The hunt for the muskrat seems to be an allegory for man's insatiable search for God (for a theist), unified field theory (theoretical physicist), wisdom (philosopher), the next iPad/blockchain/technical bauble (modern-day technocrats), or utopian "voluntarism" (anarchists). In all cases, the object of the hunt is elusive and beyond our grasp. The participants do not even know if they are closer to their goal, or if they are wandering in circles.

It reminds me of a scene in Babylon 5 where a reptilian mystic discusses the nature of god. Something along the line of the light shining on the wall, we think as god, but do not recognize that the light has a source. At times enraptured by the light, we use it to view ourselves and imagine that god is remarkably similar to us, which is but a delusion.