We know that in the early years of the 21st century this 
world was being watched closely by intelligences greater 
than mans and yet as mortal as his own. We know now that 
as human beings busied themselves about their various 
concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps 
almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might 
scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and 
multiply in a drop of water.