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

maternity units nearby, not even at Skipton,” she told him.
“Surely there must be some units this side of Bradford?” said a worried Ramondo. “Is there nothing nearer?”
“There are hospitals at Kendal, Keighley and Clitheroe,” said Maria. “I don’t know if they have maternity units, though. Would you like me to give them a ring tomorrow, or shall I try Blackburn or Lancaster? They should have maternity units.”
”I think we should register you with the local GP, first,” suggested Ramondo. “We’ll see what they advise, before we make our next move. If we can get you into anti-natal classes, perhaps I’ll come along. Hopefully, they will prepare me for any home deliveries. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Over the next few days, Ramondo began to prepare an advertisement for two car salespersons for the new showroom, but his thoughts wandered towards Maria and their baby. At midday on Wednesday he drove back to Ribblehead Cottage to pick up Maria, before taking her to their appointment with the local GP in Ingleton, that afternoon. The GP stated that there were no anti-natal classes locally, but that there were some at Kendal or Lancaster. Neither were ideal and were about 25 miles away, but at least one was available, with another to fall back on should they be turned down at their first choice. After careful considerations they chose the ant-natal classes at Kendal, if possible, and to register with the paediatrician there.

Henry, meanwhile, had other concerns, and phoned Andrew regularly to check how the turbine was coming along. He almost forgot his appointment at the estate agents to pay the deposit on the new showroom near Leeds. By the end of the week, though, the showroom belonged to his business, so the following week, he and Ramondo would go there and prepare the premises.
By this time, the advertisement for the two salespersons had been placed online. By the following week, however, when Ramondo and Henry looked online at the applications, they were surprised at just how many they had received. Neither had sorted or sifted the applications, as they had other concerns, and it took them a full day to scale down the most suitable applications, and another day to select a handful to interview. Henry wanted to get everything up and running as soon as possible, as his main concern was the turbine, so the interviews were held the following week. From the interviews, two former car salespersons were selected.
Over the next few days, Ramondo delivered some cars from Skipton to the new showroom at Leeds, and the following week, guided the new salespersons around the premises and introduced the vehicles to them, demonstrating their performance and economys. He showed them the sales targets, and promised them each a digital car if the targets were met at the end of the next 6 months, and by the end of July, the new showroom was fully up and running, as were the sales of the vehicles.

Ramondo could now concentrate on his personal job, looking after Maria. Together, they went to the anti-natal classes at Kendal, as Maria’s body was now becoming noticeably larger.
Henry, on the other hand, was always chasing up Andrew about the Atlantic turbine project of his. He visited Andrew in August to check over the project himself, which was now beginning to take shape, though perhaps not as quickly as Henry had hoped.
Henry, and Ramondo too, had originally intended to take a few weeks away over the summer, but other matters took priority. Andrew continued to send pictures from the site, which seemed to show everything coming along fine, until finally, in early September, Henry had a call from Andrew confirming the project had now been completed.
“Do you know when the turbine will start providing energy?” Henry asked rather excitedly.
“The turbine has to be fully tested out, first of all, before we can start utilising it,” Andrew told him. “We’ve got some specialist electrical technicians to check everything is correctly connected and adapted, right at the moment.”
“Do you know when that will be finished?” asked Henry.
“I can’t say for certain, as it depends if the electrical technicians find anything out of place,” replied Andrew. “It may be ready later this week, if all is well. I’m going there this afternoon – I’ll let you know how things are.”
“I’ve checked on the internet about the Irish turbine recently,” Henry then told him. “Apparently, that’s already up and running.”
“Well, it was due to be completed several weeks before this one,” said Andrew. “Have you spoken to the project manager over there?”
“No, not yet,” said Henry. “I’ve had a few other matters to deal with myself, recently, and maybe for a few more months yet.”
“I’ve been meaning to invite the chap over here sometime, but haven’t been able to for one reason or another,” admitted Andrew. “Why don’t I invite him next week – you can come along too.”
“Okay,” said Henry. “Let me know how things are this afternoon, and perhaps we can arrange something for next week.”
Later that day, Andrew went to visit the site of the turbine. Most of the cabling inspections had been passed by the local Health & Safety Inspector, with a few more which remained to be checked over. He rang Henry that afternoon to give him the positive news, after which they arranged to meet the following Monday. Andrew also invited Brendan O’Hagan, Project Manager for the turbine which had recently been constructed off the south west coast of Ireland.

When Henry arrived at Stornoway airport on Monday afternoon, Andrew greeted him and confirmed that the remaining inspections had been given the all clear. He also confirmed that Brendan O’Hagan would be coming along later in the week, but that he could only attend on Thursday.
“I wasn’t going to stay too long, but I suppose I may as well make a week of it here,” said Henry. “I’m due to take a vacation anyway, so I may as well make the most of it while the sun’s shining.”
“You do that,” Andrew said to him. “It’s been rather hot here recently - certainly a lot hotter than it was the past two years.”
“You don’t think the hotels will be over-booked, do you?” asked Henry.
“I shouldn’t think so,” replied Andrew. “You should find a spare room or two at one of the local hotels here. Besides, I should have thought the hotel you’ve booked to stay at should fit you in for a few extra days. I mean, you’ve become a regular visitor to Stornoway.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Henry. “I could take a few trips out at sea to visit some of the other islands, too.”
“That’s a good idea,” agreed Andrew. “Anyway, shall we get going, I can show you the new turbine.”
“Is everything ready now?” Henry asked keenly.
“The final inspection for the cables and connnections has been passed,” Andrew informed him. “Tests on the turbine and generator can now be carried out.”

Andrew drove Henry to the site at the Butt of Lewis, where they noticed the plant and machinery were being removed from the site. They went over to the foreman, who showed them around the site and updated them on the current inspections. Henry could see his plan coming to fruition, as the turbine lay horizontally in the sea, held by two large arms jutting out from the cliffs. He noticed how the turbine spun whenever waves came roaring in from the sea.
“When will the tests be carried out on the turbine?” Henry asked.
“We’re sending our electrical technicians here on Wednesday,” said Andrew. “That should give the contractors enough time to clear the site.”
“Am I right in assuming that the turbine is already at work?” Henry then asked.
“Ai, I suppose it is,” replied Andrew. “It’s not generating any electricity just yet, but while the turbine is spinning, it’s absorbing energy which will be stored in the generator. That way we can safely assume that there will be sufficient energy available for the tests to be carried out on Wednesday.”
“Good, good,” said a cheerful Henry. “I’ll take a trip around the island tomorrow, then. Is there a lot to see around here?”
“Well, Harris has now been designated an area of natural beauty,” Andrew pointed out. “It’s a bit more hilly than Lewis, if you fancy going up a peak or two.”
“That’s settled then,” said Henry. “I suppose you’ve got other things on tomorrow?”
“Ai, I have,” acknowledged Andrew. “Let me know how you get on – we’ll have to have a day out somewhere, sometime. I rather liked our trip around central Scotland a few months ago.”
“Oh yes, that reminded me, how are those digital motors I sold you, coming along?” asked Henry.
“Fine, fine,” said Andrew. “We came in one today, or hadn’t you noticed?”
“To be honest, I had my mind on other things, but I suppose I should have noticed, none the same,” admitted Henry. “I’m glad everthing’s going well – perhaps we can show the car to Brendan when he comes on Thursday.”
“Who knows, they may develop similar motors in Ireland?” suggested Andrew.
They then wandered around the site for a short while, before Andrew drove them back to Stornoway, where Henry booked into his hotel, and arranged to stay a few extra days.

All was quiet the next morning, as Henry awoke. After breakfast, he walked around town, though it wan’t until after 9 o’clock that the shops opened. Henry went to hire himself a car for the day. Before setting out, he went to the local supermarket at Stornoway to buy a few sandwiches, drinks and chocolates to take with him.
When he left, he found that though most roads were classified as A roads, they were hardly in good condition. The views however, more than compensated, and made the journey towards Harris more enjoyable.
Henry noticed that the environment was broader and hillier than on the north of the island, at Lewis, and in some ways resembled his own adopted Yorkshire dales. As in Yorkshire, he found the conditions rather blustery, perfect conditions to power sea turbines, if not to walk about in. Henry just relaxed in his car, drank and ate a little, until the wind died down outside, when he decided to go for a stroll on the hills. When he reached the top of one of them, he could see the Atlantic ocean before him. However, he couldn’t see where his car was. He was pretty sure where he had left it, though, and considered walking down the next valley. He found that these hills had few clear paths he could follow, and before he became lost, decided to head back for his car.
By the end of the day, Henry had taken several pictures with his mobile, and drove back over the north coast of Harris and Lewis.

On Wednesday morning, Henry went to visit Andrew, who had received a report about the turbine from the Health & Safety Inspector. Everything seemed positive, though there was a query against the turbine’s surge protector. The two of them discussed the matter, and after Andrew had sorted out his mail, went with Henry to the turbine. Today would be the turbine’s first testing, to examine if there were any flaws left in the system.
When they arrived at the site, Electrical technicians were checking everything over. When everything was okay, they switched on the turbine, which was lowered into the sea, and began turning. Though it spun slowly at first, it’s speed increased as further waves came in. Henry and Andrew sat and discussed the turbine with the electrical technicians, and every ten minutes, one of them went to the sub-station to check the