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

to get these results finalised by this afternoon, together with a report,” Steve then emphasised. “Frank’s got to take these to a meeting with the Governor of California tomorrow morning.”
“That’s okay,” acknowledged Henry. “I’ll let you get on with the statistics, and wish you the best of luck. Cheerio for now.”

Henry felt satisfied. He thought there shouldn’t be any further problems with the testing of the turbine, though he didn’t rule out any problems in case things occured which hadn’t been accounted for, even by the Health & Safety Inspection.
Ever-keen to find out how things were going, Henry called Andrew each day during the next week. The following Monday, however, Andrew had some news for him.
“I’m afraid I shan’t be here for much longer,” he told Henry.
“Going anywhere nice?” Henry asked.
“You could say that,” Andrew told him. “It’s confidential, so I can’t say too much more just at the moment.”
“You mean to say you have another job?” Henry asked with a little surprise. “I thought you were just going away on holiday. I dare say you could do with a break.”
“No, I am moving jobs,” Andrew re-iterated.
“Well I wish you luck, wherever you may be,” Henry said to him before asking how the turbine was going.
“So far, so good,” said Andrew. “We haven’t had any malfunctions, and it’s coped with sudden energy surges pretty well.”
“When is it due to come into service?” Henry asked.
“We intend to start using the generator from next week, when our contract with Scottish Energy runs out,” Andrew confirmed. “We’re happy with the turbine, as it’s passed all the necessary tests already. It’s just a question now of keeping it running, and switching from one sub-station to another.”
“That’s good,” mumbled Henry, as he thought of another question to ask.
“Can I help you with anything else?” Andrew then queried. “I can arrange for you to attend the switching-on of the energy supply, if you like.”
“There’s one thing you may be able to help me with,” Henry then mentioned as an after-thought.
“Oh, what might that be?” queried Andrew.
“That motor manufacturer in California, which I have shares in, have told me they should break even for the first year. Is that good in financial terms?” asked Henry. “I have been considering selling my shares.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” advised Andrew. “For a company to break even in it’s first year is pretty good going, I’d say, particularly in the current recession. The company are manufacturing eco-friendly vehicles, aren’t they?”
”Yes, that’s right,” said Henry.
“I think that will be a growing trade in the coming years. In the coming century, maybe,” suggested Andrew. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, that’s fine,” said Henry. “Thanks for your advice. I’ll have to come and see you before you leave.”
“Well I’ll pencil you in to be invited to the official opening of the turbine,” said Andrew. “I’ll see you around.”

Henry was now happier than ever. He wanted to get his hands on the money as soon as possible, to help bolster all his businesses, but was prepared to wait for a year or two. After all, he’d spent many years just wandering through the universe on the Interstellar Pilgrim.
He decided to book a hotel in Stornoway for the following week. When he arrived there on Tuesday afternoon, he went to visit Andrew’s office. He noticed the office was beginning to look a little bare.
“Are you clearing your office?” he asked, after they had exchanged greetings
“Something like that,” replied Andrew. “My final day is this Friday, but I have three days Annual Leave outstanding, which I want to clear before the end of this month.”
“So it’s official that you’re leaving?” Henry queried.
“Ai, it is indeed,” replied Andrew. “Would you like me to get you a tea or a coffee, while you’re here?”
“If it’s not too much trouble,” said Henry. “If you like, I can go and get a couple of drinks from the machine in the corridor, if you’d like one too?”
Andrew requested a cappuccino, before Henry went along to fetch some cups. When he took the drinks back to Andrew’s office, he asked him where he was heading to. As Andrew was about to say the name of the company who had taken him on, there was a knock on the door of his office.
“Come in, come in,” said Andrew, as he gestured towards the man outside to come in his office, before turning to Henry. “Please meet my successor, Malcolm.”
As Malcolm came into the room, Andrew introduced Henry, before he and Malcolm shook hands.
“Andrew’s told me a lot about you,” Malcolm said to Henry. “You’re the chap who designed the new turbine, a bit of an entrepreneur, from what I can gather.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Henry. “Not just yet, anyway. I may consider the status if I become a millionaire someday.”
“Well, you know what Del Boy always said – ‘This time next year, we’ll be millionaires’,” Malcolm said with a smile and a cheerful grin.
“I don’t think the turbine will start to make a profit until after next year at the earliest,” Andrew commented. “He’s in this for the long haul, aren’t you Henry?”
“Yes I am indeed,” acknowledged Henry. “Between this and the motor plant in California, I may not become a millionaire for a little while.”
“Do you have any other plans for the future?” Malcolm then asked.
“I believe we can do a lot more with the oceanic energy we have at this island’s resources,” stated Henry. “I certainly think we could develop more desalination plants along the British coast. I don’t intend to develop that idea just yet, though; not at least until this project comes to fruition.”
“Someone may have already developed such an idea by then,” commented Malcolm.
“I doubt any such idea will be developed in the UK, not with the current government,” commented Andrew. “I doubt the idea would take off with the next government, either. They’ll be too restricted by the debts owed by the UK.”
“That’s why this sort of initiative must come from the private sector,” said Malcolm
The three of them continued to discuss ideas and resources for another hour or so, until Henry checked his watch and decided to do a little shopping.

The next day, Henry relaxed in the morning, though at midday he decided to go to Andrew’s office to hand him a farewell card. When he arrived there, however, he saw Malcolm sitting inside the room. When Henry knocked on the door, Malcolm waved him to come in.
“How are you today?” asked Malcolm
“I’m fine, thanks,” replied Henry. “I had a good sleep-in this morning. Is Andrew around at all?”
“No, I’m afraid you’ve just missed him,” advised Malcolm. “I think he went to visit the turbine, take one last look at the structure.”
“Perhaps he’s gone to see if everything’s okay,” suggested Henry.
“Probably,” replied Malcolm. “I rather like those council vans. I didn’t know until yesterday that your factory had produced them.”
“I’m glad they’re running well,” said Henry. “I doubt you’ll have any problems with them, but if you do, you can always give me a call, so I can arrange to send one of my engineers round.”
“I shouldn’t think that would be necessary,” said Malcolm. “The engines seem similar to most vehicles. That’s why I probably didn’t notice any difference in them at first.”
“Do you know where Andrew is going?” Henry then asked. “Perhaps I could send him a congratulations letter there, instead?”
“I’m not too sure, to be honest,” said Malcolm. “I think he’s moving to Glasgow, or somewhere thereabouts, though I don’t know who he’ll be working for.”
“Do you know if Andrew will be coming back this afternoon?” Henry then asked.
“I should think so,” said Malcolm. “I know he has a few things to collect here. I can give him your farewell card, or you can stay here and wait for him, if you’d like. He’s probably just making sure everything is absolutely 100%, and in good order for Thursday.”
“More like having one final lunch and a few drinks with the electrical technicians, I dare say,” Henry commented with a laugh.
”Alternatively, you may see him at the official opening of the turbine on Thursday,” suggested Malcolm.
“I think I’ll do that,” said Henry, before handing Andrew’s farwell card to Malcolm, and leaving.
Henry had a brief look around the shops after that, before he went back to his hotel room to check his emails on his lap top

Henry decided to take a trip to the neighbouring island of Benbecula, the next day. He had originally intended to visit one the neighbouring islands of North and South Uist, too, but with only one ferry service each day from Stornoway, this wasn’t really an option.
Henry arose relatively early on Thursday morning, in preparation for the official opening of the turbine. After having an early shower, he went downstairs for breakfast, before going back up to his room to brush his teeth and get ‘suited & booted’ for the occasion.
Henry then went to meet Malcolm at the council offices, and after a brief chat, a call was received from reception that the UK Energy Minister had arrived. Henry and Malcolm then went down to the foyer to meet the minister, before they all boarded taxis which took them to the Butt of Lewis, off the cliffs of which was the turbine.
There was no pomp and ceremony, as had been the case for the opening of the motor plant in California earlier in the year, though the place was full of journalists and TV reporters.
After a brief announcement from the Energy Minister, the turbine was officially declared open. Several questions were then raised, most of which the minister delegated to Malcolm, who in turn delegated some to Henry. That was through no fault of his, though, as the person who knew all the answers, Andrew, wasn’t there. The Energy Minister then announced that he had another engagement that day, and headed for his taxi. Journalists and reporters followed him, demanding answers to particular queries, but were simply referred back to Malcolm and Henry.
Eventually, the Energy Minister’s taxi drove off. A few journalists and reporters had remained at the presentation, and were soon joined by their colleagues. Henry didn’t mind answering the queries raised. He saw this as an opportunity to show himself to the country, at least, if not to the world. His face would now be seen all over TV and in the newspapers, and probably on the internet. But what would they all say about him?

After the journalists left the opening presentation one by one, Henry went back to Stornoway with Malcolm. They had a snack and a pint together, before Henry returned to his hotel room, to check his laptop for messages, and see if there was any news about the turbine. He was interested to read anything which related to him, though nothing on the web appeared immediately. He saw the opening of the turbine on the news later that day, and even saw himself on TV. He was a bit disappointed there were no references to him, and wanted to know what the media thought of him as well as his project.
He read a little about himself the following morning, when he purchased the local newspaper at Stornoway airport. It described him as ‘a new light in the darkness of modern engineering’, and ‘a sharp beam on the cutting edge of technology’. There didn’t seem a lot else, though, and the news article emphasised more on how the turbine could revolutionise the UK. That did please Henry, though