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

“How are you doing these days? Quite well, a little dickie bird tells me.”
“I’m not going to get too carried away just yet, particularly in this current recession,” Henry said to him. “Things do appear to be moving well, though, no small thanks to you.”
“Oh, the solar energy project, you mean?” queried Dermot. “If Arthur hadn’t brought it to my attention, I probably wouldn’t have arranged the new energy supplies for the observatory in Tenerife.”
“Well thanks anyway,” said Henry. “If the solar paneling hadn’t been carried out on the observatory, the hotels on the island may never have found out about the project.”
“From what Arthur has been telling me, there’s quite a few bookings for solar energy over the next few months,” Dermot queried.
“Oh yes, the bookings are full,” Henry acknowledged. “My men over there have been asking for more assistance, and I think they may need to get themselves their own premises.”
“Do you think they’ll end up staying out there?” asked Dermot.
“I don’t really know,” said Henry. “What I do know is that there are plenty of hotels all over Tenerife, plus many more on the neighbouring islands.”
“It’s just a pity you don’t get a lot of sunshine in the UK,” commented Dermot.
”I know, I know,” sighed Henry. “However, I have another idea how we can transform energy from natural resources over here.”
“Oh really,” said Dermot wondering what Henry was going to say next.
“I’ve often wondered why we don’t make better use of tidal forces,” explained Henry. “Particularly as we are an island here in the UK, and that we are battered by some of the fiercest waves in the world.”
Dermot didn’t say anything at this point, as he could see where Henry was coming from.
“Can you imagine a large turbine, hanging from a frame in the sea?” queried Henry. “The waves could power the turbine. The greater the waves, the greater power produced from the turbine.”
“The idea is fine,” said Dermot. “It’s a pity no-one else has come up with such an idea previously.”
“Oh?” queried Henry. “Frank tells me that someone in Ireland has a similar scheme at the moment?”
“Oh yes, of course, of course, of course,” Dermot mumbled.
“He told me that you know about this,” added Henry.
“I don’t really know a lot about it, other than it’s passed the planning stage,“ said Dermot. “I only heard this from an old mate of mine.”
“Is he with some energy company?” asked Henry. “We could do with the energy companies in the UK being encouraged to take up something like this.”
“Oh he’s only a councilor somewhere in Kerry,” Dermot told him.
“Do you know what council he sits on?” Henry asked.
“Not off hand, I’m afraid,” Dermot said, a little defensively. “They’ve changed council boundaries and jurisdiction in recent years, so I’m not too sure myself.”
“Pity,” remarked Henry. “I’d like to have a word with him, get an idea of the scheme, to see if we can collaborate on any ideas. Do you have your mate’s telephone number, perhaps I could give him a ring?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t remember his number off hand,” Dermot answered. “I think he’s had to move house recently, had a bust-up with his ex.”
“Oh, pity,” said Henry. “If you come across him, can you give him my name and number, please?”
“Oh I’ll do that if I come across him,” said Dermot. “Anyway, it’s been nice talking to you, but I’m taking my wife to a party this evening. She doesn’t like it if we’re late, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to go.”
“Cheerio. I’ll speak to you soon,” Henry said to him, unaware that Dermot was really trying to avoid any further questions.
Henry thought to himself for a moment and wondered whether Dermot was telling the whole picture. He then remembered about the main job-in-hand, however, and felt it best to concentrate on preparing vehicles to send to Frank in California. He had considered preparing over twenty, in case Frank came back asking for more, so when he made the cargo arrangements the next day, he booked 24 cars to be carried to the US. This time, he managed to sort a cargo flight to Sacramento, so they wouldn’t have far to travel after the vehicles were delivered.
Another thing which Henry thought about, was whether he should replicate another vehicle transporting lorry. He had considered this previously, but thought it not fully justified at the time. This time, however, he wondered whether this may become a regular thing, transporting vehicles to Heathrow. Henry also had thoughts of expanding his business at some point, which would require a similar transporter, particularly if he was going to sell vehicles elsewhere in the UK. He was going to have to make arrangements with other car scrap yards too, and probably, to pick up more vehicles, as well. Perhaps this was the right time to replicate another vehicle transporter.

Over the next week, while Lucas helped Zebrina with the replicator and to prepare the vehicles for California, Henry took Ramondo with him to look at other possible scrap yards in which to deal with. They each agreed that despite the recession, they couldn’t just rely on the three scrap yards with whom they currently dealt with. They agreed that perhaps it may be more prudent dealing with at least one scrap yard further south towards London, so as they could replicate vehicles a lot nearer Heathrow, should more vehicles be required for sale in the US.
Indeed, they agreed on a new contract with one scrap yard near Biggleswade, just off the main A1, north of London. But they could see that success brought problems of it’s own, particularly the probable increased staffing required. With Robinson, and now Frickas, gone to help Gaspar and Gonchaves in Tenerife, they were down to bare staffing back in Yorkshire. Madaly and Zebina were used with better effect, but they each agreed that it may soon be necessary to take on local people. And they couldn’t be allowed to hear about, or witness, the replicator, and how Henry’s vehicles were being produced.
As anticipated, upon the sale of the final vehicles in California, Frank had requested an increased supply of vehicles to be sold. It was at the end of the following week, that everything was in place, 24 vehicles stationed at Heathrow ready to be transported across the Atlantic. Ramondo agreed to stay back in Yorkshire, to take charge of the business in Skipton, while Henry and Lucas flew to Sacramento, with the plans of their factory. Richard Copeland had become good friends with Lucas, Ramondo, Zebrina and Madaly, and was someome they all trusted. He was appointed as the salesman at the car showroom in Skipton. He had been out of work at the time, anyway, and this seemed a good place & occupation to develop a new career. With the business steadily increasing, he seemed the ideal person to join Henry’s team.

It was Friday afternoon in Yorkshire, but it was still morning in Sacramento, when Henry, Lucas and their cargo arrived at the airport. Henry called Frank to let him know they had arrived, and while he waited in the airport Arrivals, Lucas went to the cargo bay to direct the dispatching of the vehicles, and help take them to the cargo bay.
Frank, who had bought a house in Sacramento (even though he hadn’t sold his other house in Colorado Springs) didn’t take long to get to the airport. As he entered the airport, he called Henry, who informed Frank where he was, before he went over to meet him.
“Hi Henry, how are you doing?” Frank said to him as they shook hands. “Where are your young engineers?”
“Oh, Ramondo had to stay back in the end,” Henry replied. “I haven’t enough staff back home, especially now I‘ve had to send a couple more to Tenerife, to help with the solar paneling.”
“’Sounds like that’s coming along fine,” said Frank.
“It couldn’t be better,” Henry told him. “We’re not exactly inundated with orders, but it seems as though every time one contract is completed, another hotel or two come along with another order for solar panels.”
“I’ve never been to Tenerife myself, but I understand there are plenty of hotels over there,” said Frank. “It looks like your boys will have a fare few more orders to come.”
“Probably,” said Henry. “They had requested to purchase accommodation, but I’m not too sure, what with the current recession.”
“Why? Where are they currently staying?” asked Frank.
“Much of the time they’re staying at Arthur’s,” admitted Henry, “though they sometimes find a room or two vacant at the hotels.”
“Where’s your other lad?” Frank queried.
“Oh you mean Lucas,” said Henry. “He’s gone to see the unloading of the cargo for the moment. I can give him a call.”
“Why don’t we go over to Starbucks, there are a few things I’d like to discuss over a coffee,” suggested Frank. “Lucas is welcome to come and join us.”
Frank and Henry then went to the coffee bar. As Frank went to buy two coffees, Henry rang Lucas, to see what was happening at the time. Lucas told him that the vehicles wouldn’t be unloaded for another couple of hours, as there was other cargo to be dispatched. He said he’d speak to one of the men there, before coming to the coffee bar.
A few minutes later, Frank came over with the drinks, and a couple of cookies.
“Did you get to speak to Lucas?” Frank asked.
“Yes thanks,” said Henry. “It appears that we’re going to have to wait a few hours before the vehicles are ready.”
“That should be okay,” Frank replied. “I’ve arranged for three 8-car transporters to come to the airport this afternoon. It shouldn’t take too long to load them and to take them to the showroom to be unloaded. How many vehicles did you bring along?”
“Twenty-four, as you requested,” Henry told him.
“Good, good,” muttered Frank. “Do you have the plans of your factory? I’d like to take a look at them, to plan the next stage in the construction of our plant.”
“How is the construction coming along?” asked Henry.
”The shell of the plant is almost complete,” Frank told him. “The interior design plans have been put together, so we’re just waiting to see the machinery and fittings before we go ahead with the next stage.”
Henry then showed some plans to Frank.
“A little small, aren’t they?” commented Frank.
“We don’t have very large premises, unfortunately,” Henry confessed. “We’re only a small company at the moment, and we don’t produce many vehicles. Orders are steady, though, and I do have plans to expand at some point.”
“Seems like you may have to expand your solar paneling venture first,” Frank commented.
“Probably,” Henry admitted. “When the recession is over, I’m sure the vehicles trade will grow somewhat. After all, if it’s steady at a time of recession, it should only go one way when things pick up.”
Frank then asked Henry some points about the machinery, at which point Henry received a call from Lucas to say he was on his way. When Lucas arrived, he explained everything to Frank, while Henry went to purchase a coffee and cookie for Lucas.
“Hhmmm,” Frank muttered. “You don’t have a lot of machinery, do you?”
“You must understand,” Lucas said to Frank. “This is a new venture for all of us. We didn’t have a lot to start from initially.”
”I know, I know,” said Frank, as he thought to himself.
“You don’t think this is a bit too late to start planning for the shop-floors and all that goes with it?” Lucas then asked.
“Not really,” Frank replied. “The shell of the plant is almost