Time Vortex

By Dr Dick Anubis

You may have thought that time travel was merely science fiction... but is it? When three scientists try to push beyond the speed of light they get more than they bargained for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326474737

Book preview

Time Vortex

Time Vortex

by

Dr. Dick Anubis

Copyright © 2015, Dr Dick Anubis

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the author's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN: 978-1-326-47473-7

Publisher: Lulu.

Acknowledgements

It is common practice for authors to acknowledge the help one has received from inspiration to publishing of their novel and I see no reason to buck this trend.

I would like to thank my wife for being there and not berating me when I was not because I was busy with this. I would like to thank my Mum for having me, an act of courage and kindness which not only made this novel possible but many other things as well. I would like to thank my brother for getting rid of a few of my spelling misteaks and other creative input. I would like to thank my dog for killing the cat that was getting on my nerves and thank said cat for killing the rat that snuck into my bedroom when I wasn’t looking. Most of all I would like to thank Professor Ronald Mallett of the University of Connecticut whose theories of time travel I cannot even begin to understand but formed the basis for my own ideas contained within this book.

Finally, I would just like to point out that if any of the characters in this novel bear any resemblance to any people alive or dead or just not feeling too well then it is entirely coincidental as they are all the product of a very warped imagination.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you enjoy the story.

-          D.A.

Chapter One

Not a bad party this year hey, Greg?

Greg turned around to find Leonard standing behind him.

I agree it has a better atmosphere. I think maybe it’s because a lot of the older guys have left and we have some younger blood around this year. This is a friend of mine, Alex. He is visiting from out of town. His girlfriend was here a second ago but she seems to have slipped off somewhere.

Good to meet you, Alex. My name is Leonard.

Nice to meet you too and I hope you won’t find me rude but I need to find my girlfriend. I will leave you in Greg’s capable hands.

Do you remember last year, said Leonard, when that young intern from the biology department had a little too much to drink and started an impromptu strip show?

Of course I do! Never did forgive Douglas for intervening so quickly. I don’t think there was a single guy in this place who hadn’t wondered what was going on under that white lab coat of hers.

Is that Ben over there? asked Leonard, trying to see through the gaps in the crowd.

Where?

In the corner talking with Jean.

I do believe it is. Didn’t know he was still working here. I can’t even remember when I last saw him.

You can be forgiven for thinking that. He’s spent the last year hidden away in his office. Rumour has it that he is close to a breakthrough in proving a theory he hatched up some time ago. I regularly took lunch with him whenever I bumped into him in the canteen. I like the guy; he has a nice manner about him. Shall we go over and say ‘Hi’?

They moved awkwardly through the crowd, careful not to spill their drinks, but before they could get there a voice came from behind them.

Hey, Leonard. Wondered where you were hiding. It was the voice of Alan, Leonard’s lab partner.

Hi Greg, don’t think I have seen you around since the last party.

That’s right, Alan. Long time, no see, you’re looking good, said Greg politely whilst glancing at his watch.

Thanks. Hey! I don’t think you’ve met my new wife. This is Dawn.

Pleased to meet you, replied Greg. My wife is wandering around somewhere collecting gossip; I don't seem able to see her right now.'' He craned his neck above the crowd. You know, my lab partner BB got married recently too. They’re standing over there by the door."

Yes, we got an invite to the wedding but were unable to attend. I hear your son is working here with you now, said Alan.

Yes, that’s right; I got him a job as our lab assistant. He should be around here somewhere, he said, looking at his watch and hiding a look of concern.

Alan, we were just on our way over to say ‘Hi’ to Ben. Won’t you join us? asked Leonard.

Sure, I haven’t seen him in ages. We would love to.

Hi there, Jean, said Leonard. Ben, you seem to have turned into something of a hermit recently. I miss seeing you in the canteen.

Yes, everyone keeps telling me that I have become something of a recluse. Truth is I have been a little wrapped up in my work recently.

What are you working on? Are you allowed to talk about it? asked Alan.

How do you mean, work? quipped Leonard. Ben’s a theoretical scientist, you can’t call that work. They’re paid to sit around and think all day.

Ben chose not to dignify Leonard’s comment with a response and continued on to tell Alan that he was working on a theory that could produce a new synthetically made element.

I hear that Mark is working on something quite interesting right now. You’re good friends with him, Greg. Any idea what it is he is working on? asked Alan.

Well, I’m a little vague on the details, but, in general, I think he has made some sort of huge leap forward in DNA restructuring.

You mean like growing ears on the backs of mice type of thing? laughed Leonard.

I think he and others have been doing that for some time. This is a little more like ‘Jurassic Park’, he smiled.

Does that mean I’m in danger of coming out of the lift one morning, only to come face to face with a velociraptor?

Be realistic Leonard. You know as well as I do that Douglas would never fund the feeding of a raptor, he said jovially.

What about you, BB and Feldman? What are you guys working on now? asked Leonard.

Yeah, well done on that speed of light thing you did earlier this year, that was a real feather in your caps, added Alan.

Thank you very much. We’re working on a spin off project from that, to make a machine that produces free energy.

That would be a significant breakthrough if it could be done, but is it not a well-established law of thermodynamics which states, ‘the amount of energy in the Universe is constant’? Would that not prevent this from being possible? replied Ben.

Well, suffice to say, we believe we have found a loophole in said law.

It all sounds very exciting. I wish you luck with that, said Ben with a smile. He raised his glass and proposed a toast, To the success of our projects! And they all clinked glasses.

It must be nearly midnight, said Leonard looking towards the clock. Wow, that’s weird, he added.

What’s weird? asked Greg curiously.

The clock is running erratically.

Probably a glitch in the power flow has affected the polarity, said Greg, looking quite concerned.

It’s more than that, added Alan. My watch is running erratically too.

They all looked at their watches.

Now that is truly weird, said Ben. There must have been a huge magnetic pulse from somewhere close by; it’s affected the polarity of all our watches. Does anyone have an experiment running that could cause this?

There is one problem with your theory, said Leonard. My watch is clockwork; it doesn’t use a battery.

Suddenly the music started to fade as if it were moving off into the distance. The room appeared to become brighter and colours started to merge and spread like paint in water. People were walking as if in slow motion, but they left an imprint of themselves behind them. The room continued to brighten and brighten. Then it was gone.

Not a bad party this year hey, Greg?

Greg turned around to find Leonard standing behind him.

I agree it has a better atmosphere. I think maybe it’s because a lot of the older guys have left and we have some younger blood around this year. This is a friend of mine, Alex. He is visiting from out of town. His girlfriend was here a second ago but she seems to have slipped off somewhere.

Good to meet you, Alex. My name is Leonard.

Nice to meet you too and I hope you won’t find me rude but I need to find my girlfriend. I will leave you in Greg’s capable hands.

Do you remember last year, said Leonard, "when that young intern from the biology department had a little too much to drink and started an impromptu strip show?

Of course I do! Never did forgive Douglas for intervening so quickly. I don’t think there was a single guy in this place who hadn’t wondered what was going on under that white lab coat of hers.

Is that Ben over there? asked Leonard, trying to see through the gaps in the crowd.

Where?

In the corner talking with Jean.

I do believe it is. Didn’t know he was still working here. I can’t even remember when I last saw him.

You can be forgiven for thinking that. He’s spent the last year hidden away in his office. Rumour has it that he is close to a breakthrough in proving a theory he hatched up some time ago. I regularly took lunch with him whenever I bumped into him in the canteen. I like the guy; he has a nice manner about him. Shall we go over and say ‘Hi’?

They moved awkwardly through the crowd, careful not to spill their drinks, but before they could get there a voice came from behind them.

Hey, Leonard. Wondered where you were hiding. It was the voice of Alan, Leonard’s lab partner.

Hi Greg, don’t think I have seen you around since the last party.

That’s right, Alan. Long time, no see, you’re looking good, said Greg politely whilst glancing at his watch.

Thanks. Hey! I don’t think you’ve met my new wife. This is Dawn.

Pleased to meet you, replied Greg. My wife is wandering around somewhere collecting gossip; I don't seem able to see her right now.'' He craned his neck above the crowd. You know, my lab partner BB got married recently too. They’re standing over there by the door."

Yes, we got an invite to the wedding but were unable to attend. I hear your son is working here with you now, said Alan.

Yes, that’s right; I got him a job as our lab assistant. He should be around here somewhere, he said, looking at his watch and hiding a look of concern.

Alan, we were just on our way over to say ‘Hi’ to Ben. Won’t you join us? asked Leonard.

Sure, I haven’t seen him in ages. We would love to.

Hi there, Jean, said Leonard. Ben, you seem to have turned into something of a hermit recently. I miss seeing you in the canteen.

Yes, everyone keeps telling me that I have become something of a recluse. Truth is I have been a little wrapped up in my work recently.

What are you working on? Are you allowed to talk about it? asked Alan.

How do you mean, work? quipped Leonard. Ben’s a theoretical scientist, you can’t call that work. They’re paid to sit around and think all day.

Ben chose not to dignify Leonard’s comment with a response and continued on to tell Alan that he was working on a theory that could produce a new synthetically made element.

I hear that Mark is working on something quite interesting right now. You’re good friends with him, Greg. Any idea what it is he is working on? asked Alan.

Well, I’m a little vague on the details, but, in general, I think he has made some sort of huge leap forward in DNA restructuring.

You mean like growing ears on the backs of mice type of thing? laughed Leonard.

I think he and others have been doing that for some time. This is a little more like ‘Jurassic Park’, he smiled.

Does that mean I’m in danger of coming out of the lift one morning, only to come face to face with a velociraptor?

Be realistic Leonard. You know as well as I do that Douglas would never fund the feeding of a raptor, he said jovially.

What about you, BB and Feldman? What are you guys working on now?" asked Leonard.

Yeah, well done on that speed of light thing you did earlier this year, that was a real feather in your caps, added Alan.

Thank you very much. We’re working on a spin off project from that, to make a machine that produces free energy.

That would be a significant breakthrough if it could be done, but is it not a well-established law of thermodynamics which states, ‘the amount of energy in the Universe is constant’? Would that not prevent this from being possible? replied Ben.

Well, suffice to say, we believe we have found a loophole in said law.

It all sounds very exciting. I wish you luck with that, said Ben with a smile. He raised his glass and proposed a toast, To the success of our projects! And they all clinked glasses.

It must be nearly midnight, said Leonard looking towards the clock. Three minutes to go. Let’s move into the centre of the room for the big cheer, he added.

Soon they were linking arms with everyone in the room and singing Auld Lang Syne and kisses and handshakes were liberally exchanged.

Chapter Two

OK, we’ll schedule it for tomorrow. Arrange for all non-essential personnel to be out of the building and absolutely no one other than the team to be anywhere near the lab. Ten years in the making, I don’t want anything going wrong. Feldman spun round on his stool to face his computer. Oh, and best get someone to inform the electric company that there could be a power surge. As big as our generators are, I have a feeling that the surges could spike higher than we can cope with.

I’m way ahead of you. Took care of that this morning and ‘yes’ Douglas has been informed that we are going ahead of schedule, and ‘yes’ the lasers were serviced and put online two hours ago and ‘yes’ I am the best lab technician you have ever had.

As cocky as he was the lab technician was as efficient as he boasted. Skinny in stature and almost boyish looks, he was simply known by his initials BB. He had been working on the project from the beginning.

Dr Feldman, your wife’s on the phone. What shall I tell her?

Uh? No, it’s OK. I’ll take it this time. BB passed the phone across the table.

BB heard the familiar clicking of the keypad on the lab door. He turned to see Greg walk in with his arms full of bags.

I got two more back-up battery packs for the computers. I’ll ask John to give me a hand to install them. Where is he? he asked.

You’ll find John behind the new generator. Feldman asked him to couple it up. Great about the battery packs but, more importantly, did you get the doughnuts and the cokes? replied BB.

Been out of the office two hours and received fourteen text reminders on my phone. Not likely to forget now, am I?

I have some time now. If you like I can give you a hand with the battery packs, said BB while rummaging with both hands through a bag of doughnuts. It shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes with two of us. His voice was dulled by the presence of not one, but two doughnuts entering his mouth as he was trying, less then eloquently, to converse.

Where are the doughnuts? Feldman asked, pushing the phone back across the table. That better not be all the custard doughnuts that are making you look like a hamster BB. Why do you never eat like a civilised human being? You just have to eat them two at a time.

BB gazed at him. You amaze me. You ask me this every day. As a scientist you should realise that repeating an experiment under the same circumstances should always give the same result, but still you persist in asking me.

As a scientist, I know that anyone who eats a dozen doughnuts a day and drinks as many cans of coke as you do will rapidly become a fat bastard, yet still you defy the laws of both science and justice.

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of metal hitting the floor.

Please be careful, said Feldman. I really don’t want anything to delay the experiment tomorrow. It’s a little late in the day to be ordering replacement parts.

Don’t worry replied Greg. No harm done. The back cover of the computer decided it wanted to relocate itself. Fortunately the floor broke its fall.

I’m thinking that when we’re done doing what we’re doing that we should call it a day and leave early. I will treat us all to a beer upstairs as a reward for all our hard work and diligence over the last few years. But only one mind. Then I want us all to go home and relax. Everyone should be fresh and alert in the morning and no hangovers, said Feldman with a beaming smile on his face.

Dr Feldman was seldom without a smile but seemed decidedly more happy than usual; he had a definite spring in his step today.

Feldman was what many consider to be a stable man, doesn’t take risks, lives a quiet life with his wife and a Jack Russell and, predictably, drives a Volvo. He was a thick-set man, though not particularly over weight, with a rounded face and black-rimmed square glasses, slightly balding, but still looking quite young for a man in his early sixties. He contrasted greatly with his colleague, BB.

BB was a man in his early forties, but frequently mistaken for a young man in his late twenties. A man that had excelled at everything he had ever done in his life. His co-workers referred to him as ‘The Whiz Kid.’ He was usually the one responsible for coming up with unusual solutions whenever they hit a snag or found themselves at the wrong end of a cul-de-sac.

BB married just a few months earlier to his pregnant girlfriend who was fifteen years his junior. A surprisingly good match everybody thought, considering she was both two thirds his age and also two thirds his I.Q. They both had very bubbly personalities and were as extrovert as they were good looking. They had been blessed with a daughter only a couple of months ago. It was easy to see that BB was still riding that high.

Greg hadn’t been on the team from the beginning; he only climbed aboard five years ago. He had been brought on-board under unusual circumstances. Although Feldman had not requested an additional member to his team, it seemed that the top brass had deemed that Greg would be an asset. Greg’s expertise in quantum physics had indeed advanced their work over the last five years. He was quite un-extraordinary; a fifty year old man that looked like a fifty year old man. He was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin. He was not extrovert, nor was he introvert. Greg was, seemingly, unremarkable.

In spite of coming across as being as bland as a bowl of consommé, Greg was well liked by everyone and well trusted too. On top of this, he was way, way ahead of his field. The problem with quantum physics is that the books haven’t been written yet, but when they are, Greg’s name is sure to feature in most of them.

Two years earlier, Greg had used his influence within the organisation to get his son, John, a job in the lab. John was only working as a lab assistant, but it was probably better than anything else he might otherwise have done.

John was far from stupid; in fact his grades in school were less than embarrassing. However, he hadn’t inherited his father’s genes for brilliance. He also didn’t class himself as an academic. He dropped out of the education system when he was eighteen in favour of what he called ‘a real life.’

John was tall and lanky with spiked, gelled hair. He was permanently in T-shirts and tight jeans. In spite of being lanky, he had a well-toned body that he liked to display.

Four bottles clanked together above the centre of the table. CHEERS! they shouted in unison.

Here’s to tomorrow, uttered Greg.

I feel I should still be downstairs taking a final check around, said Feldman.

You did do a final check; in fact you did several of them, started Greg.

Well, interrupted BB, that’s not actually possible. You can only do one final check. As soon as you do another check then the previous one is no longer a final check. He grinned at them.

Greg rolled his eyes and continued, Things are fine, and we’ll have one more dry run in the morning, just to be sure. Now have a drink and relax. Besides, we have BB at the controls; he is like a good luck charm. Everything he touches turns to gold.

That would be very reassuring if we were alchemists, but as we are physicists it is less than helpful, uttered Greg.

This time tomorrow we’re going to be famous. Our faces will be on the front cover of every science journal on the planet. We will finally have the recognition and respect we deserve, said BB.

That reminds me, said Feldman. Douglas rang earlier. He has asked that we don’t speak directly to the press; if we are approached we should refer them to Douglas. He wants to control the information they receive. He is worried that some people may catch onto the implications of the possible side effects of this experiment. If that happens, we will probably be inundated with military interest, and I for one see no good coming of that.

Aw, come on now. You and I both know that is not even theoretically viable. The press may come to that conclusion, but no serious scientist is going to, scoffed Greg.

Emm, emm. All eyes moved to BB. BB took a pull on his bottle, and then his eyes moved around to meet with stares of the others. What? he said, moving his eyes from one person to another.

You’re not seriously disagreeing are you? asked Greg.

Well, not disagreeing per se, but I’m a long way from convinced that it is such a far-fetched idea. The truth is that we are getting into an area of physics of which there is little known by anyone. We already know that physics on a quantum level follow none of the rules of physics as we know it. I for one am not ready to dismiss it out of hand.

I’m with Greg on this, said Feldman. "It’s simple; tomorrow we will perform an experiment to accelerate a particle beyond the speed of light, to show that it can be done. If the particle crosses the light barrier then we are successful. The theory that breaking the light barrier means that we can travel through time is based on little more than movie goers watching Superman lapping the world at light speed in order to save Lois Lane. If we are going to use Hollywood as our basis for formulating theories, then let’s look at Star Trek. They travel at warp 9.5, far faster than light, and still they don’t