From the bottom of the crater they watched the mostly-water bags buzzing about in their tin flying machine. They probably should have positioned the observation lab much deeper, below the mantel. It wouldn’t have been that difficult, and it certainly would have been a more comfortable temperature. No; it would have been impossible to hear the thoughts from such weak minds.

How do they manage it, these humans? the alien thought, pointing to the sky. Even when they are on the edge of evolving they manage to create such desolation?

Perhaps we were wrong about them. Maybe they weren’t yet ready, thought its companion.

Well, now they’ve seen us.

Yes, they have. So, now the killing starts?

Amusing that they started it and not us. You can’t toy with the fabric of the universe and not expect consequences. The alien turned and walked back into the breach as its companion stood still, its eyes tracking the mass of tin machines closing on them.

Yes, they started it. Now we are the ones to end it.