14: Two Beings
Two beings contemplated the infinite void. One flicked a bogey into it.
‘Bloody hell,’ it said.
‘Mmm,’ said the other, contemplatively.
‘No, seriously’ said the first.
A comet streaked past in the distance—or perhaps close by. The infinite void made it hard to tell.
‘He's pulled some stunts before, but...’
‘Quite something, eh?’ said the other.
‘Quite something?? That doesn't even begin to... I mean did you see....’
‘Mm-hm.’
‘I mean they were...’ the being flapped its appendages in a remarkably human gesture as words failed it.
‘I know.’
They spent some time in quiet thought.
‘Some of the physics was cool,’ said the second.
Its interlocutor turned to stare at it.
‘What?’
‘I mean. I quite like that stuff. Just, you know, I thought some of it was... cool.’
The first stared some more.
‘What?’
‘Just saying,’ said the second.
‘I... how is that the thing you come away thinking about?’
‘I know, I know, obviously it was wrong and dreadful and everything, obviously...’
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‘Yes.’
‘I just...’
‘You just what?’
‘Nothing.’
‘I mean, apart from anything, apart from all the... other stuff, did you see what he set as the circle number?’
‘Yeah, that was weird.’
‘What was it, three point one something?’
‘Three point one four seven something something... it went on forever, I think.’
‘What's the point of that? Why not just make it three, like everyone else?’
‘Yeah, I didn't get that.’
‘Weird. And all that quantum… jibber-jabber.’
‘I quite liked that bit.’
‘It didn't make sense!’
‘I kind of did, just in a really... sideways sort of way.’
‘Don't pretend you understood it.’
‘I did!’
The other looked at it pointedly.
‘Well most of it. I can’t remember all of it, but I remember liking it.’
‘It was nonsense. Things being in two places at the same time, sneaking around in secret extra dimensions. That's not laws, it's just... stupid.’
‘Well I wouldn't mind spending some more time looking at it. I thought it was clever.’
‘Hey now. Don't start getting any ideas.’
‘What? Oh, come on. Obviously I don't mean- obviously I would never-’
‘Be sure you don't. We can't have anything like that happen again. Ever.’
‘No, of course. Agreed. It was... messed up.’
‘Messed up?? They were living without their god!’
The two gods dwelt on the horror of the idea for a moment, like parents reading Lord of the Flies.
‘They were making up their own! And WORSHIPPING them! Worshipping things they had never even seen! Things they had made up themselves!!’
‘Yeah. That wasn't cool at all.’
‘I mean…’ The flabbergasted appendages flapped again. ‘How?! How have they survived so long, with nothing to… with nothing?!’
The other shrugged. ‘Resilience,’ it said, simply.
‘And at what cost?’
That was the real question. Yes, the creatures had survived. Yes, everyone was horrified at the conditions they’d been left in, and yes, everyone had cry-clapped at the strength they’d shown in living on, alone and godless and bound by those Laws…
But what had it done to them? What had they had to become in order to survive?
And there was one other, possibly even bigger question…
‘Where are we going to put them?’
‘What do you mean, put them?’
‘Well… we can’t leave them there, can we?’
‘Can we even get them out? If we get too close those Laws will….’
The other god shuddered. ‘No, we can’t. But he can.’
‘Who?’
‘You know... Thingy.’
‘Thingy?’
‘Xoth’s friend. The spacetime guy.’
‘Oh. Him… Ugh.’
‘I know.’
‘Thinks he’s so clever. What did he call himself?’
‘Cant remember. Something stupid. Anyway, he said there’s a back door, but it’s tiny, and even if he can get it to work, he can’t keep it open for long.’
‘So..’
‘So he reckons can get some of them out. Not many, but some.’
‘And do what with them?’
‘Well, that’s the thing.’
The first being’s expression darkened. ‘What’s the thing?’
The second being inhaled, then spoke quickly. ‘Well, everyone knows you’ve got a place you’re not using.’
‘What? No! That’s my- that’s mine!’
‘Yeah, but.’ The second being didn’t need to finish the sentence.
It’s not even finished!’
‘Some of it is.’
‘A few islands! I haven’t even got a proper continent down yet!’
‘I know. Look I know. Really, I do. But… you could let them use it. Just that bit.’
‘No! I was going to put my…’ the god began, but it knew the matter was already decided. These were desperate times, and nobody wants to be the one to say in the middle of a humanitarian crisis. ‘It’s mine!’ It finished indignantly.
‘Just one bit. A peninsula. Wall it off with mountains and sea. Maybe an island or two to keep them busy. Then you can do what you want with the rest.’
The first being huffed in resignation.
‘Fine.’