“Well, my theory begins with a group of scientists developing a network of nanobots. These nanobots are designed to go into bodies and reanimate dead tissue. So, say you have a frost-bitten hand, you'd inject a legion of nanobots into your wrist and these little robots would busy themselves repairing your cells, restoring circulation, etc.
Anyways, the scientists underestimate the learning potential of these nanobots and before long they go about reproducing and re-organizing themselves into a hierarchical structure-”
“The scientists?”
“No, the nanobots! One night, the nanobots escape from the lab and head out into the world to seek their fortunes. Eventually, some of them end up in a bag of animal crackers, and they go about animating the animals, springing them from their cages.”
“That's crazy.”
“No, that's why there are so many empty cages in this bag of animal crackers.”
“I'm sure there's a simpler explanation.”
“But not a better one.”
“Actually, the simplest explanation is usually the best.... For example, isn't it more likely that a higher proportion of cage shaped crackers happened to be slipped into your bag in the factory?”
“But-”
“Of course an even simpler possibility is that you just made the whole thing up. You finished the bag rather quickly and there are no crackers left as evidence.”
“Actually...”
“What?”
“There's Leopold.”
“Leo-what?”
“Nevermind. You wouldn't understand.”
“It's late, I'm going to get some sleep.”
-----
“Is he gone yet?” whispered the small sugary lion perched on my collar.
“Yeah, Leopold, he's gone.”
“You shouldn't have told him.”
“Don't worry, he thinks I made everything up.”
“Still, I don't think the world is ready to accept intelligent animal crackers.”
“But you're so small and harmless!”
“But our existence threatens their sanity!”
I shook my head in disgust. Something fell to the floor. My heart froze....Leopold.
I waited to see if the nanobots could restore him, but his crumbs stayed where they had fallen.
There was nothing else to do but get the vacuum cleaner....
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