his theory, research it, and publish it.
The drive back to his Belgravia residence gave Jack some much needed time to think about this research. He knew that one of his greatest attributes was that he was very task orientated, situated in the now, rather than worrying about the future. However he had come to appreciate this “daydreaming” quality that he had seen in others; theories , he had realised, do not come about when worrying about the now. If Newton had only been concerned with the “now” when that apple had fallen on his head he would have moved away from the apple tree to prevent it from happening again. Newton had not though, and his concern about the fact of why something happened, defined his as a scientific mind. Jack realised that he was going to need some help in getting his mind into the right place to be able to develop his theory. I guess I’m going to have to go and see George. Jack dialled his brother’s number.
'Hi Jack what can I do for you?'
'I don't want to trouble you George, but I wonder if I could pop in and see you, I need your take on something.'
The knot in his stomach returned becoming a living thing once again. It spread out, stiffening all of the muscles in his lower back and then climbed up to his neck, almost immobilising him. It stopped, coiled around the inside of him, daring Jack to make any sudden moves, ready to cause him pain.
'Sure,' George replied, 'It would be great to see you and catch up, I’ll put the kettle on.'
Although Jack and George had generally gotten along, they also had their differences. The two things that did always bring them together, apart from their strong feeling of family, were their sense of humour and, now occasional, love of beer. Jack’s issue with George was that he rarely planned, for the future, for tomorrow, for anything, that combined with an almost obsessive lack of personal responsibility had driven Jack to distraction at times. Jack had matured some, more willing to accept his younger brother for who he was, not who he wasn't. He still wished that George would get a handle on life, professors of Military History are supposed to be responsible individuals, not “goofing off” to go surfing and partying with their students. George on the other hand, happy with his life, often wished that Jack would just chill out.
Jack breathed deeply standing in front of George’s house in Windsor as he waited for the door to open. He had bought the house for his brother after George had won his scholarship to Eton. At ten years older than George, he was nineteen when he had assumed both the moral and legal responsibility for both his brother and his sister Tania. George Hamilton had his owns feelings about his brother “popping round” to see him. Whilst he both loved and genuinely liked his brother, he didn't appreciate the way that he could feel Jack judging him and his lifestyle. His real reason for not seeing his brother more often was that each time reminded them of the loss of their parents.
It had happened when George was only nine. Their father, the US ambassador to Great Britain and their mother, herself the daughter of a British ambassador, were kidnapped while attending a conference abroad. Held for one hundred and sixty eight days their ordeal finally ended on Christmas day when they were both murdered, execution style with a knife to the throat, film of it given to the news agencies.
After the funeral, George still sat his exams at Eton for the chance of a Junior Scholarship; he attended the interview alone, refusing his housekeeper and nanny to come in with him. He managed to keep his nerve all the way through until he came to the last part of the interview. Presented with a standard form of personal details, likes, dislikes, pets and hobbies it required a parent’s signature. His bottom lip quivering he handed the form