They each sat analysing.
The conversation that broke the silence, went something like…
First – “It’s interesting, don’t you think?”
Second – “What?”
First – “That they seem to have so many Gods!”
Second – “Well… yes.”
First – “I suppose it’s some sort of holy compartmentalising. A god for this, a God for that; Hindus for instance.”
Second – “Yes, but more generally, there is a great deal of division.”
First – “They have had many wars.”
Second – “Some of them still raging, I see.”
First – “Right. Several land masses separated by oceans. Inevitable that differences would not always be understood, or even fully known about or seen for what they are, I suppose.”
Second – “Yes. Looking at their history, each developing from scratch. No means of standardisation.”
First – “True. Different languages, with various forms of government, different currencies. Each with their own levels of progress; their individual stages of civilisation.”
Second – “The more you look, the more you see; in far greater detail, I mean.”
First – “Their skin colour, customs and lifestyles, you mean?”
Second – “Yes, but beyond that. No standardisation for the preparation of food, or the side of the road they use when they travel, or the colour coding for their wiring systems. The closer you look, the sheer diversity of it is remarkable.”
First – “We are looking at a very early stage of civilisation.”
Second – “Agreed.”
First – “Sufficiently reported, would you say?”
Second – Sufficient.”
One of several slender digits gently touched a single facet of the star drive crystal causing a soft hum throughout the craft.
First – “Nothing much of interest here. Let’s move on.”
The ship slipped away into the blackness.