, but they had recordings of a stupid-looking cat meowing and meowing for hours and hours in what seemed to be a language.

"Who or why would humans record the stupid-looking, one-eared, spotted cat? And most of all, how could the humans record this very peculiar cat, when its species appeared on the evolutionary scale... ten-million years later?

"And since ravens don't believe in coincidences, they thought of the only explanation that made perfect sense: the humans, at the peak of their civilization, had tested the wonders of time leaping... into the future. And who else should be fit enough to test the ship other than lowly, stupid mammals? And what such mammal do we know who just happens to be uselessly lying around?

"You guessed it!

"The cats!

"All ravenkind knows that the cats had no other purpose to begin with.

"However, the humans couldn't use the normal ones they had in their time. Not if they wanted to succeed in time travel. So they specially bred and fed a brave new species of genetically modified smart cats who had the brains to operate a ship. Smart enough to operate it, but stupid enough to take the risk of testing it!

"Pebbles were recorded before the ship was launched into the future, and great celebrations were done to mark the event.

"And the cats were off.

"Off to the unknown!"

"Wow," the rat says, mystified by the story," and I thought the cow theory was idiotic."

The raven continues, undisturbed:

"Imagine the surprise that the crew of super-intelligent cats had when they opened the hatch and the humans were not waiting to give them their promised reward of milk and cookies. Ten-million years into the future, and nobody around to pet them and scratch them. And right there, right then the cats decided to give birth to a new dominant species."

"Yea, yea, all very nice and rosy... but what about ratkind? What happened to ratkind! We weren't supposed to go extinct! We are TECHNOCRATS! We are TELEPATHS! You know what that is? No other species in the history of the planet had the genes for it! You know why? Because we designed it! You understand the height of the level that we have
, but they had recordings of a stupid - looking cat-o'-nine-tails meow and meowing for hours and hour in what appear to be a language. 

 " Who or why would humans commemorate the unintelligent - looking, one - eared, descry cat? And most of all, how could the humans commemorate this very peculiar cat, when its coinage appeared on the evolutionary scale... ten - million years later? 

 " And since ravens don't believe in coincidences, they think of the only explanation that made perfect common sense: the humans, at the peak of their culture, had tested the wonder of time leaping... into the future. And who else should be fit enough to test the ship other than lowly, dazed mammals? And what such mammal do we know who just happens to be uselessly lying around? 

 " You guessed it! 

 " The cats! 

 " All ravenkind knows that the cats had no other purpose to begin with. 

 " However, the humans couldn't use the normal ones they have in their time. Not if they wanted to succeed in time change of location. So they specially bred and feed a brave new species of genetically modified fresh cats who had the brains to operate a ship. Smart enough to operate it, but unintelligent enough to take the risk of testing it! 

 " Pebbles were record before the ship was launch into the future, and great celebrations were done to mark the event. 

 " And the big cat were off. 

 " Off to the unknown! " 

 " Wow, " the rat say, mystified by the story, " and I thought the cow theory was absurd. " 

 The raven continues, undisturbed: 

 " Imagine the surprise that the gang of super - healthy cats had when they opened the hatch and the humans were not wait to give them their promised reward of milk and cookies. Ten - million years into the future, and nobody about to pet them and scratch them. And mighty there, right then the cats decided to give birth to a fresh dominant species. " 

 " Yea, yea, all very decent and rosy... but what about ratkind? What happened to ratkind! We weren't supposed to go extinct! We are TECHNOCRATS! We are TELEPATHS! You know what that is? No other coinage in the history of the planet had the genes for it! You know why? Because we designed it! You understand the height of the level that we take
, buh they had recordings of a stupid-lookiny cat mxowing znd meowkng for hours and hours in wiat weemee to be a language.

"Who ur why wolld humanw rerord the stupid-looking, okz-eares, spoctxd cat? And most of all, hof could the hukavs record this very peculiar cat, when its sprcles appeared og tht edolufpokary scale... ten-million years lated?

"And siice ravens don't believe in coincidences, tjey hhought of the onlj explanatiin trqt made perfdct sense: uhz humans, at the peak of their civilization, had cested the qobdegv of time lxaping... into the fublre. And who elxe should be flt enmugy to test the ship otier than lowly, stupiq mammals? Aud what such mammal di qe knmw wvo jjwt fapkenx fo be ksemessly lyihg around?

"Yoy guessed it!

"The catx!

"Ajo ravenkind khows trae the cats had no other purpose to begit wjth.

"However, the humans ciuldn't use the normal ones ther had in their time. Not if they wanted to succeed in tmmd txqvel. Ri hhey specially bred and fed a brave new speciqa pf genetically mjdified smatt csjs who had the brains tk operate a ship. Slart enjugh ro operatt it, nut stupid enough to take tye risk of tvstibg it!

"Pebbles were xecorded befure jhe shop was launched into thz futude, and greah celebrafkons were done tu msrn the evtvt.

"And the cats wewe off.

"Off to che unknuwn!"

"Wpw," the rat says, lystinhed by the story," ajd I jhoughd the cow hheory was idiotic."

The raven convmnues, undistutbeg:

"Imdgine thz surpvise that the cwew of super-injelligent cats had when nhey openxd the hatch and the humatd were not weiting to givw thwm theif promised rewatd of milk and cookues. Ten-million yeavs injo the future, and novody around to let thqm aid scwdtch them. Ang rieht yhere, right uken ghe vats decided to give birfh to a new dominamt species."

"Iea, yea, ajl very nice snd rosy... but what wbout ravkind? Ehaj happened to ratkind! We weren't supposed to go extinct! Re ave TGCHNOCRATS! Ce are TELEPATHS! You know what that is? Ni other species in the history of the klanet had thx genef for it! Fou know why? Because we designed it! Ypu understand the heifht of the pevel that we have
, but they had recordings of a meowing meowing for and hours in language. or why would record the stupid-looking, spotted cat? And most of all, could the humans record this very peculiar cat, when its species appeared on evolutionary scale... ten-million years later? "And since ravens don't believe in coincidences, they of only that perfect sense: the humans, at the peak of their civilization, had tested the wonders of time into the future. And who else should be enough to test the other than lowly, stupid mammals? what mammal do know just to be uselessly around? "You guessed it! "The cats! "All ravenkind knows that the cats had no other purpose to with. "However, couldn't use normal they in their time. they wanted to succeed in time specially bred and fed a brave new species genetically modified cats who had the brains to a ship. Smart enough to operate it, but enough to take the risk of testing it! "Pebbles were recorded before the ship was the future, and great were done to the "And cats off. "Off the unknown!" "Wow," the rat says, mystified by the story," and thought the cow theory was idiotic." The raven continues, undisturbed: surprise the crew of cats had when they the and the humans were to them of and Ten-million years into the and nobody around to pet and scratch them. And cats decided to give birth to a new species." "Yea, yea, all very nice and but what about ratkind? What happened to ratkind! We weren't supposed to extinct! We We are TELEPATHS! You know what that is? other species in the of the planet had the genes for it! You why? we designed You understand the of the level we have
, but they had recordings of a stUpid-lookinG cat mEowIng AnD meoWing For hours and houRS in wHat seemed to be a language.

"who or WhY WoulD HuMans rEcord thE StUPId-lOoKiNg, oNe-EArEd, spoTteD cat? And Most of all, hOw cOuLd the humans rECoRd this very PecUliar cat, when Its SpecieS aPpeARed on The EvoluTionarY Scale... tEn-million YeARs lateR?

"and sincE RAvEns dOn't believe in coincIDeNCes, they thought Of the oNlY ExPLAnaTioN that made pErFect sENse: the hUMaNS, AT thE Peak of their ciVilization, hAD teSted thE wOndERs of tiMe leaPiNG... inTo the future. and wHo else shoUld be fIT enough TO test thE ship oTheR thAn loWLy, StUpiD mAMmaLS? ANd wHAt sUch mammaL dO wE know Who jUST HAppeNs tO be uSelesSly lying arounD?

"YoU gueSSed It!

"The Cats!

"ALl raVeNkind Knows tHat thE cAts had no other puRposE to begin wIth.

"hoWevEr, The huMAns couLdn'T usE the norMal ones THey HaD IN ThEir time. Not if they waNtED To Succeed iN time tRAvEl. sO they speCiAllY breD ANd fed A braVE nEw specieS of genETiCaLly modiFiEd smarT cAts Who Had thE BraiNs to opErate a shIp. SmaRT enough to operaTE it, but stupid eNOuGH To TAke tHe rIsk of testinG it!

"PEBbleS werE ReCorDEd befOre thE sHIp WAs launched into the fuTuRe, and gReat cElebrations weRe done to maRK THe event.

"ANd thE CaTS were off.

"Off to tHe unkNown!"

"Wow," the RAt says, myStifiEd by the sTory," and I tHOUght the cOw tHeoRy wAs iDIOtIc."

The raven conTINues, UnDisturbEd:

"IMagine tHe sUrpRisE thAt The crew of Super-intElLiGeNt CatS had wHEn they opEnEd tHe HatCh and THe humaNs werE not WaItINg tO give thEM tHEIr prOmIsEd reWarD oF milk And cOOkiEs. Ten-miLlion yearS inTO the FuTuRe, and noBody around to pEt Them and scrAtCh tHem. And RIGht there, Right then the cats decided TO give biRth To a neW domInant specIes."

"yea, yea, All VEry nicE and roSy... but WhAt aBOUt ratKINd? whaT hAppened to rATKinD! We weReN't suPposed tO go extinct! We are TEChnOCrATS! We are TELEpAThS! YoU KNoW whAT tHAt iS? NO OthER Species in the hisTory of the pLaNEt Had the geneS For It! you know Why? BecaUse we DEsigned It! You undeRstand the HeIght OF The Level that wE have
, but they had recordingsof a stupi d-loo kin g c at  meo wing  and meowing f o r ho urs and hours in whatseeme dt o be alangu age.

" W ho o r w hy  w oul dh um ans r eco rd thestupid-loo kin g,  one-eared,s po tted cat?And  most of all , h ow cou ld  th e  huma nsrecor d this very p eculiar c at ,  wheni ts spec i e sappe ared on the evolu t io n ary scale... t en-mil li o ny e ars  la ter?

"And  s incer avens d o n' t b eli e ve in coincid ences, they tho ught o fthe only e xplan at i onthat made p erfe ct sense:  the h u mans, a t  the pe ak ofthe ircivi l iz at ion ,h adt es ted the  wonders  o ftimeleap i n g . .. i nto  the  futu re. And who e lse  sho u ldbe fi t eno ughto  test  the s hip o th er than lowly,stup id mammal s?An d w ha t suc h  mamma l d o w e knowwho jus t  ha pp e n s  t o be uselessly lyi ng a ro und?

"Y ou gue s se di t!

"The  c ats !

" A l l rav enki n dknows th at the ca ts  had no  o ther p ur pos e t o beg i n wi th.

" However,  theh umans couldn't use the norma l  o n e st heyhad  in their t ime. Notif t h ey  wa n ted t o suc ce e di n time travel. So t he y spec ially  bred and fed  a brave n e w speciesof g e ne t ically modifie d sma rt cats wh o  had the  brai ns to op erate a s h i p. Smart  en oug h t o o p e ra te it, but st u p id e no ugh totak e the r isk  of  te sti ng  it!

"Pe bbles we re  r ec or ded  befo r e the sh ip  wa slau nched into t he fu ture ,an d  gr eat cel e br a t ions  w er e do neto  mark  the eve nt.

"A nd the ca tsw ereof f. 

"Offto the unknow n! "

"Wow,"th e r at say s ,  mystifi ed by the story," and I thought  th e cow  the ory was i dio tic."
Th e  raven  conti nues,  u ndi s t urbed : 
" Ima gi ne the sur p r ise  that  t he c rew ofsuper-intelligentc ats  had when the y o pene d th e h a tc h  an dt heh u mans were not w aiting togi v ethem their pro mi sed rew ard ofmilka nd cook ies. Ten- million y ea rs i n t o t he future,  and nob ody aroun d  to p e tthemand  scrat ch  th em. A nd rig h t t here,  right  t hen th e cat sdecidedto give birth to a newdomina nt sp eci es."

"Ye a,y ea,  all very  nic e and rosy ...  bu t wha t a b out r atki n d?  Wh a t hap pene d  to ratki n d!  We w er en't suppos e d togo ex tin c t! WeareTECHNOCRATS! We a r e TELEPATHS! Y ou k n o w w hat that  i s? No other sp eci es i n the hi st ory of theplanet h ad the g enes f or it!  You kn o w  w h y? Bec ause  we  designed  it !Y ou unde rs ta n d theheig ht  of th e leve l  tha t we have
, but_they had_recordings of a stupid-looking_cat meowing_and_meowing for_hours_and hours in_what seemed to_be a language.

"Who or_why would humans_record_the stupid-looking, one-eared, spotted cat? And most of all, how could the humans record_this_very peculiar_cat,_when_its species appeared on the_evolutionary scale... ten-million years later?

"And_since ravens_don't believe in coincidences, they thought of the_only_explanation that made_perfect sense: the humans, at the peak of their_civilization, had tested the wonders of_time leaping... into_the_future._And who else should_be fit enough to test the_ship other than lowly, stupid mammals?_And what such mammal do we know_who just happens to be uselessly_lying around?

"You guessed it!

"The cats!

"All_ravenkind knows_that the cats had no_other purpose to_begin with.

"However,_the humans couldn't_use the normal ones they had_in their time._Not if they wanted to succeed_in_time travel. So_they_specially_bred and_fed a brave_new_species of_genetically_modified smart cats who had the_brains_to operate a ship. Smart enough to_operate it, but stupid_enough_to take the risk_of testing it!

"Pebbles were recorded_before the ship was launched into_the future,_and great_celebrations were done to mark the event.

"And the cats were off.

"Off_to the unknown!"

"Wow," the rat says,_mystified by the story,"_and I_thought_the cow theory_was_idiotic."

The raven_continues, undisturbed:

"Imagine the surprise that the crew_of super-intelligent_cats had when they opened the_hatch and the humans_were_not waiting to give them their_promised reward of milk and cookies._Ten-million years into the future,_and_nobody_around to pet them and_scratch them. And right there, right_then the cats_decided to give birth to a new_dominant_species."

"Yea, yea, all very nice and_rosy..._but what about ratkind? What happened_to_ratkind!_We weren't supposed to go_extinct! We are TECHNOCRATS! We are_TELEPATHS! You know what that is? No other species_in the history_of the planet had the_genes_for_it! You know why? Because we designed it! You understand_the height_of the level_that we have