The Twins Paradox, Alan Gasparutti [online e reader txt] 📗

the asteroid, while carbon, along with other elements, was used to produce various things including food. You may be put-off a little, but it wasn’t as bad as it may sound. As you may imagine, this acted as an auxiliary ‘tank’ as the energy created was also used to power the asteroid at times.”
“What about water?” Clint asked. “You must have used water at some stage.”
“Oh yes,” Arthur remembered. “That was also produced following similar reactions, from hydrogen and oxygen of course. That leads me to the second facility within the asteroid I was referring to, a bit like a super-huge reservoir.”
Even Clint was now beginning to accept Arthur, and, along with Frank and Dermot, was becoming ever-more fascinated by what he was being told.
“You know, you really are intelligent enough to develop things like what I’ve described, here on Earth,” Arthur said to them. “I’m afraid too many people in authority are too obsessed with other matters, mainly power and money. If you’re all interested, I could help you all to help the environment of this planet. You know, this is a perfect planet to live on, you shouldn’t let it be spoilt by anyone.”
Frank and Dermot were certainly keen on Arthur’s suggestion, but were unsure whether they should give it their full backing just yet.
“I’ve noticed how often people have asked themselves whether there is life elsewhere in the universe,” Arthur then commented. “Well now you know that’s true.”
“I thought you said your ancestors were originally from Earth?” Clint queried.
“That is true as well, but I can vouch for alternate life in the universe,” replied Arthur. “As I said earlier, there were people, well, apes actually, from another world on that asteroid. For all I know, they may have been taken to another planet by my ancestors, and eventually colonized the planet.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” asked Frank.
“That anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” replied Arthur. “More to the point however, perhaps someone else from outer space may come and visit Earth another day. It would be a sad day however, if the Earth we know was burnt out like a tinderbox because of global warming.”
“The way Earth’s going it may be destroyed by the ravages of war and terrorism,” commented Dermot.
“That’s as maybe,” said Arthur. “You wouldn’t let that happen though if you could help it, would you?”
“No, we certainly wouldn’t,” said Frank. “But you’re forgetting one thing – we need money to develop the things you’re suggesting, money which I know I haven’t got.”
“Nor me,” added Dermot and Clint simaltaneously.
“No, but you could help me influence a man who has the money and authority to help with such things,” Arthur told them. “As a matter of fact, we saw him today, and he has strong views on the environment.”
“The Governor of California,” Frank, Clint and Dermot all said simultaneously as they looked at each other.

Four Hours to Neptune

That evening, Frank & Clint, and Dermot & Arthur went their seperate ways, but they each visited the conference centre to check if everything had been sorted and that the conference would go ahead the next day.
The following morning, the four of them, together with all the other astronomers in town, went to the second day’s conference. Though Frank, Clint and Dermot now knew Arthur’s true identity, they decided to remain silent. Some of the items on the previous day’s agenda had been carried forward, while others were scrapped.
At the end of the day’s conference, the four of them went looking around the centre in search of the Governor of California. Unfortunately, largely due to the previous day’s events, there was strict security around the conference hall, and especially surrounding the Governor of California.
“It’s no use,” said Dermot. “I don’t think we’ll get to meet him today.”
“Why don’t you wait inside,” suggested Frank. “Clint and me can go outside, in case the ‘Governor goes out of one of the back doors.”
“Good idea,” said Arthur. “I’m sure he’s still here somewhere.”
Arthur was correct, though only just. As Clint walked around the back he saw a group of tall, burly men walking out of a door. It looked like someone was with them, though he couldn’t tell who. Then, as they got into two cars, he noticed the Governor of
California was amongst them.
“Hey Governor,” he shouted, and waved to try to draw his attention.
Unfortunately, this was in vain, as the cars drove off rather quickly. Clint then went back to look for Frank. To get back to the entrance of the conference centre, Clint had to walk around the car park and another couple of streets. When he met Frank, Dermot and Arthur were there with him, and had been thrown out by security guards.
“Aghhh, it’s no use,” said Dermot.
“We can’t give up now,” said Frank. “We’ll just have to try something different tomorrow.”
“Yes, but how are we going to get past the security guards and bodyguards?” queried Clint. “We don’t stand a chance.”
“Frank’s right,” said Arthur. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
“Do you have anything in mind?” asked Frank.
“I may be able to get a message to him,” said Arthur.
“How??” asked Frank.
“Just trust me,” replied Arthur.

It had been hot that day, so they each went back to their hotel rooms for a shower. Dermot and Arthur wanted to gain support and help the situation. They met at the hotel entrance a little later that evening.
“So tell me, Arthur, what other ideas do you have in that mind of yours?” Dermot asked.
“Quite a few, actually,” replied Arthur. “What surprises me is why no-one has thought of many of them before. They’re not exactly difficult to achieve, nor do they require much imagination.”
This made Dermot think to himself briefly, trying to think of ideas which would help with global warming.
“Europe is supposed to be green, isn’t it?” queried Arthur. “Greener than this country we’re in right now, anyway.”
“Oh definitely, definitely,” said Dermot.
“Well why hasn’t it made it a requirement for all future houses to contain solar windows?” asked Arthur. “I can recall when I was in the UK, some new houses were being fitted with solar windows, but the government or opposition never proposed this be made statutory.”
“Oh I fully agree with your thoughts,” muttered Dermot.
“And what about the UK, and Ireland come to that, they’re surrounded by water,” Arthur said to him.
“Yes, you’re right there,” said Dermot.
“Well why haven’t they developed more desalination plants around the coasts,” questioned Arthur.
“I think they’re concerned that it would generate too much carbon, like power stations,” suggested Dermot.
“Not if they were generated by wind power or solar power,” commented Arthur. “Or water power, come to that. The power of the waves could generate enough energy to run such plants.”
“Especially with some of the weather they’ve been having over there recently,” added Dermot.
“Precisely,” commented Arthur. “The trouble with society is that everything revolves around money. Central governments are more interested in the stock market than they are in global warming.”
“You’re right there,” agreed Dermot. “I just wish there was something we could do about these things.”
“There is,” Arthur told him.
“And what might that be?” asked Dermot.
“Many governments are democratic, are they not?” queried Arthur. “We can all vote the current lot out.”
“The problem then becomes who to vote for instead,” said Dermot. “Take the UK for instance. They had a socialist government thirty years ago. They didn’t run the finances too well and were voted out, in favour of a party who were all for the rich.”
“And what happened to them?” Arthur asked.
“They ran the UK for eighteen years, before they were thrown out in favour of a more left-of-centre party,” Dermot told him. “If you ask me, they were as much for business as the previous lot. I remember them promising to look after Health and Education. They introduced they’re own measures, but the results weren’t very different than if the previous lot had remained.”
“Ohhh,” said Arthur sadly. “What about the rest of Europe? Don’t you think there are better national leaders?”
“Some perhaps are, I grant you,” commented Dermot. “But I can think of a few that are probably more corrupt than the UK government. And as for the lunatic running this country, I’m glad he’s not going to be around much longer.”
“From what I’ve seen and heard of the US president, I think he talks out of his backside,” Arthur commented. “I just hope his successor is better.”
“Well, Arthur, I don’t think he, or she, could be much worse,” replied Dermot. “And the thing you’ve got to remember is that he and his European colleagues are the good guys.”
“I take your point,” said Arthur. “From what I’ve seen in other parts of the world many countries are led by tyrants, dictators and warlords. The thing is that if we are to prevent total disintegration of Earth by global warming over the next hundred years or so, we need the support of the US and Europe.”
“I know, I know,” muttered Dermot.
Arthur was beginning to think he should have stayed on the Interstellar Pilgrim, and could understand why Professor Schmidt decided to remain there. He was in no doubt that after the others had seen Earth for themselves, on film at least, they too felt the same way.
“Hey, Arthur, I’m a bit thirsty,” Dermot then said. “Do you mind if we stay at this bar for a little while, so I can wet my loins, so to speak? They may sell food here too.”
Arthur wasn’t fussed and didn’t feel like walking around, so agreed. This wasn’t their usual bar, but after they’d had a drink and looked at the menu, decided to stay for a while longer.
“Do you think the Governor of California is really the person to discuss global warming with?” asked Arthur. “Perhaps Mr Universe may have some views that are out of this world.”
“You don’t think the former Mr Universe comes from out of this world, by any chance, do you?” Dermot queried with Arthur.
“I don’t know where he’s from, but he does look a bit different from most men,” Arthur pointed out, to which Dermot laughed.
“What’s so funny?” asked Arthur.
“The Governor of California isn’t from outer space,” Dermot giggled. “The title Mr Universe was bestowed annually to the man judged as the world’s best body-builder. He doesn’t look that different from other men, just that he is, or once was, very muscular. I doubt he needs all those muscles any longer – he has enough bodyguards of his own.”
“He doesn’t speak like most Americans, though” said Arthur.
“That’s because he wasn’t born here,” Dermot told him. “He’s actually from somewhere in Europe.”
Arthur‘s face went red with embarrassment. Then his head began to drop.
“Oh come, come, now, Arthur,” Dermot said to him. “You shouldn’t get too embarrassed. You’ll find we all have our embarrassing moments.”
“It’s not that I’m bothered about,” replied Arthur. “I doubt then that the Governor of California will do much to save Earth from global warming. He’s probably like most leaders, just hungry for power and money.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” said Dermot. “Fundamentally, he represents the same party as the US President, but they’re very different in other ways. At least the Governor of California has green views and has introduced measures to make this state more environmentally-friendly.”
“So how do you think he could help?” Arthur asked.
“Well, he has plenty of money for a start – that’s always a good starting point,” said Dermot. “I think if he takes a look at your car, he may be willing