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

battles,” Fred queried with the Air Commander, who nodded his head in acknowledgement. “We need someone who can direct missiles in flight, not just at a target, but at a precise point in order to get maximum delivery and effect.”
“I fought in many battles, sir, but they've all been on Earth,” emphasised Clint.
“I know, I know, but this is a battle which none of us have fought before and for which no-one has the necessary experience,” Fred told him. “You're probably the best-placed person to help in our new battle.”
Air Commander Williams thought carefully to himself for a few moments.
“You've read all about bouncing bombs and diversionary explosions, I suppose? Fred asked.
“I’ll need to gain experience of whatever craft NASA are to launch,” he replied.
“That's fine,” said Fred.
“I'm going to have to liaise with NASA designers and engineers, too,” added Clint.
“That's what you're here for,” replied Mr Luddolmans. “That's what we're all here for.”
“Okay, sir,” Clint agreed. “I'll do whatever I can.”
“You don't know if they have any hearing devices attached to this room?” Fred then queried with the Air Commander.
“I don't know, sir,” replied Clint.
“Did you ask if they had one when you inquired about this room?” Fred asked Clint.
“No, sorry sir,“ replied Clint. “I didn't know what this was all about when I asked for the room.”
“I'll go and speak to the chief myself,” said Fred. ”If there is any hearing device in the room, I'll order it to be destroyed.”
Mr Luddolmans went back out of the interview room to look for the local sergeant.
“I'm afraid he's holding an interview at the moment, sir,” explained the young officer at the front desk. “I believe he's with some of the anti-terror squad interviewing a suspected terrorist, sir.”
“Do you know if there are any tapes in my interview room?” Fred asked the young officer.
“There will be one in the room, but I doubt it's running, sir,” the young officer replied.
“Well can you make sure that the tape wasn't running, otherwise I want that particular tape destroyed,” Fred instructed.
“Will do, sir,” replied the young officer.
Before Mr Luddolmans went back to his room, he went to look at the arrivals board, where he noticed that the 10.15 due in from Buffalo was on schedule. He then went back to see Air Commander Williams.
“I suppose you have a mobile on you, Clint,” he queried.
“Yes, sir,” replied the Air Commander. “Do you want me to contact anyone?”
“Not just yet,” replied Fred. “I may expect a call in the next 15 minutes from Major General Smith. Can you go and meet him. If I hear anything from him, I'll give him your mobile number and ask him to contact you.”
“Do you have a picture of the General at all, sir,” queried the Air Commander. “What does he look like?”
Fred Luddolmans handed Clint a picture of the General, before they exchanged mobile numbers. Mr Luddolmans also gave him Professor Marshall's mobile number.
“When you go out, ask the man on the police desk if the sergeant has finished his interview,” Fred instructed Clint. “Tell him I do not want to be disturbed, unless there's a real emergency. I'm going to contact the President now, so I'll see you in a short while.”
“Sir, why don't we just exchange mobiles,” suggested Clint. “That way I'll pick up any message from Professor Marshall or Major General Smith. You can call the President on mine, there's about $50 worth of call still outstanding so you'll have plenty of time available.”
“That's fine by me,” said Fred.
Clint went to the front desk to check that there was no tape recording in Fred's room, and after confirming this to him, Clint went to the Arrival lounge to wait for Major General Smith. There didn't seem to be any delay as the 10.15 from Buffalo arrived on time. While he was waiting, he heard a brief jingle of Thriller. It was Fred's mobile.
“Hello Mr Luddolmans,” he heard.
“This is Air Commander Clint Williams,” Clint replied.
“I do apologise,” said a voice, “I must have the wrong number.”
“I'm at Lakeside Airport with Mr Luddolmans,” replied Clint. “Mr Luddolmans is talking to the President and doesn't wish to be disturbed just now. Can I help at all?”
“Oh yeah, I'm sure you can,” came the reply. “This is Professor Marshall here. I'm just letting you know that I'm on my way to the airport.”
“How long will you be?” asked Clint.
“Probably about 30 minutes,” said the Professor. “Where precisely in the airport are you all?”
“I'm in Arrivals',” replied Clint. “I'm waiting for Major General Smith. Mr Luddolmans will be with me by the time you arrive. Is there anything you'd like me to tell Mr Luddolmans?”
“Not at the moment,” replied Professor Marshall. “We're still awaiting today's report from the space shuttle, but Steve should let us know when it arrives.”
“I'll look forward to seeing you in half hour, then,” Clint said to the Professor before terminating the call.
Clint then went to buy an astronomy magazine, to read about the latest news on space, while he sat around Arrivals'. He looked around regularly, but with no sign of any of the others, until he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Hi Mr Luddolmans,” he said as he turned his head. “Professor Marshall is on his way, he should be here any minute in fact.”
“Where's he meeting us?” asked Fred.
“I asked him to meet us here in Arrivals',” Clint replied.
“Good,” said Fred. “Has he received today's report from the space shuttle yet?”
“No not yet, sir,” replied Clint. “He did say he was expecting some report later today, though.”
Fred began to wonder if anything had happened to the space shuttle, as it was now over twenty years old. The crew had been aboard for sometime now, too, and were due to return to Earth. As far as he was aware, they hadn’t yet left and were waiting for the new crew to arrive. Perhaps they had forgotten about the daily reports, and were preparing for other things.
Just then, Clint thought he noticed a tall slim black man with medals on his military uniform coming out of Arrivals'. He checked the photo Fred had given him, and thought it was Major General Smith, so called out his name and walked over to meet him.
“Major General Smith, I presume,” Clint said as he approached the man.
“Yeah,” the general said curiously, and walked over to Clint, before he introduced himself.
“I’m Air Commander Clint Williams. Mr Luddolmans is waiting for us just over there,” Clint told Major General Smith, pointing towards Fred. “We'll be meeting a professor from NASA very shortly.”
Major General Smith then apologised to Fred for not contacting him on his mobile, but said that Buffalo airport were very restrictive as to what he could carry with him, due to the terrorist alerts, so he had placed his mobile in his case. They walked over to meet Fred, and while they were talking, the Thriller ringtone was playing.
“Mr Luddolmans, it's Professor Marshall. My Dodge is parked outside Arrivals'. Are you still waiting for anyone to arrive?” he asked.
“No, no, we're all here, Professor,” replied Fred. “We're on our way.”
The three of them walked towards the Arrivals’ exit, where they met Professor Marshall. After further introductions from Professor Marshall, he took Fred, Clint and Major General Smith to NASA HQ. The professor led them to his office at first, and gave them refreshments, while he went to look for Steve and the latest space shuttle report. Fred then explained the situation to General Smith, and why they had been called to Houston.
“Do the Russians or Europeans know anything about this asteroid?” asked General Smith. “How about Japan or China?”
“Russia is aware of the asteroid,” Fred informed him. “We have, however, agreed for the whole matter be kept secret for the time being. We've heard nothing from Europe, nor the Chinese or Japanese, regarding the asteroid, so while no-one else is aware we intend to keep it that way.“
“Are the Russians prepared for this?” asked Clint. “Do they have any missiles or rockets that can help us in any way?”
“Not as far as I am aware,” replied Fred.
“That doesn't sound too promising,” muttered Clint.
“It sounds like usual,” commented General Smith. “The great Satan America will be left to pick up the pieces. Just like Bosnia and Iraq. What would this world be like if we hadn't entered World War Two?”
“Ruled by a mad and murderous dictator, probably,” said Clint.
“Yeah, but which one?” asked General Smith. “Hitler or Stalin?”
“I've no idea, and I don't want to think about it,” Fred told them. “Just like I don't want to think about this world being destroyed, do you?”
The room then went quiet for a while.
“If it means that the US has to clean up this world, then so be it,” stated Fred. “Besides, the president is in regular talks with Mr Boritzov at the moment, so if the Russians have anything up their sleeve we should get to hear about it.”

Meanwhile, Professor Marshall went upstairs to Dr Steve de Pierri's room, where the space shuttle reports were to arrive. Robert Langman was with him.
“Have we received today's report yet?” he asked Steve.
“We have received the report, but I've asked that it be double-checked,” Steve replied.
“Why’s that?” queried Professor Marshall.
“The asteroid has appeared to change course,” Steve informed the Professor.
“Do you have a copy of the report here?” the Professor asked curiously. “I'd like to have a good look at it.”
Steve presented a copy of the report to Professor Marshall. It indeed appeared that the asteroid had changed course.
“I've noted each days statistics and plotted the asteroid’s course and speed onto the following graph,” Steve informed the Professor, as he opened the spreadsheet on his computer.
Professor Marshall examined it briefly. Steve and Robert also stared at the monitor carefully.
“If these statistics are correct, and I don't doubt your figures, it does look like the asteroid has been knocked off it's initial trajectory,” said the Professor. “But how has the asteroid changed course?”
“We've been examining this closely all morning,” said Robert.
“Are you sure the space station has been sending you the correct reports?” asked Professor Marshall. “This doesn't seem like an ordinary asteroid?”
“I'm sure the shuttle crew have been sending the correct reports, Frank,” replied Dr de Pierri. “Each report is double-checked anyway but I've asked the shuttle crew to examine this closely together, to see if there may be some anomolies.”
“Have they come back to you yet?” asked Professor Marshall.
“No, not yet,” said Steve. “They’re probably looking into it right now.”
“I think we’d better hold fire with announcing today’s reports until we hear from them,” suggested the Professor.
“I fully agree,” said Steve.
“In the meantime, do you have any idea what may have caused an asteroid to move irregularly like this?” asked the Professor.
“The asteroid was approaching the Kuiper belt,” explained Steve. “It may be that the asteroid smashed into a comet, which deflected it off course.”
“That's possible,” muttered Professor Marshall.
Steve showed the Professor a copy of yesterday's report and picture of the area the asteroid was in, and then showed him today's equivalent picture.
“You see this miniscule spot,” said Steve, pointing to the picture. ”I can't find it anywhere on yesterday's picture.”
“We reckon that's probably the comet which the asteroid smashed into,” suggested Robert.
“Are there any other odd aspects you've noticed about this asteroid?” asked the Professor.
“We haven't been monitoring this too long, but the speed at which it seemed to