Read Online Paradigm Rift: Book One of the Back to Normal Series by Randy McWilson - Free Book Online
Authors: Randy McWilson
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his seat and close his eyes. The relaxing trio of a rocking bus, the almost comfortable seat, and the exhaustion of continued uncertainty, all knocked him out almost as fast as McCloud’s tranquilizer dart.
He had no idea where or when he would wake up this time.
Journal entry number 34
Sunday, May 5, 1946
Yesterday was my first time at a horserace, and it was the Kentucky Derby, no less! Ken’s knowledge of sports history has really paid off. He remembered that 1946 was/is a famous year in horseracing—he remembered that Assault won the coveted Triple Crown—Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. (I’ve learned a lot!)
Assault was an underdog (or is it underhorse?) with only 8-1 odds going into the Derby yesterday. This was great for us. We walked away with nearly a thousand dollars! It’s not as much as we could have won in Vegas, but it’s a start. We can bet again at Preakness, and Belmont, and maybe invest money in the stock market.
Anyway, the best thing about all of this is that we don’t have to steal anymore.
We can finally make an honest living by cheating.
CHAPTER 15
“This latest test data can only go so far, gentlemen, but I want to know: what exactly are the risks ?”
Doc Stonecroft stared across the table at the impatient redhead who was at least three decades his junior. His mind raced for a satisfactory reply for her. Being at a loss for words was rare for the eloquent former college mathematics professor.
He glanced over at the balding, spectacled man seated next to him, and then back at her. “This is clearly uncharted territory, Miss Finegan. The list of potential... unintended consequences is formidable.”
The windowless room was lit by several incandescent bulbs dangling from the ceiling, supplemented by the pale blue glow of several electronic control panels nearby. Besides the three occupants, a large round table, and a few upright cabinets, the featureless chamber resembled more of a large prison cell than a meeting room.
Ellen Finegan, with her shoulder-length red hair pulled back, and sporting a long white lab coat, adjusted her glasses. She glanced up from a handful of papers. “I'm not asking for an exhaustive list, Dr. Stonecroft. I'd be satisfied with top tier threats.”
He traded quick glances with the other gentleman and turned back to her. “Worst case scenario?”
She nodded. Doc took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. He cleared his throat and gave her a smile that would have warmed the heart of a serial killer. Before he could speak, the other gentleman gesticulated wildly and almost shouted.
“ Il pourrait devenir un wormhole incontrôlable! ”
Doc Stonecroft was polite but firm. “While possible, Dr. Papineau, that outcome is highly improbable, sir.”
Ellen interrupted their exchange. “What outcome?”
He stood and moved towards her. “My esteemed colleague is overestimating, in my opinion, the possibility of a CUTA. A cascading, unidirectional, temporal anomaly: a wormhole .”
“And why is that a problem, Doc? Sounds like the solution we've been hoping for, even praying for.”
“This is not a stable rift, Miss Finegan—it is an expanding, cascading rift. It is a temporal anomaly that could grow exponentially—uncontrollably.”
“Meaning?”
“ Meaning , that once ignited, it could expand outward, both in space and in time, and even in velocity. Dr. Papineau shares my concern.”
Papineau pounded on the table. “ Aussi vite que la vitesse de la lumière! ” Most of it appeared to be lost on them. “ Lumière ,” he repeated. “ Light .”
“Yes, Emile,” Doc said. “Theoretically, the rate of expansion could accelerate up to near the speed of light. Nothing can reverse it. All of creation would...would necessarily implode .”
Dr. Papineau spread his hands far apart and then clapped them together. “Singularity intervertir .”
Ellen looked to Doc Stonecroft for the
He had no idea where or when he would wake up this time.
Journal entry number 34
Sunday, May 5, 1946
Yesterday was my first time at a horserace, and it was the Kentucky Derby, no less! Ken’s knowledge of sports history has really paid off. He remembered that 1946 was/is a famous year in horseracing—he remembered that Assault won the coveted Triple Crown—Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. (I’ve learned a lot!)
Assault was an underdog (or is it underhorse?) with only 8-1 odds going into the Derby yesterday. This was great for us. We walked away with nearly a thousand dollars! It’s not as much as we could have won in Vegas, but it’s a start. We can bet again at Preakness, and Belmont, and maybe invest money in the stock market.
Anyway, the best thing about all of this is that we don’t have to steal anymore.
We can finally make an honest living by cheating.
CHAPTER 15
“This latest test data can only go so far, gentlemen, but I want to know: what exactly are the risks ?”
Doc Stonecroft stared across the table at the impatient redhead who was at least three decades his junior. His mind raced for a satisfactory reply for her. Being at a loss for words was rare for the eloquent former college mathematics professor.
He glanced over at the balding, spectacled man seated next to him, and then back at her. “This is clearly uncharted territory, Miss Finegan. The list of potential... unintended consequences is formidable.”
The windowless room was lit by several incandescent bulbs dangling from the ceiling, supplemented by the pale blue glow of several electronic control panels nearby. Besides the three occupants, a large round table, and a few upright cabinets, the featureless chamber resembled more of a large prison cell than a meeting room.
Ellen Finegan, with her shoulder-length red hair pulled back, and sporting a long white lab coat, adjusted her glasses. She glanced up from a handful of papers. “I'm not asking for an exhaustive list, Dr. Stonecroft. I'd be satisfied with top tier threats.”
He traded quick glances with the other gentleman and turned back to her. “Worst case scenario?”
She nodded. Doc took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. He cleared his throat and gave her a smile that would have warmed the heart of a serial killer. Before he could speak, the other gentleman gesticulated wildly and almost shouted.
“ Il pourrait devenir un wormhole incontrôlable! ”
Doc Stonecroft was polite but firm. “While possible, Dr. Papineau, that outcome is highly improbable, sir.”
Ellen interrupted their exchange. “What outcome?”
He stood and moved towards her. “My esteemed colleague is overestimating, in my opinion, the possibility of a CUTA. A cascading, unidirectional, temporal anomaly: a wormhole .”
“And why is that a problem, Doc? Sounds like the solution we've been hoping for, even praying for.”
“This is not a stable rift, Miss Finegan—it is an expanding, cascading rift. It is a temporal anomaly that could grow exponentially—uncontrollably.”
“Meaning?”
“ Meaning , that once ignited, it could expand outward, both in space and in time, and even in velocity. Dr. Papineau shares my concern.”
Papineau pounded on the table. “ Aussi vite que la vitesse de la lumière! ” Most of it appeared to be lost on them. “ Lumière ,” he repeated. “ Light .”
“Yes, Emile,” Doc said. “Theoretically, the rate of expansion could accelerate up to near the speed of light. Nothing can reverse it. All of creation would...would necessarily implode .”
Dr. Papineau spread his hands far apart and then clapped them together. “Singularity intervertir .”
Ellen looked to Doc Stonecroft for the
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