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

their safety belts.
“We've got eight hours to get to know eachother,” the President then said. “My name's George – what's yours?”
“Oh you can call me Frank,” replied Professor Marshall. “Are we flying directly to Moscow?”
“I thought it might be better like this just at the moment,” replied the President. “People may get suspicious if it make our journey too obvious.”
“Don’t you wish to discuss the asteroid, Mr President?” Frank queried.
“You can discuss that with Fred, if there are any points you wish to raise,” the President told him. “First we can relax for a while. I've brought along some DVDs you may want to see during the flight.”
“Do you have any light entertainment, like 'Meet The Fockers', or 'Tootsie'?” Fred asked the President.
“No I haven't I'm afraid,” replied the President. “I did bring all the Star Wars movies, though. I thought Frank might like to see something like that.”
Professor Marshall simply smiled at the President, and kept his thoughts to himself.
“I like the Star Wars movies,” the President added. “Specially when the good guys beat the bad guys, don’t you?”
“I think I'd better warn you, Mr President, the European Space Agency are aware of the asteroid,” Professor Marshall then pointed out.
“When did you hear that?” asked the President. “Do you reckon they'd tell their heads of state?”
“I don't know,” said the Professor. “One of my staff at NASA told me he received a call from the ESA this morning.”
Fred Luddolmans looked at the President and nodded his head, to confirm what the Professor had said.
“Well let's just hope this doesn't get out too soon, then, or all hell may break loose,” the President commented.

After the plane had taken off, Professor Marshall explained to the President that the asteroid was not perceived to come as close as first anticipated. He emphasised that it was behaving eratically, however, and that it needed to be carefully monitored. He also added that the latest movements were out of sync with recent projections, and that there was little room for error. It would be very interesting to see what data the Russians had.
Professor Marshall then asked the President if he could contact NASA during the flight, as he wanted to know about the latest report and images of the asteroid.
“Couldn't you have got this information while this plane was on the ground?” the President asked Professor Marshall.
“I'm afraid not, Mr President,” replied the Professor. “This data is received at 10.00 am each morning, Houston time, or 11.00 a.m. in Washington. “
“Couldn't you have asked for it to be submitted earlier?” quizzed the President.
“I'm afraid not, sir,” replied Professor Marshall. “This information has to come in at the exact time each day so we can quantify the asteroid's movements. Yesterday's movements were out of sync, so I'm very curious about todays'. If they're out of sync again, it could mean the asteroid may come a lot closer to Earth than we have so far envisaged.”
The President considered Professor Marshall's request.
“I'd like to agree to this, but we have to adhere to strict regulations not to use mobiles whilst in flight,” the President informed him, before turning to Fred. “Can you do me a favour and put this Star Wars DVD on, thanks.”
Professor Marshall then sat through the long flight having to endure two Star Wars movies, plus Armageddon. Needless to say, he was half asleep as the plane touched down on a military airbase just outside Moscow, shortly before 1 o'clock the next morning, Moscow time.
After a swift acknowledgment and a check of credentials by the Commander at the base, the President and his team were escorted to a top hotel in the centre of Moscow. Along the way, Professor Marshall took out his mobile and called Steve.
“Hi Steve, it's me, Frank,” he said as Steve picked up his phone. “'You still at work?”
“It's only just gone 4.15 in the afternoon here,” Steve replied. “I'm still sorting some data, but I'll be leaving in about an hour.”
“Have you received today's report from the 'Space Station?” asked the Professor.
“We have, and it's out of sync again,” Steve informed him.
“Out of sync to yesterday's movements or Monday's?” he asked.
“The asteroid's movements are very similar to yesterday's,” said Steve. “I've re-estimated it's trajectory, and it looks like coming within five million miles of Earth.”
Professor Marshall informed Fred Luddolmans, who sat alongside him, of the revised estimate.
“Could you let me know what estimates the Russians have for the asteroid,” asked Steve, on the other end of the mobile phone. “We're going to have to monitor this very closely.”
He then heard a yawn from Professor Marshall.
“You sound tired, Frank,” Steve commented.
“Call it jet lag,” replied the Professor looking at his watch. “It's 1.15 in the morning here, and I've been up since 6.30 yesterday. I'll speak to you tomorrow.”
Professor Marshall tried to put his head down, but Fred was being rather inquisitive.
“Do you seriously believe this asteroid will smash into Earth?” asked Fred.
“No, not if our projections are correct,” replied the Professor. “However, this is no normal asteroid. It's too big, too eratic, and heading in our direction. It must be constantly monitored, because if our estimates are ever so slightly incorrect, or if by some chance the asteroid changes course ever-so-slightly, it may have disastrous results.”
“I'm rather mystified about it's movements,” said Fred. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I can make out, it's 'slowed down'.”
Professor Marshall just nodded his head.
“I didn't think asteroids could slow down,” Fred commented. “Are you sure someone hasn't got their sums wrong?”
“Yes I am sure,” replied the Professor. “My staff have checked and double-checked the images and reports, and I've examined them too. We've all come to the same conclusions, however strange they may seem.”
“Do you think someone in the International Space Station took the wrong images?” asked Fred.
“I'm absolutely sure they haven't done,” replied the Professor. “These were double-checked on the ISS before the reports were made and sent to NASA. Even the European Space Agency have cottoned on to the asteroid, and their figures agreed with our previous estimates.”
“Before the asteroid 'slowed down'?” queried Fred.
“Yes – before the asteroid 'slowed down',” replied the Professor. “The European Space Agency aren't even sure if it's an asteroid.”
“Do you think it may not be an asteroid?” asked Fred. “Could it be a meteorite or a comet?”
“I don't know,” replied the Professor. “I can't be absolutely 100% sure.”
“Do you think it could be a space ship?” asked Fred. “Like Battlestar Galacticta, you remember that don't you? Or like Darth Vader's ship we saw in Star Wars tonight?”
“We don't know,” the Professor replied abruptly. “According to NASA's best estimates for the thing's size and dimensions however, we believe it to be an asteroid. Now can we wait and see what the Russians have to say about this tomorrow.”
“You mean later today,” pointed out Fred.
“Sorry, later today,” replied the Professor. “What time is the meeting, by the way?”
“One o'clock,” said Fred. “I think you'd better get some sleep when we get to the hotel. I'll come and wake you in the morning.”

It wasn't much longer before they arrived at their hotel. After Professor Marshall went to his room, he put his head down and went to sleep. He slept well that morning. Later, at almost 10.00 o'clock, Fred knocked at Professor Marshall's door.
“Come in, come in,” he said, before apologising to Fred for his rant in the car in the early hours of the morning, as Fred entered the room.
“That's okay, no offence taken,” said Fred. “I see you've been up a little while already. Are you going anywhere?”
“I was just getting ready to have breakfast,” said the Professor.
“I'm saving myself for lunch,” replied Fred. “Did you know that the Russian president is taking us all for a meal before the meeting? I'm told we're being taken to the best restaurant in the city.”
“I was aware of that, but I didn't want to rely on a large lunch,” said the Professor. “I'm not used to Russian cuisine, anyway.”
“Oh I wouldn't worry about that,” said Fred. “This is the first time I've been to Moscow, but if the restaurant is anything like the ones I've been to in Budapest, Prague or Kiev, then I'm sure there'll be a wide variety on the menu. Besides, you've probably missed breakfast anyway.”
Professor Marshall looked at the clock and thought about what Fred had said. He said he was feeling hungry and that he'd rather go to find something to eat.
“Do you speak Russian?” Fred asked the Professor.
“No,” he replied.
“Well I doubt you'd get very far out there,” Fred chuckled. “You may as well order something from the hotel. I'm sure they'll make any snack you request.”
“Do you think they'd bring me up a fried breakfast?” asked the Professor.
“Probably - I had a bowl of cornflakes and some coffee this morning,” said Fred. “Besides, we may as well stay here and watch TV.”
“Do they have US TV stations here?” asked the Professor.
“They have satellite TV here,” Fred told him.
“When did you find that out?” asked the Professor.
“The US Ambassador told me so this morning,” said Fred. “I'm sure you'll find Fox, Bloomberg or ABC News at least.”
Fred then picked up the remote control and switched on the TV, before searching the channels. He stopped when he found a NBC station. In the meantime, Professor Marshall went to his phone and ordered his fried breakfast.
“Would you like me to order anything on your behalf?” the Professor asked Fred.
“Ask them to bring up a pot of coffee and a couple of mugs,“ Fred suggested. “We can share that.”

While they were waiting for the breakfast order to arrive, Fred and the Professor noticed an item where the European Space Agency claimed to have discovered a large object in the solar system, heading towards Earth. Fred and the Professor looked at eachother, but before they could say much the doorbell rang. It was Professor Marshall's breakfast being delivered. By the time this was brought into the room and put on his table, the item about the asteroid had ended. They watched the news eagerly for the next hour, but that particular news item wasn't highlighted again. While they were watching the news the Thriller ringtone came on.
“Hello, Mr Luddolmans here, how can I help,” said Fred.
“Hi Fred, George here,” said the President, who was on the other end of the line. “Where are you? Are you ready for lunch yet?”
“I'm with Professor Marshall at the moment,” Fred replied. “When are Mr Boritzov's escorts coming to pick us up?”
“The escorts are due here at 11.30,” the President told Fred. “Lunch is at 12.00.”
“Have you seen the news this morning?” Fred asked the President.
“No, I've just been relaxing,” said the President. “Will you two be long?”
“We'll be down shortly,” replied Fred, as he noticed the clock was indicating 11.15. “We'll meet you in reception.”

Fred and Professor Marshall met the President and his bodyguards in reception about five minutes later. They didn't have long to wait before two chaufered Mercedes came along to pick them up. They were then taken to a top restaurant, in Red Square. As they got out of the Mercedes’, a waiter then led them to a secluded area inside, where they met Mr Boritzov and Professor Kamilichenko of the Russian Space Federation.
During the meal, Mr Boritzov was briefly watching the lunchtime news on the TV in the room. He noticed an item where the European