about things, let alone who we really are."
"We can't hide the facts forever," said Arthur. "Someone's going to find out sooner or later."
"Not if I can help it," replied Henry. "Now, can we get on with sorting this expenditure for my premises?"
"You don't have many resources, not for manufacturing," Arthur commented to him.
"That's cos' we're a developing business," said Henry. "We can't all start with factories like Ford or General Motors."
“Perhaps you should admit your cars are made from scrap,” suggested Arthur.
“No way!!” exclaimed Henry. “My cars are as good as brand new – no, even better. I’m not having my cars being compared with write-offs.”
“Perhaps you can say you bought them as second-hand cars and developed them into new models,” Arthur then suggested.
“I’ll think about that one,” said Henry. “Now, let’s assess our expenditure. Staffing – what is the annual wage bill going to be? ”
“Well, if I remember correctly, £7.50 was about the average hourly rate,” Arthur said to him. “That would amount to about a 14.5–15 thousand pound salary.”
“That doesn’t sound enough,” said Henry. “Let’s say a car mechanic salary would be £25K. Multiply that by six workers, and we have a wage bill of £150,000.”
“How about your salary?” queried Arthur. “What would you pay the Managing Director?”
Henry thought to himself for a few moments.
“£50,000,” he thought aloud. “That would bring the wage bill to two-hundred-thousand pounds.”
“What about those ‘Engineers’ you mentioned the other day?” asked Arthur.
“Hhmmm,“ Henry thought to himself. “Better give them salaries of £30K. I suppose I’d better have my own PA, and an Admin Assistant. Add another £35K. How much is the annual wage bill now?”
”Two-hundred-and ninety-five-thousand pounds,” said Arthur. “If you have a cleaner on part-time pay, you can add another £5000, to bring that to £300K.”
“Good thinking,” said Henry. “I suppose I have a couple of security guards I should add to that. Add another £30K to the wage bill.”
“What in total, or times by two?” asked Arthur.
“Just in total, two fifteen thousand pound salaries,” Henry told him. “That will bring the wage bill up to £330K. Shall I double that amount for overheads?”
“What overheads?” asked Arthur. “Sickness, leave and absence won’t come to that much, surely.”
“There are plenty of other overheads,” Henry told him. “Employers National Insurance contributions, employers pension contributions, maternity, paternity…”
“Good God,” shrieked Arthur. “Madaly’s not pregnant already?”
“No, no, no,” said Henry. “They’re just other factors which must be taken into account for overheads. Then there are meetings, management expenses, shall I go on?”
“No, no, you’ve made your point,” said Arthur. “I’ll tell you what, as your business is new and doesn’t have many of these factors just yet, we can bring the total wage bill up to a round £600K.”
Henry agreed with that.
"How about rent or rates?" Arthur queried.
"I believe we pay two-and-a-half grand per month in rent," said Henry.
"That equates to thirty thousand pounds per annum," said Arthur. "What about insurance? Your company is insured, I hope?"
Henry thought to himself for a minute.
"We don't really need to insure anyone," he told Arthur. "We don't have any awkward or dangerous machinery. I suppose we should insure the premises."
"You must have some sort of insurance for your staff," said Arthur. "It won't look very good to Gary, or Frank even."
"Okay, add another twenty grand per annum to the total," Henry agreed. "Can you think of anything else we need to add to this?"
"Not that I can think of at this moment," Arthur replied.
"Well, we'll just have to leave it like this for now," Henry told him. "If anyone asks about any other items, we'll just have to tell them we've included it in overheads."
The two of them then went to the State Hall reception, taking the laptop with them, where Frank was waiting.
"I was wondering where you two had got to," he said to them jokingly. "You hadn't been to outer space, at all?"
Arthur and Henry looked at each other but said nothing.
"Would you mind if I have a look at your company's expenditure?" Frank asked Henry.
"No, be my guest," Henry said to him before handing him the laptop, which had the expenditure on screen.
Frank tutted as he checked Henry's figures. Henry was becoming a little apprehensive, though didn't show it.
"These details were produced a little while ago, when I first started the business," he told Frank, trying to bluff his way out of any loopholes. "I haven't included some items, which may be required if this project gets off the ground."
"Is that why you haven't included any stock or resources?" Frank asked. "The only asset you've listed is a van."
"Well, to be honest, we don't have many resources," Henry confessed. "We're currently purchasing second-hand motors - relatively new, just a couple of years old, mind you. I'm sure you know, by this time they will have depreciated in value by 50% but are still in top condition."
"Is that allowed?" Frank queried. “To purchase second-hand motors and convert them into new models?”
"We have a licence for producing vehicles, and we have our own brand now, Major Motors," Henry told him. "This isn’t what I intended to do, but it'll have to do for now."
"I think we should add some stock, give this company a little more value," Frank suggested. "I reckon we ought to add another hundred-thousand pounds as plant & machinery, don't you think?"
"That's fine by me," said Henry.
"I think we should add another fifty thousand pounds in insurance, as well," suggested Frank, to which Henry agreed. "You don't have many staff," he then asked.
"I'm looking to build my workforce in due course," said Henry. "My Engineers are part of the current workforce."
"I think we should add a couple more, don't you think?" Frank suggested. "Increase the company value."
"Why don’t