^{Even though we wore long masks of death, we celebrated living fully into the night.}

<sup>"I went swimming with some dolphins, once, at this water park. It was really cool, you could tell that they were talking to you in the way that they looked at you, in the way that it seemed like they expected an answer and that you were the dumb one for not being able to answer back."

"A lot of animals are much more intelligent than we think that they are, or at least are capable of high levels of intelligence, with a little coaching and patience."

"In the future, do you think that we will do something good with our technology? Maybe modify animals so that they're smarter?"

"I don't see why we wouldn't. Aren’t they already able to get computers to help deaf people hear and make blind people see? Maybe cats and dogs won’t really be pets so much anymore as they will be true companions. They could carry on conversations with you and flat out demand that you take them for a walk when they've got to go to the bathroom." She laughed at that. "It seems like we're not that far off from a future where that's happening, anyway."

"Ask any cat owner," I said, "and they'll tell you that it's already the case. I had a cat when I was in college; the stupid thing had a bad habit of relieving itself on people that he didn't like. But there's no doubt in my mind that the thing constantly communicated that kind of thing to me."

"Cats, they're strange animals, that's for sure."

It was growing dark, and someone switched the strings of party lights on all around us, and suddenly the balcony was a lot more festive looking than it had been before. Caught up in the excitement of the moment, she grabbed onto my arm and started for the door.

"Let’s go!" she said, her enthusiasm contagious. I followed her out into the streets, where we purchased some masks with skulls on them from a local vendor. Even though we wore long masks of death, we celebrated living fully into the night.</sup>