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

“By the way, have you had any problems with the reconnaissance craft you took to Earth?”
“No, fortunately enough,” confessed Henry. “I’ve not even heard anything about crafts from outer space being discovered on the foothills of Ingleborough. I don’t know if anyone has been down the hole, but there’s one nearby which attracts it’s fair share of potholers.”
“Oh, what’s that one called, so we know to avoid it,” asked the Commander.
“Alum Pot,” Henry informed him. “We actually covered the craft when we decided to settle on Earth. It may be that no-one has ever got to the bottom of the pot hole over the past couple of years.”
“Can you send me a list of any suitable pot holes you know of, in which we can land a craft?” the Commader requested.
“I’ll do later today, after I’ve had a look at the craft’s dimensions,” said Henry, as he looked at the electric clock in his room, which now read 00.26 am. “In the meantime, you don’t mind if I go back to bed?”
“No, no, that’s fine,” said the Commander. “I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

Later that morning, Henry informed Ramondo of the call he received in the early hours, and that he would not be joining him at Skipton that day. He relaxed in bed for an extra hour, before taking a shower and having breakfast. He went to his PC at around 10’ that morning, and opened his Outlook file. A message from Commander Ondichi had been received, which he was keen to read. This contained the dimensions of the new reconnaissance craft, which was larger than the one he and his crew had travelled in.
Henry spent much of the day looking at which pot holes may be suitable for the Commander’s crew to land, before forwarding his recommendations to Commander Ondichi. He also received a call from the contractors on Frank, advising him about further developments on the plant in California.
Henry decided to stay home on Tuesday, too, to prepare the final plans for the turbine, and load the images into new replicators. He also sent copies of this to Commander Ondichi.
That evening, Henry received a call on his mobile. It was the Commander, who told him that a small team would arrive in the early hours of Saturday morning, at Meregill hole, which was also on the slopes of Ingleborough. Henry knew a cave led to the pot, but that this may attract visitors. On the other hand, if this was going to be a temporary stay, and the craft would land there at night, it may be okay. He did, however, suggest postponing it until after the weekend, in case of any potholers visiting Meregill hole.
Henry went to measure the pot hole the next day, after which he prepared a winch & pulley from which he and Ramondo could collect the crew.
Late on Sunday night, Henry and Ramondo went to Meregill hole. It wasn’t easy carrying the winch & pulley up the hill to the pot hole. When they got there, they looked into the hole, from a safe distance, and shone torches to see if anyone was lurking inside. When they agreed that everything was clear, Henry contacted Commander Ondichi to confirm it was safe to launch the reconnaissance craft.
Half an hour later, just after midnight, they noticed a brilliant flash. It seemed to come from inside Meregill hole.
“Are you alright?” Henry called to the Commander on his mobile.
“Yes thanks,” the Commander confirmed. “We’re fine. I think we may have hit something on the way, but the craft seems to be okay. Professor Schmidt is checking that all instruments and panels are in working order. I’ll get back to you as soon as it’s confirmed that the craft is okay.”
Ramondo shone their torch down the pot hole, and couldn’t see anything burning. He and Henry waited a little while, before they received the all-clear.
“Is there sufficient room for you to get out the craft?” Henry then queried.
“There’s enough room around the craft,” confirmed the Commander, who went to open the door to the craft. To his surprise, something fell on his head. “Ouch!” he groaned.
“What is it Commander?” Henry asked. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Major, or should I start calling you Henry,” Commander Ondichi said to him. “It was only a rough and irregular piece of wood.”
“That sounds like the branch of a tree,” surmised Henry. “I think you may as well call me by my name, now you’re down here on Earth.”
“Very well,” said the Commander. “Do you know when you can get me and the crew out of here?”
“Not too long, I hope,” replied Henry. “We’ve brought a winch and pulley along. Ramondo’s preparing them now – I’ll let you know when it’s all ready.”
Henry and Commander Ondichi continued talking until everything was ready, at which point Henry tied hinslef with the harness, checked that all was safe, before Ramondo let him down the pot hole.
Progress was slow, however, and it wasn’t until after 1am that Henry arrived at the bottom. He saw Commander Ondichi waiting for him, and the two of them went to hug each other, as if they hadn’t seen one another for years (as was the case).
“Smart craft you have here,” Henry said to the Commander.
“It’s new and a little larger than your craft,” the Commander told him.
“Would you mind if I took a look inside?” asked an inquisitive Henry.
“Why certainly,” said Commander Ondichi. “You can meet some other members whom you haven’t seen for sometime.”
Henry thanked him, before the Commander led him inside the craft. It wasn’t until almost 3.00am that they exited the craft, and Henry fastened the harness to the Commander, before contacting Ramondo to pull him up. The Commander then shook hands with Ramondo, before the harness was sent back down to pick up the next member of the crew.
It wasn’t until almost 4.00 that Professor Schmidt finally made it up the pot hole. At that point it was agreed that there was only enough time left for one more member, Doctor of Psychology, Procyon, and Henry, to be winched up the pot hole, before the sun was due to rise. It was agreed that Doctor Gammazeta, who had come to study life forms on Earth, would remain in the craft, until Henry and Ramondo were due to return late that night, to collect her and some others.
Ramondo drove them all back to Ribblehead Cottage, where Henry introduced the Commander, Professor Schmidt, and Dr Procyon to his accommodation. They were fascinated with the cottage, and the car.
Henry took them to the Ribblehead Inn later that day. They rather liked the local liquor, and were even more fascinated with the large railway viaduct near the inn.
They spent a while chatting away merrily, before afternoon closing, after which they walked back to Ribblehead Cottage. Henry showed them the TV to see the latest news about Earth. In the end, they fell asleep back at the cottage.
When they awoke, Henry looked at the clock. It was late at night, and he had to wake up the others if they were to prepare to collect the remaining crew from Meregill hole.
“What’s the rush?” asked Commander Ondichi, as Henry woke him.
“I’d like to get Doctor Gammazeta as soon as possible, before we leave for London,” confessed Henry.
“Doctor Gammazeta doesn’t have to come to London with us,” the Commander suggested. “I’m sure there’s ample wildlife to study in this vicinity. Ramondo can go and collect her later today.”
Henry agreed to this, and so after he headed for London with the Commander and Professor Schmidt the next morning, Ramondo drove to Chapl le Dale, and parked a mile outside the hamlet. There was an old road which led up the hill to Meregill hole. This was only suitable for 4-wheel drive vehicles though, so he had to take the winch & pulley up the hillside all by himself. When he got to the pot hole, he contacted Doctor Gammazeta, who was relieved to hear from him.
“What happened to the Commander?” she asked him.
“Oh, he’s gone on a mission with Henry, a.k.a. Major Retono,” he informed her. “Are you alright down there?”
“I’m okay,” confirmed the Doctor.
“I’ve come to collect you today,” Ramondo told her. “I’m going to drop the winch. I’ll let you know when it’s at the bottom. You’ll have to fasten the harness on yourself, and I’ll pull you up.”
“Is it raining?” Doctor Gammazeta asked.
“No, why do you ask that?” queried Ramondo.
“I had a look out of the craft earlier, and saw water pouring down the pot hole,” she replied. “I’m a bit reluctant to leave the craft, in those conditions.”
“It was just a temporary drip, probably from the beck which runs into the pot hole,” Ramondo told her. “It rained earlier this morning, but it’s fine now. Have a look on your monitor.”
When Doctor Gammazeta was satisfied with this, Ramondo lowered the winch, and a little later, confirmed when it had been fully lowered. The Doctor then opened the craft door, and found the winch lying outside. It was still dripping in the pot hole, though a lot less than it had been earlier. Ramondo persuaded her everything would be okay, and instructed her carefully how to fasten the harness. When they were both satisfied that everything was in order, he began to pull her up.
As Doctor Gammazeta was being pulled up the pot hole, she watched the sides of the walls closely. She felt a little frightened, as she had never been in a pothole before, and had never been suspended quite so high above the floor. Almost an hour later, she finally surfaced, and Ramondo pulled her towards him, before unlocking the harness.
“Oohh!” Doctor Gammazeta exclaimed, as she stood beside Ramondo, clutching his body carefully without wishing to let go.
“It’s alright, it’s alright,” Ramondo said to her. “You’re safe now.”
Doctor Gammazeta stared at Ramondo, whom she knew from earler times on the Interstellar Pilgrim. She felt his body, and put her hands around his bottom. Before he could pull her away, they fell down together, Doctor Gammazeta ending up on top of Ramondo. For a minute, they stared into eachother’s eyes.
Doctor Gammazeta then handed back his mobile. Ramondo explained that a cave led to the pot hole lower down, and that the water seeping down may be coming from there. She then helped him dismantle the winch & pulley, and helped to carry some items down to the car.
“Did you carry all this gear up that hill by yourself?” she asked Ramondo, to which he said yes. “Ooohhhh, you are a strong man, aren’t you?”
“Well, I do what I can,” he replied. “You look too young to be a Doctor. You don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“I’m two-hundred-and-fity-nine,” Doctor Gammazeta stated.
“If any human asks you your age, just tell them you’re twenty five,” Ramondo suggested to her. “People don’t live as long on Earth as we have done on the ’Pilgrim.”
“Yes, so I understand,” said Doctor Gammazeta. “Professor Schmidt was explaining the reasons behind that to me. He told me that the paradox was first put forward by a chap from Earth.”
“Some Professor Einstein, apparently,” said Ramondo. “He’s pretty famous on Earth.”
“Oh, do you think we could meet him?” she then asked.
“I doubt it,” Ramondo replied. “He’s dead.”
“Do you realise that you shan’t live as long, here on Earth?” the Doctor asked.
“I can accept that,” admitted Ramondo. “To be honest, I had a few apprehensions when I first arrived here, but now I’ve settled into a