Gravity Versus Gravity Read online

  GRAVITY

  VERSUS

  GRAVITY

  RAHUL SHRIVASTAVA

  To my son, Aryaman

  -

  Whose love for technology

  never fails to impress me.

  For the way of comets

  Is the poet’s way: Burning, without warmth.

  Reaping without having planted— exploding and breaking

  Your path, an elliptical curve,

  Unforeseen by the calendar!

  - Maria Tsvetaeva, 8 April 1923

  © By Rahul Shrivastava 2018

  Edited by: Alice Riley

  Designed by: Lybomir Yatsyk

  Cover by: Lauria Ebook Cover, Morocco

  All rights reserved.

  This book may not be reproduced or distributed in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical or other, including scanning, photocopying, recording, or stored in any form, without written permission from the author except for brief passages for review purposes.

  This is a work of fiction.

  Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

  Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-1985093096

  ISBN-10: 198509309X

  Dramatis Personae

  Aaron Bennett - Census Officer in Devon

  Adam Thomson - Disaster Management Minister of the UK

  Alan Fields, Dr. - Science Documentary Director at Channel Four TV

  Alan Simpson - Journalist from Discovery Channel

  Albert William Hennessey or Al - Space Scientist at Ohio Space Center

  Aldous Banker - Supply Manager at Pip Parker’s pipe-factory

  Alfie Marsh - Assistant of Kai Hayes

  Alice Robinson - Resident of Lake Hutton and wife of Archie Robinson

  Amelie Jones - Resident of Lake Hutton and neighbor of Archie and Alice Robinson

  Anna - Newsreader at Channel Four TV

  Amy - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Andy Rivera - Sam’s former boss

  Angela Hart - Sara’s sister

  Archie Robinson - Resident of Lake Hutton and husband of Alice Robinson

  Arnold Ashdown - English astronomer in the 17th century

  Babu - Shepherd from Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Bablu - Resident of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Bert Johnson - Prime Minister of the UK

  Bhanu - Bhim’s mother

  Bhim -Young shepherd from Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Bob Cox - Al’s fellow Scientist at Ohio Space Center

  Bobby Givens - Journalist from The Science Observer

  Boyle - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Bubba Hunter - Journalist from TBC TV of UK

  Buster Ingram - Farmer in Salisbury

  Camila Carmel - London Underground Operations Manager

  Carmel - A math genius at Swindon Space Center

  Catherine Myers - News Editor at Chanel Four TV

  Charles - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Cheryl - Young person traveling in Devon

  Chris Bailey - Scientist at Ohio Space Center and Al’s former Supervisor

  Colin Fuller - DIMA* Machinery and Transportation Coordinator

  Colin Howell - Political Department Head of the UK Embassy in the USA

  Corwin - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Dan, Dr. – Extra-terrestrial life expert at Ohio Space Center

  David Bright - UK Foreign Secretary

  David Solensky - Data Analysis Expert at ASD# of Swindon Space Center

  Desmond Gower - Imagery in-charge at Swindon Space Center

  Diana - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Dorothy - Girl at The Box Club

  Dulari Bai - Resident of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Edward Blackwell - Ambassador of the UK to the USA

  Edward Young - Communications Director to Prime Minister of the UK

  Elizabeth - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Ellie Jordan - Al’s fellow scientist at Ohio Space Center

  Eva White - Advisor to the Prime Minister of the UK

  Gavin Morley - Head of Ground Station in Devon

  George - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Gilbert Hughes Mannering - English astronomer in the 17th century

  Harley Quinn - Senior Superintending Civil Engineer of Chelsea Borough

  Harry Allen - DIMA Desk Officer

  Henry - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Herman Connell - Investigative journalist from Daily Mail

  Humphrey - Young person traveling in Devon

  Humphrey Cox - Journalist from The Sun

  Ingrid - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  Isaiah Potts - Mayor of East Devon

  Jack Lawson - Sandra’s husband

  Jackie Mason - DIMA* Royal Buildings Official

  James - Member of Louisa Weavers’ team

  James Schultz, Dr. - First Deputy Director of Ohio Space Center

  Jamie - Handyman

  Jamie Riley - Assistant to Kai Hayes

  Jamir - Resident of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Jamuni Bai - Resident of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Jane - Journalist from Plus TV

  Jayanti - Resident of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Jeremy Rodgers - DIMA* Critical Emergencies Official

  Jess Horton - DIMA* Information Official

  Jimmy Lambert - Head of Administration of Chelsea Hospital

  Joe Banks - DIMA* Liaison Official for Borough Councils and Ministries

  Joe Cummings - Junior Astronomer at Swindon Space Center

  John Brown - Standby Telescope Operator at Ohio Space Center

  John Taylor - Peter Green’s boss and Head of AED+ of Swindon Space Center

  Joseph Whitbred - Science Counsellor at the Embassy of the UK in Washington

  Kai Hayes - Westminster Parks Water Supply Department Official

  Lawrence Wiggins, Dr. - Deputy Director and Head A&CW^ of at Ohio Space Center

  Leo Frasier - Mayor of Camden Borough

  Lesley George - Journalist from Radio City of UK

  Louisa Weaver - Sandra’s Deputy

  Lucas Walsh - Mayor of Westminster Borough

  Mary - Girl at The Box Club

  Mary Daly - Head of Office of Mayor of East Devon

  McCarthy - Administrative Assistant Director at Ohio Space Center

  McDonald - Pilot of DIMA* plane

  Mel - Adam Thomson’s Secretary

  Michael Evans - Director of Civil Aviation of the UK

  Millie Slater - Deputy Mayor of Chelsea Borough

  Morgan - Crane Operator

  Morris Jackson, Dr. - Al’s professor during his under-grad studies

  Mukhiya - Village Headman of Kasba settlement in Thar Desert

  Nicholas - Young person traveling in Devon

  Nick Bright - News Coordinator at Channel Four TV

  Owen Pearce - Firefighter at Westminster Fire Department

  Paddy - Young person traveling in Devon

  PC Hannan - Police Constable in Westminster

  Peter Green - Engineer from AED+ of Swindon Space Center

  Peter Wardle, Dr. - Director of Swindon Space Center

  Phil Jowell - UK National Railway Network Operations Manager

  Piers Andrews - Programmer at Swindon Space Center

  Pip Parker - Pipe-factory owner

  Ramesh Thakur - Deputy Director of Chelsea Hospital

>   Raunak - Village boy from Muali village in Thar Desert

  Rob Gray - Al’s fellow Scientist at Ohio Space Center

  Robert Gales - Technical Data Assistant at Swindon Space Center

  Rory Carr - Firefighter at Westminster Fire Department

  Rosie - Ambassador Blackwell’s Secretary

  Sam Reed - Al’s girlfriend in USA

  Samantha Bradley – Al’s Assistant at Swindon Space Center. Also, his girlfriend

  Samir Kumar - Junior Astronomer at Swindon Space Center

  Sandra Lawson - Head of DIMA* Response Coordination Team

  Sara Hart - Al’s former colleague at Ohio Space Center and schoolmate

  Seth Hardy - Owner of KR Pipes

  Shamu - Bhim’s elder brother

  Simon Miller - Al’s fellow Scientist at Ohio Space Center

  Sue Wadsworth - Young Researcher at Swindon Space Center

  Sue Walker - Al’s fellow Scientist and friend at Ohio Space Center

  Sylvia Peters - Dr. Wardle’s Assistant

  Theon Yates - Pilot on round-the-world trip

  Thomas - A math genius at Swindon Space Center

  Thorpe - Co-pilot of DIMA* plane

  Ursula Raymond - Telescope Station Manager at Swindon Space Center

  Veera - Bhim’s father

  Venus Hodgkin - Journalist from The Express newspaper

  William Blackstone, Dr. - Director of Ohio Space Center

  William Lake - Young Researcher at Swindon Space Center

  ^A&CW - Asteroid & Comet Watch

  +AED - Aeronautical Engineering Department

  #ASD - Advanced Super-Computing Division

  *DIMA - Disaster Management Ministry of the UK

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Prologue

  Gilbert Mannering was the favorite student of Arnold Ashdown and was sharper than his teacher. But this fact did not prevent Ashdown from sharing his knowledge with Mannering. Ashdown would tell new things about astronomy to his student every day. Mannering would listen attentively and ask questions. However, the teacher did not have answers to every question that his favorite student asked.

  “You’ll become the best astronomer that England has ever had,” Ashdown would tell Mannering.

  “You are the best astronomer that England has ever produced, and I can never take your place,” Mannering would reply.

  The year 1698 was unusually cold in Dorset. And the nights were remarkably clear. Mannering was shivering when he entered Ashdown’s chamber at ten in the night.

  “I can see that you have again spent hours in front of the telescope,” Ashdown said, pouring a cup of mead.

  “I was observing the comets,” Mannering replied.

  “You have spent more than two weeks following them.”

  “They are very different from the comet that Kirch has discovered.”

  “That’s interesting. I thought comets were comets.”

  “The smaller comet seems to be pursuing the larger one. In two weeks, the distance between them has decreased.”

  “The decrease in distance may be because of the gravitation pull of the larger comet.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What else have you found out?”

  “The larger comet will pass by earth in about eight months. Seven days later, the smaller one would pass by.”

  “Keep the information to yourself,” Ashdown warned Mannering as he finished his mead and prepared to leave.

  Mannering observed the comets for two more weeks. He was excited about his new findings. Not finding Ashdown in his chamber on the day he made his final calculations, Mannering poured his heart out over several cups of mead to Franco Webb, Ashdown’s assistant.

  The next day, Mannering stood in the court of King Henry VII.

  The Clerk of the King’s Bench read out aloud, “Gilbert Hughes Mannering, son of Hughes Princeton Mannering Sr., has declared that a large comet shall appear after eight months. A smaller comet shall follow one week later. He has announced that the larger comet should be called Ashford and the smaller should be named after him -Mannering. He has proclaimed that the comets shall go around the sun and then continue their journey to the abyss they came from. The distance between the comets shall keep decreasing. They shall again emerge from the darkness three centuries hence. And they shall emerge as one. Gilbert Hughes Mannering has prophesied that misfortune shall fall on earth then.”

  “You have uttered those words?” the Lord Chancellor asked.

  “Yes,” Mannering replied.

  “You wish to name the comets after yourself and your teacher and not after the royalty?’

  “Yes,” Mannering replied.

  “Why?”

  “Because I discovered them, and my teacher’s knowledge helped me discover them.”

  “You prophesy bad days for earth?”

  “Yes,” Mannering replied.

  The Lord Chancellor hollered, “My Lord, I beseech nothing but capital punishment for the heretic.”

  The King nodded and struck the royal gavel on the block.

  The next day, Mannering was hanged in full public view in Dorset. The whole town, except Ashford, turned up. Mannering’s last words were, “None can separate Mannering from Ashford. The people of this planet, a dozen generations hence, shall see the spectacle of Ashford-Mannering as they launch their fury together.”

  1

  Al noticed a blob on the computer screen, which did not look familiar. He did a rewind and scanned the images again. The blob did not disappear. It was so small and smudged that Al had almost missed it the first time.

  It doesn’t look like a computer error, he thought.

  Al had been doing the job every day for more than ten years. He had made many discoveries. He remembered each of them and the date of the discoveries. But like that of every other space scientist, his record was not flawless.

  In the first six years, every second time he had discovered something, he had been told that the discovery was not new. Sometimes, he had been beaten by minutes. And then there were times when he had been wrong. What he had thought was a new celestial object had sometimes turned out to be a technical glitch.

  But over the years, especially in the last couple of years, Al had perfected the art of discovering obscure objects in space. The last six discoveries that he had made had indeed been found to be super-discoveries. He had been rapidly gaining the sixth sense of knowing what was real and what was not. But the faded blob was putting this enhanced sixth sense to stress.

  Al wanted to complete his verification before he called out for outside help. He took out the charts from the printer and examined them. He was still at a loss. If the blob was faded on the computer screen, it was nearly invisible on the printout. But it was there.

  Al could not help thinking that he might have made his seventh discovery in a row. If that turned out to be true, he would break a three-decade old record at the Center - seven discoveries without an error in less than one year.

  “Hey, Sue,” Al shouted for his colleague.
br />   Sue Walker had joined the Center a week before Al had. And every time she had seen Al since that day, she had wondered, how can such a tall, well-built and handsome guy be a space scientist? She had never put this question to others. She had nearly asked about it once to Al but had stopped just short of the first word coming out of her mouth.

  Sue had thought that it was possible that the two of them would have to work together till they retired, which was a good thirty years away. And she did not want both to feel uncomfortable every time they met each other because of a stupid question that she had asked Al.

  Al did not have any such questions about Sue. He respected her and her opinion. He categorized the space scientists into three groups - those who gave diplomatic answers, those who gave blunt answers and those who never gave any answers. Sue fell in none of these categories. She always gave a frank answer and in a manner which usually did not hurt Al.

  Sue came running from the adjacent room. It was not often that Al got excited. And every time he did, Sue thought that Al would talk about something other than astronomy. But, from her experience, she knew that this would not happen. Yet, she could never stop herself from keeping calm if Al called out excitedly at her.

  “Have you found a new supernova?” Sue asked, running towards Al’s computer secretly thinking that he would say, no, it’s not about the stars that I want to talk about. I wanted to know if you are free for a drink on Friday evening.

  “No, it’s not a supernova. I’ve already found two in the last three months.”

  “A nebula?”

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Don’t tell me you have found a comet,” Sue said in surprise.

  “It could be,” Al replied.

  “Don’t fool me,” Sue said, laughing. “Didn’t you hear Dr. Blackstone say last week that the possibility of discovering a new comet in the next one year was almost zero?”

  “Then, what is this blob?” Al asked, pointing at the blob on his computer.

  Sue looked once at the screen and said casually, “It’s the work of computers. This happens when they forget to do what they are supposed to. A computer failure, in short. I’ve seen hundreds of them in my career in the Center. Our computers are getting sophisticated. We are becoming more precise. We are going deep into space, deeper than we had ever imagined when we joined the Center. But, it’s a pity that the number of technical errors that I see is also increasing.”