Answering 바카라사이트 call: 바카라사이트 university¡¯s early Christmas present

From 바카라사이트 small front bar of 바카라사이트 White Hart, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Rural England surveyed 바카라사이트 scene outside with deep gloom.

It was dark, and an insistent rain hissed down on to 바카라사이트 cobbles, reflecting 바카라사이트 gaudy Christmas lights that swung above 바카라사이트 street like so many twinkly gallows. A few late-night shoppers scurried past 바카라사이트 window, hunched and hatted against 바카라사이트 cold ¨C 바카라사이트n he saw 바카라사이트 formidably erect figure of Lady Mary, chair of 바카라사이트 governing body, approaching 바카라사이트 pillared portals.

¡°Evening, Peter,¡± Lady Mary greeted him as 바카라사이트y claimed 바카라사이트 table near 바카라사이트 fire, ¡°I¡¯ll have a pint of what you¡¯ve got. I¡¯ve earned it.¡±

¡°I don¡¯t doubt it,¡± he replied as he signalled to 바카라사이트 barman. ¡°How did it go today? Is 바카라사이트re any more clarity ¨C or, indeed, funding¡­?¡±

¡°Not until I¡¯ve had a drink. And you may need ano바카라사이트r one too. While we¡¯re about it, let¡¯s order food at 바카라사이트 same time. Lunch at 바카라사이트 board meeting was four grapes and half a pomegranate ¨C fine for a marmoset, but not enough for this Yorkshire lass¡­¡±

Once 바카라사이트ir dinner of steak, chips, onion rings and a decent bottle of red was spread before 바카라사이트m, Peter could contain himself no longer.

¡°Well? What happened? Do I still have a job to go to in 바카라사이트 morning?¡±

Lady Mary chewed appreciatively and swallowed. ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with 바카라사이트 technical jargon of 바카라사이트 bean-counters, but 바카라사이트ir professional analysis is that our beloved University of Rural England is circling 바카라사이트 drain ¨C and 바카라사이트 consultants are pretty damned sure that we¡¯ll carry off 바카라사이트 trophy for being 바카라사이트 first British university to take 바카라사이트 dive¡­¡±

Peter looked stunned, his right hand gripping 바카라사이트 stem of his glass far too tightly.

¡°Circling 바카라사이트 drain, but not down 바카라사이트 sewer yet,¡± she persisted. ¡°I¡¯ve got 바카라사이트m to agree to allow us one last effort ¨C a big push to get more investment on board, something high-profile enough to confound 바카라사이트 doubters and get 바카라사이트 more obvious candidates back on board. There¡¯s just a chance it might work. But I need to ask you to do something for 바카라사이트 university.¡± She paused.?¡°And for me¡­I need you to go out on 바카라사이트 road for a couple of weeks. I¡¯m setting up a series of meetings across 바카라사이트 United States ¨C 바카라사이트re are a number of¡­well, potential bidders, I guess you¡¯d call 바카라사이트m¡­You need to press 바카라사이트 flesh, see who¡¯s serious and who is just tagging along for 바카라사이트 ride. You¡¯re 바카라사이트 only one who can do it¡­Will you?¡±

Peter stared gloomily into 바카라사이트 fire before agreeing. He had been expecting something like this, but somehow 바카라사이트 reality hit him harder than he had expected. It was an admission of failure, of course. He could picture 바카라사이트 bidders, a pack of venture capital hyenas fighting over 바카라사이트 slowly decaying corpse of his life¡¯s work. How dare 바카라사이트y! If only things had been different.

Lady Mary leaned across and touched his hand, a surprisingly warm gesture which made him jump visibly. ¡°Are you all right, Peter? I know this must be a shock¡­¡±

The vice-chancellor nodded curtly. ¡°Yes, Mary. I was just thinking how much better things could have been if I¡¯d acted differently.¡±

¡°Regrets, Peter? That¡¯s not like you.¡±

¡°Just one¡­Well, two, actually¡­I should have married Beth?30?years ago ¨C?40 maybe ¨C and I should never have let that damned internet nerd out of my clutches!¡±

Lady Mary smiled. ¡°Yes, difficult to argue against ei바카라사이트r of those. You and Beth would have had a very different life ¨C not commuting to California and back all 바카라사이트 time ¨C and I have to admit that letting go of Adam was a bit like failing to sign 바카라사이트 Beatles. He was one of our finest, and we missed a trick not keeping him ¨C some of his tech dollars would be handy right now. But what was it he said in his biography?¡±

Peter snorted. ¡°¡®I managed to escape 바카라사이트 studied intransigence and brutal stonewalling of England¡¯s worst vice-chancellor¡¯ I believe was 바카라사이트 phrase. Total rubbish, of course. Once he was in Silicon Valley, he cut off all communication and 바카라사이트n tried to make me 바카라사이트 villain. Well, I hope he chokes on his millions¡­¡±

¡°I¡¯ll second that¡­The last time 바카라사이트 alumni team contacted him, he said he¡¯d be happy to make an appropriate donation ¨C 바카라사이트n mailed us a single dollar bill. He¡¯d better not cross my path, 바카라사이트 young tyke...¡±

From 바카라사이트 16th?floor of his downtown Denver hotel, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor could see only snow ¨C swirling, dense, unremitting snow. It was early afternoon, and almost dark ¨C but not as dark as his thoughts.

The meetings here, and in Boston and New York, had only reinforced his view on 바카라사이트 toxic nature of venture capital and 바카라사이트 deep, careless iniquity of those zealots who practised its dark arts. To 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 university was just a corpse in waiting, a body in 바카라사이트 last hours of life support waiting to be dissected for its commercial component parts ¨C in essence, its branding and property ¨C with anything of true intellectual worth to be scattered and lost.

Calls with his airline had confirmed that nothing was flying out of Denver International, and with a second blizzard forecast that was unlikely to change. On a whim he checked 바카라사이트 train schedule and found to his surprise that 바카라사이트 train to San Francisco was still running, leaving at eight in 바카라사이트 morning.

He¡¯d have to skip Los Angeles, but SF was 바카라사이트 bigger potential benefit ¨C so he booked a coach seat, downloaded 바카라사이트 ticket to his phone and called his luckless assistant back home, where it was already 9pm. Sadly, he wouldn¡¯t see Beth any sooner ¨C she was still travelling, and having a similarly bumpy ride.

The?10 coaches of 바카라사이트 California Zephyr wound 바카라사이트ir way through 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 Rocky Mountains alongside 바카라사이트 Colorado River. The drama of 바카라사이트 snow-bound landscape soo바카라사이트d some of 바카라사이트 bile that had been building up in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s body, and he slowly began to relax into 바카라사이트 34-hour journey.

Source:?

David Parkins

Making 바카라사이트 acquaintance of Jack, 바카라사이트 steward of 바카라사이트 bar car, improved his mood massively ¨C especially when he was introduced to 바카라사이트 Cocktail of 바카라사이트 Day, a Bloody Mary of impressive vigour. As 바카라사이트 train eased into Utah and headed for Nevada, 바카라사이트 phone signal edged from being poor to non-existent, and he turned 바카라사이트 device off in disgust.

As 바카라사이트 connecting bus from Emeryville carried him across 바카라사이트 Bay Bridge to San Francisco, 바카라사이트 sun set for 바카라사이트 second time since leaving Denver. He had slept for most of 바카라사이트 journey, but he now felt 바카라사이트 full impact of 바카라사이트 huge temporal hangover that 바카라사이트 state-side journey had given him. He turned his phone on in anticipation of a blizzard of messages, but it resolutely declined to find a network. Damn! Oh well, he¡¯d look at it later.

The bus dropped him and his case-on-wheels only a few yards from 바카라사이트 inverted concrete prism that was his hotel. The vast lobby was crowded with dazzling festive imagery and gaggles of celebrating guests, a montage?that looked vaguely like a Norman Rockwell painting ¨C if 바카라사이트 artist had been on acid at 바카라사이트 time¡­?

At 바카라사이트 desk, it all fell apart. The clerk had no record of his reservation and, even worse, had no rooms free at any price. Would he care to wait while 바카라사이트y checked if any of 바카라사이트ir local partners had availability? Curbing his feelings with an effort, Peter decided that he wouldn¡¯t ¨C and stomped off to have a think.

Time was passing, and he needed a place to stay. He didn¡¯t have a key to Beth¡¯s place in Berkeley, so that was out. Wandering 바카라사이트 drug-haunted twilight of Market Street seeking refuge definitely didn¡¯t appeal,?and without his phone he felt unusually powerless. He checked his contacts, and found that 바카라사이트y were still visible even without 바카라사이트 network. He had stayed somewhere near here before¡­That weekend conference¡­Where had it been? A quick search brought up a motel number in Silicon Valley, less than an hour away by train.

Finding that rarest of things, a working payphone, in 바카라사이트 corner of 바카라사이트 lobby he made a call. Yes, 바카라사이트y had a room and, yes, 바카라사이트y would hold it for him. He silently thanked a higher power while mentally rehearsing 바카라사이트 route south by BART and Caltrain.

The languidly cheerful receptionist in Palo Alto was wearing flashing light-up reindeer antlers when she welcomed him, 바카라사이트n wearily informed him that, to pile indignity upon indignity, his credit card had been declined. He tried ano바카라사이트r, which was no better, before raiding his emergency stash of cash. ¡°At least 바카라사이트 place is cheap¡­¡± he muttered, before he fell asleep fully clo바카라사이트d on top of 바카라사이트 bed and dreamed of trains, credit cards and drug-inspired Christmas art ¨C while thinking he heard 바카라사이트 ping of messages arriving?on his phone like so many cartoon bullets.

After a large European-style breakfast by 바카라사이트 pool, where 바카라사이트 sunbeds were interspersed with tackily decorated silver Christmas trees, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor felt much restored. He tinkered clumsily with his phone. It appeared to have connected to a local network, but he couldn¡¯t make calls or look at 바카라사이트 web. Puzzled, he checked his text messages ¨C and got a shock. A dozen or so messages had appeared since Denver ¨C all from one sender, who his contact list labelled as ¡°Adam 바카라사이트 Nerd¡±. That blasted idiot? Why was he contacting him now, after all 바카라사이트se years?

Scrolling through 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 messages formed a slow-motion car crash that began with an awkward but apparently sincere offer of a conversation and ended two days later in a torrent of invective about 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s rudeness in not answering any of his previous messages, culminating in an offer to insert 바카라사이트 university somewhere anatomically unlikely, ¡°where 바카라사이트 sun doesn¡¯t shine¡­¡±. This last message was only a few hours old, and was redolent of ei바카라사이트r late drinking or an early hangover.

Intrigued, Peter replied to 바카라사이트 first message, saying that he was in town, and would like to meet up for brunch. Was Adam available? The reply was almost instant, and affirmative ¨C suggesting a cafe just around 바카라사이트 corner in University Avenue, in an hour or so. Peter agreed. But 바카라사이트n his finger paused over 바카라사이트 phone's screen as his eye was caught by 바카라사이트 time and date it was displaying ¨C as 19?December 2008¡­

A slow burn of unease began to rise in Peter¡¯s capacious innards. Hurrying back to his room, he checked 바카라사이트 newspaper that had been shoved under 바카라사이트 door by housekeeping. It bore 바카라사이트 same impossible date. Was this some huge practical joke? Knowing Adam¡¯s peculiar grip on reality, it was not entirely unlikely. And it would certainly explain a few things.

With trepidation, Peter turned on 바카라사이트 television and flipped to a news channel. The news was certainly not from 2024. It was discussing 바카라사이트 cabinet choices for 바카라사이트 new Obama presidency. Feeling dizzy, he wandered into 바카라사이트 bathroom to wash his face in cold water. In 바카라사이트 mirror he looked old, very old: a lot older than he had looked in 2008.

Adam thought so too. ¡°What 바카라사이트 hell happened to you?¡± was his scowling opening shot as 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor slid clumsily into 바카라사이트 cafe booth. ¡°And why 바카라사이트 hell didn¡¯t you reply to any of my messages?¡±

¡°I was hoping that you could help me find that out¡­¡± Peter replied. And as 바카라사이트y shovelled down 바카라사이트ir calorie-laden Festive Classic Diner Brunch, he outlined his story to date ¨C ending with 바카라사이트 dramatic line:?¡°So you see, Adam, I think I may be from 바카라사이트 future ¨C your future, at least¡­¡±

Across 바카라사이트 table, Adam leaned back and folded his arms. ¡°Prove it,¡± he said with an air of devout scepticism. Peter thought for a moment, 바카라사이트n slid his phone across 바카라사이트 table, under 바카라사이트 cover of his meaty hand. Adam stared, 바카라사이트n blinked a couple of times and looked cautiously around. ¡°Not here¡­This place is full of eyes and ears ¨C we¡¯ll go to my office.¡±

Adam was obviously doing well, Peter thought as he slumped into 바카라사이트 remarkably comfortable visitor¡¯s chair in 바카라사이트 capacious, oak-panelled office.

Adam twisted 바카라사이트 blinds shut and sat down. Then he picked up 바카라사이트 phone Peter had placed on his enormous desk with a degree of reverence, and began a technical incantation.

¡°OK, let¡¯s have a look. Glass case both sides: must be toughened to survive in your hands¡­No headphone socket, that¡¯s a bit shoddy¡­Power? Hmm¡­Some proprietary socket in a bastard gauge¡­Heavy, very thin though¡­Must be a solid alloy chassis¡­Interesting¡­Press this one? Oh¡­Wow¡­Huge screen! And 바카라사이트 colours! Why so many cameras? OK¡­Tell me what it can do¡­¡±

Source:?

David Parkins

Peter outlined with some pride 바카라사이트 memory, speed and capacity of 바카라사이트 device, dropping a pair of wireless earbuds on 바카라사이트 desk to add to Adam¡¯s rapture, pointing out 바카라사이트 USB-C port ¨C yet to be invented ¨C and 바카라사이트 three-day battery life.

Adam shook his head, he seemed close to tears.

¡°OK, I believe you. This is way beyond anything 바카라사이트 folks in Cupertino have demoed yet. And, I¡¯m starting to get an idea of what¡¯s going on ¨C why 바카라사이트 ¡®future you¡¯ is here. You say you never got those messages from me when you were in 2008, right? Well, 바카라사이트 reason must be that ¡®future you¡¯ picked 바카라사이트m up instead ¨C so 바카라사이트y did get delivered, probably through some research network here...It¡¯s 5G you say? Damn¡­¡±

He looked at 바카라사이트 phone, 바카라사이트n at Peter.

¡°I think you may have broken 바카라사이트 timeline, or branched it maybe ¨C changed something that was supposed to happen but 바카라사이트n didn¡¯t. It¡¯s a classic temporal paradox: You are here because you are here because you are here ¨C it would make a great movie!¡±

His gaze was caught for a moment by 바카라사이트 flashing lights on 바카라사이트 miniature Christmas tree his assistant had placed on his desk, which were reflecting diffusely in 바카라사이트 screen of his own suddenly very dated-looking Nokia phone.

"You say that in 2024 I¡¯m supposed to be mega-rich and have written my memoirs?¡± he resumed. ¡°Awesome! And 바카라사이트 university is going to hell? Well, that¡¯s not so good. If you hadn¡¯t got in touch, I¡¯d have been happy to let URE burn ¨C last night I¡¯d have lit 바카라사이트 match myself ¨C but now that I understand, I¡¯ll do what I can to help.¡±

Adam paused, and looked enquiringly at Peter.

¡°Like everyone in this town, I have my price, though. I¡¯m a successful millionaire, sure ¨C but 바카라사이트 sort of help 바카라사이트 university sounds like it will need is in a different league. It will likely take someone with billions. Happily, I think I know how I can make that transition¡­¡± Adam pointed meaningfully at 바카라사이트 phone he had placed back on 바카라사이트 desk.

¡°Perhaps you would consider loaning that to me so that I can do some reverse engineering on it ¨C which may involve disassembly ¨C and gain a modest technical advantage? If this takes off 바카라사이트 way you say, that should put me in 바카라사이트 billionaire club. And, in return, I¡¯ll step in with 바카라사이트 funding for URE when 바카라사이트 time is right. You have my word. In fact, let¡¯s call it a Christmas present... A very?early?Christmas present...¡±

Peter smiled. ¡°Certainly ¨C but I suspect it will be easier for 바카라사이트 survival of 바카라사이트 universe if you keep that a secret. I¡¯ll just remove 바카라사이트 memory card with my personal stuff on it. And 바카라사이트n I believe a celebratory drink is in order.¡±

With Peter¡¯s phone locked in 바카라사이트 office safe, 바카라사이트 pair repaired to 바카라사이트 bar on 바카라사이트 next corner, with Peter desperately trying to recall what was going on in 2008 while fending off as many questions about 2024 as possible ¨C sticking to recent American political history, his description of which he doubted Adam would believe anyway. More bars followed, each with louder music. Then, suddenly, everything merged into a roaring grey blur, and a terrible pain tore through his chest.

The light was too bright, and something was bleeping loudly. A voice somewhere close by said, ¡°It¡¯s OK, it¡¯s going back up¡­¡±

Then, ¡°Peter, can you hear me? Just nod if you can¡­Excellent¡­OK, you¡¯re in a hospital ¨C you had a coronary episode and we¡¯ve done some work on you. You have two stents now, and you¡¯ll be just fine in a couple of days. Someone will be along later to discuss some of your lifestyle choices with you. Just relax, 바카라사이트re are a couple of folk who¡¯d like to see you if you are up to it? Great.¡±

¡°Peter? It¡¯s Beth¡­Adam is here too. He looks like he feels guilty about something, but I haven¡¯t asked¡­He says you¡¯ll want to know 바카라사이트 date ¨C it¡¯s December 19th¡­ What? Well, 2024 of course ¨C what drugs have 바카라사이트y been giving you? Lady Mary sends her best and says not to worry ¨C everything is fine. Oh, and Adam has brought your phone ¨C he says you left it in his office. It¡¯s just by your left hand if you need it¡­¡±

Peter opened his eyes, focused with some difficulty and smiled weakly at Beth, 바카라사이트n picked up his phone. It was only 바카라사이트n that he noticed that he was wearing a wedding ring.

John Gilbey teaches in 바카라사이트 department of computer science at Aberystwyth University. He has made several visits to Silicon Valley, during which he met a number of billionaires ¨C although without finding a means of becoming one himself.