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

for first and second gears, but these are used more to move the car when it is turning, or pulling away from traffic lights or roundabouts.”
“And by the time the car has been running, the first, second and reverse gear chips will have gained sufficientenergy, too, I suppose,” said Andrew.
“This wasn’t the original design,” Henry informed his colleague. “We’re constantly examining ways of improving the vehicle.”
“Have you sold many recently?” asked Andrew.
“Most of our recent sales have come at our Rayners Lane showroom, in north-west London,” admitted Henry. “I’ve been considering moving our local workshop in Skipton to somewhere else, but I haven’t really had much time to look into this.”
“I suppose there are several vacant stores in which you can set up showrooms in Leeds and Bradford,” commented Andrew.
“I know, I know,” sighed Henry. “I don’t seem to have the time available to go and visit such sites, what with this project.”
“You do have a team of your own, don’t you?” Andrew queried.
“I do, but it’s only a small team,” said Henry. “I’ve sent four of them to Tenerife, and can’t see them coming back in the near future, plus I’ve got a couple more at Rayners Lane.”
“Well you may need to increase the size of your team,” Andrew suggested. “You can’t be a little boy all your life if you want to play in the big pool.”
“True, I suppose,” Henry sighed again, not wishing to let-on where he and his team originally came from. This did make him realise however, that now may be the best time to take on new staff. But how would he do it, and still retain his and his team’s initial privacy.
“Shall we get a move on?” Andrew suggested, though Henry was still in deep thought. “Are you alright, Henry?” Andrew queried.
“Erhh, yes, yes,” muttered Henry. “I was just thinking to myself.”
“Would you mind if I have a go of the car?” asked Andrew.
“No, no, not at all,” said Henry. “You don’t mind me asking, I suppose you have full insurance to drive other vehicles?”
“You assume correct,” said Andrew. “I require full insurance as I often drive council vehicles.”
“Of course, silly me,” said Henry.
“Before I get in the car, is starting the vehicle similar to the normal process with other cars?” Andrew queried.
“It’s just the same as starting an ordinary car,” confirmed Henry.
“Might there be any tips or advice you have for driving this car of yours?” asked Andrew.
“Not really,” replied Henry. “Have a little drive along these country roads. When you feel comfortable enough, you may want to head for the motorway.”
Andrew agreed, and, as he pulled away, signalling and looking around him, the car seemed no different to anything else he had driven. He felt comfortable in it almost immediately. Andrew continued driving, and talking to Henry as they went along, and eventually followed signs to the M8. Once again, he noticed that the fuel gauge hadn’t gone down, but wanted to give the car a good run along the motorway, always checking the fuel gauge as they went along.
By the time they arrived back at their hotel, Andrew was half-convinced by the digital car, and was considering putting it forward to the council back on Stornoway as an alternate option to replace their current fleet. Like all canny Scotsmen, however, he needed a little more convincing.
“I enjoyed that,” Andrew said to Henry when he stopped the car back at the hotel.
“Good, good,” replied a satisfied Henry. “Is there anything else you’d like me to show you?”
“Well, I’m curious as to how the chips obtain the energy to drive the vehicle,” said Andrew.
“It works on basically the same principal as the turbine,” Henry told him. “As it rotates, energy is produced. The faster it rotates, the more energy is obtained.
“I’m booked here overnight, are you staying here as well?” queried Andrew, to which Henry nodded in acknowledgement. “You wouldn’t mind going out again for a drive tomorrow, would you?”
“No, not at all,” replied Henry. “Is there anywhere you’d like to go at all? Perth, Stirling, or Loch Lomond perhaps?”
“Oh, I was thinking of driving a bit further than that,” said Andrew.
“I don’t mind going to visit Aberdeen, perhaps?” said Henry.
“I was actually thinking of going all the way to Ullapool,” said Andrew. “I could catch the ferry to Stornoway from there.”
Henry was rather surprised.
“You don’t mind, do you?” asked Andrew.
“Well, well… I don’t mind,” said Henry. “Aren’t you booked to fly back, though?”
“I am, but I just thought it would be a good way of testing the car,” said Andrew.
“Is there anything in particular that you’d like to test out with the car?” Henry then queried.
“I’ll come straight to the point,” said Andrew. “I’m into eco-friendly devices and, like you, believe we can make better use of natural resources and energy. Our fleet of vehicles are coming up to their ‘retirement’, and from what you’ve shown me of your digital car, I think a group of these would make good replacements, particularly if we can save on fuel expenses.”
“How many would you want for the fleet?” asked Henry.
“Oh probably just a couple of these at first,” Andrew replied. “We could do with a few vans, too, one small and one large. Do you have any in production?”
“No, not at the moment,” admitted Henry. “I’m sure we have some designs for vans, but due to the current recession, we haven’t developed them as yet.”
“Well, I’m sure you realise, that as a Councillor, I want to give everything to be purchased a thorough check,” added Andrew.
Henry thought carefully about what Andrew had said.
“If it were me, I’d be happy to buy one of your cars, but I have a duty to my citizens of the Hebrides,” Andrew added. “I have to ensure my citizens’ council tax is used to best effect.”
“Are you a little sceptical about the fuel gauge?” queried Henry. “I can show you the chips, by jacking-up the car, if you’d like?”
“No, no, that won’t be necessary,” Andrew advised. “I would like to give the car a good run, though, so I can be absolutely sure that this does run on the digital chips and not on petrol, or even worse, that the fuel gauge has been tampered with. Is that okay?”
“I’ll tell you what,” said Henry. “Why don’t we go to Inverness, or perhaps head for Skye. We can see Glen Coe, have lunch at Fort William, and visit the Unknown Soldier – I believe his cemetery or epitaph is somewhere up that way. Or would you rather visit Loch Ness? What do you say?”
“Hhmmm, I like the idea,” said Andrew. “There’s just one snag, though.”
“Oh, what’s that?” queried Henry.
“I’m booked to fly back to Stornoway at 4.30,” Andrew told him.
“Well why don’t we get an early start,” suggested Henry. “It’s light by 5am at this time of year.”
“Okay, okay,” said Andrew. “I suppose it’ll be a good drive, though probably not as far as Ullapool.”
“It may be further, actually, depending how far we get,” said Henry. “Don’t forget, we’ll be driving back here to Edinburgh afterwards, so it’ll be twice the distance. Perhaps we can at least have lunch at Loch Lomond?”
“Okay then, it’s agreed,” said Andrew. “I’ll prepare my baggage so you can drop me off at the airport in the afternoon.”
They each went to their rooms to refresh themselves, and prepare for the next day, before they went down for tea at the hotel, followed by several drinks that evening.

The next day, Henry and Andrew woke up early, before meeting downstairs in the foyer. Each ready as ever, they discussed plans before handing in their room keys and booking out of the hotel. Ever-curious and not the easiest person to be convinced, Andrew read the mileometre when they got into the car, and by 7 o’clock, they set off, while the motorways were relatively empty.
Henry and Andrew decided to stop at services halfway to Glasgow to have breakfast, but by 8 o’clock, were back on the road again. Andrew took to the steering wheel this time, still monitoring the mileometre. He wanted to get past the Glasgow traffic before the regular hustle & bustle of the weekend shoppers hit the motorways heading for the city. Once past Glasgow, they headed for the small town of Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond, and eventually pulled into a car park near the loch.
“So, how do you feel?” asked Henry.
“Oh, fine, fine,” replied Andrew, as he stretched his legs.
“Shall we head for the local shop, or do you want to go to the lake first?” asked Henry.
“Loch, man, loch,” insisted Andrew. “We don’t have lakes here in Scotland, only lochs.”
“Sorry, sorry,” apologised Henry, though he found the situation amusing and was half-laughing.
“Ahh, I’ll make a true Scotsman of you yet,” commented Andrew. “Come on, let’s go the the lochside.”
Andrew seemed keen to discuss business, largely because he didn’t want anyone in the vicinity to get the wrong idea of two men walking together. As they wandered, Henry tried to look at his ordnance survey map, but it was a little windy, especially by the time they got to the shores of Loch Lomond.
“Do you think we can manage the agreed route and still get back to Edinburgh airport by two-thirty?” Henry asked as they sat by the lochside.
“Probably,” said Andrew. “We still have nearly six hours left.”
“From what I’ve seen of the map, the roads are all single carriageway from here on,” muttered Henry.
“We’ll be okay,” said Andrew. “If we are running a bit late, we can always head towards Stirling instead of Perth. Besides, there aren’t that many roads up this way, so I don’t think we’ll get lost.”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to feel a little too chilly,” said Henry. “I’m going back to the car.”
“Sit down man!” Andrew said to him. “It’s only a breeze. It’ll warm up as the sun gets beyond the hills.”
Henry and Andrew sat looking into the loch and towards the local hills. Beyond, they could see the mountains in the distance. Though the scenery looked majestic, it was a little windy, so they decided not to stay too much longer, and headed back to the car. Andrew kept the keys and drove for a short distance, before stopping at a supermarket.
“You’re not hungry already?” Henry asked him. “It’s only just gone 9.30.”
“I’m just going to purchase a few snacks and refreshments,” said Andrew. “I think you’ll find very few shops on the route we’re taking. Would you like anything at all?”
“A bag of crisps will be fine,” said Henry, as he grabbed the road atlas to look at the route they would undertake.
Five minutes later, Andrew came back and went to open Henry’s door.
“You don’t mind taking over the driving?” he asked Henry as he passed him the keys to the car.
“No, not at all,” replied Henry. “Is everything alright with the car?”
“Everything should be in order,” Andrew reassured him. “I just fancy a bit of a rest, and a look at the scenery. I’ve got a few cans with me so it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for me to continue driving.”
“I take your point,” acknowledged Henry, who got out of his seat and walked around to the other side of the car.
Henry then proceeded out of Balloch and onto the main highway, the A82. The road was only single carriageway, and ran mainly along the western side of Loch Lomond. As it continued, the road seemed to become smaller,