I've read about how "wild" rats who live in rural areas will often make their homes in a nest that is burrowed into the ground. In other words, they're diggers. And I've also read about how these burrows are elaborate systems of tunnels and rooms, which are organized. There's a food-storage room, a bathroom, a nursery for the kids, etc.
Then, I gave thought to the "city rats," who live in the sewers beneath the city. I wonder how they look at their lives. A sewer is, basically, a HUGE, concrete...system of tunnels and rooms. In other words, a "city burrow." And I wonder if the city rats who live in the sewers think to themselves, "Wow! Whoever built this nest did an incredible job! It's so big! And this river sometimes brings us food, and this one sometimes brings stuff to eat! I could never build something like this!"
It just occurred to me that a sewer is, more or less, a big, permanent burrow, and how if we, as humans, were to encounter something similarly relevent to our lives, we'd probably assume that there was an ancient race of genius architects.
Then, I gave thought to the "city rats," who live in the sewers beneath the city. I wonder how they look at their lives. A sewer is, basically, a HUGE, concrete...system of tunnels and rooms. In other words, a "city burrow." And I wonder if the city rats who live in the sewers think to themselves, "Wow! Whoever built this nest did an incredible job! It's so big! And this river sometimes brings us food, and this one sometimes brings stuff to eat! I could never build something like this!"
It just occurred to me that a sewer is, more or less, a big, permanent burrow, and how if we, as humans, were to encounter something similarly relevent to our lives, we'd probably assume that there was an ancient race of genius architects.