Yahweh, having come upon an inviting looking cafe sat down at an outdoor table and ordered a beer. He took a sip and nodded his approval. They certainly had gotten up to a lot since he created them, he decided. He had created this particular universe many eons ago and had decided to scatter life here and there on suitable planets and then moved on, as was his wont. With nothing in mind he had decided to look in on this corner of this universe and see what had occurred. It was more than he expected.
He sat quietly observing the comings and goings of the inhabitants, amused by the means of transportation they had devised for themselves and wondering how long it would take them to create something new that wouldn't destroy this planet. Surely they could see the importance of doing so. He had overheard some of them complaining about the cost of the fuel they used to power these contraptions and was surprised that it hadn't occurred to them that using a non-renewable resource was going to become a problem at some point, but then of course they didn't tend to reason beyond their average life span. He had built that in to them to make things more interesting for them, and it certainly had.
As he sat enjoying the show he cocked his head at the approach of one who seemed not of the usual sort. The other broke into a grin and sat down at Yahweh's table.
"Hello Yahweh, fancy meeting you here!"
Yahweh regarded this handsome apparition and called upon his powers to put a name to this being, then broke in to a grin. "Ba'al, what a surprise! What brings you to this universe?"
Ba'al shrugged. "Same as you, I suppose. In between creations at the moment and thought i'd see what's been happening here. I'd forgotten all about this place until recently."
Yahweh chuckled. "Me too. Interesting stuff, eh?"
"I'll say. Not at all like I would have thought. They certainly have been busy. Breeding like rabbits, too! More than six billion here now, i'd say."
Yahweh nodded. "Sounds about right. I want to have a better look around, go to some of the other continents and see how the different topographies that developed have affected the lifestyles they've devised. I had half expected there wouldn't be much to see here, but it's quite interesting."
Ba'al regarded the beverage Yahweh was imbibing. "What's that?" he inquired.
"They call it beer. Not bad, really. Fermented grain. I knew it wouldn't take them long to come up with it, after all, I created them." Let me order you one. He motioned for the waiter to bring another beer.
"Well, you created some of them, old sport." Ba'al looked askance and waited for the inevitable retort.
"Well, I don't know how much you've looked around, but they have a book they wrote in which I am regarded at the Supreme Being here. Sure, they mention you and the other Elohim, as they refer to you all, but still, I am number one here."
Yahweh fixed Ba'al with an even look.
Ba'al grinned. "Doesn't really matter, though, does it. They've interbred so much they're hardly but one race now, though they seem to regard outer differences as important. Strange that."
Yahweh nodded. "Yes, i'd say another five hundred years or so should see that off. Have you had a look at this book they call the Bible? They need to lock that one away for a few hundred years until they get some perspective. They certainly are strange. Claiming that I wrote the thing! Such an odd notion, wouldn't you say? I mean, if i'd wanted them to have a manual there would be no doubt, but honestly, I was just having a bit of fun when I created this universe. You'd think they would have realized that by now."
Ba'al finished his beer and ordered another. "Yes, they're a strange lot alright. While I did create some of the races, it was, after all, your universe. I just added a few personal touches. Never did hear from you on that." He looked expectantly at Yahweh while he enjoyed his next beer.
"Oh, of course it wasn't a problem. If it was I would have just eliminated your creations then, wouldn't I?"
"Well, you said yourself you had moved on as soon as you were done. I'll have to have a look at this book they wrote. What did you say it was called? The Bible?"
"Yes, that's one of them. There are others. There's the Quran. Anyway, all stuff and nonsense, but do have a look before you leave here, it's good for a chuckle." He reflected for a moment and the continued. "You know, i've half a mind to do a little interfering, but I don't suppose I will. I'll check back in on them in a few eons and see if they're still around. I'm curious to see if they can get themselves out of the environmental jam they've created."
"Ah well, all good then. Good stuff this beer. Clever by half, they are. Well I suppose i'll have a look around some of the other corners of this universe and then be off. I'm supposed to meet up with Anat and give her some feedback on a new galaxy she wants to populate. It may be that she'll have to move a black hole first. I promised her i'd look into it."
Yahweh nodded. "Good to see you again, Ba'al. My regards to Anat. I suppose i'll go see what else they've been up to on this planet."
The waiter caught two flashes of light out of the corner of his eye and turned to the table where the two men had been drinking beer and talking. Blinking and shaking his head he tried to work out where they could have gotten to so quickly. Unable to make any sense of the inexplicable and not wanting to engage the worrying thought in the back of his mind he went back to the kitchen to place some orders.
