"Maybe. Since they can be magically genetically engineered it doesn't sound out of the question. ...it's probably bad if they are, because it doesn't seem likely they'll ever all be able to learn to deal with pollution properly."

Pollution should probably an Amentan thing not an all people thing. There are going to be SO many people.

"...that's not something we can decide based on what would be convenient."

I mean aliens. There's too much everywhere.

"We can't decide if aliens can generate pollution or not based on what would be convenient."

Oh. I thought you were going to try to MAKE them be clean.

"...well, we have to if we're going to be able to share any space with them, and we'd really like to be able to do that. And we're optimistic that even aliens who don't start with instincts about pollution like we have can learn about and learn how to do better."

...Sounds wrong. But I'm really new. I don't know.

"If you have any questions about this or anything else you can always ask us."

If there's aliens who want to be left alone and be polluted you should let them.

"Do you think so?"

Yes.

"We think that wouldn't be very good for the aliens, since being polluted is bad for people, and it would mean we'd have a big problem if they left their planet and started touching things on other planets, especially if the kind of planet they needed was like ours."

Why is being polluted bad for people who aren't Amentans except that they can't be near Amentans?

"Being polluted is inherently bad. Some kinds of people don't mind it, but that's a disorder. There are also people who can't feel pain, and this is also bad, even though people don't like to be in pain, because it means they can't tell what to avoid and often injure themselves."

Sounds wrong. Sounds maybe like an Amentan instinct that needs to be ignored like having twelve kids.

"Even if you decide to believe that for yourself, polluting people or things is a very serious crime you have to avoid. It's a capital crime if it gets bad enough."

I'm not gonna do that I just don't think you should make all the aliens you find clean like you like. I'm too little and new to be important enough that it matters and I'm not even really really sure but that's what I think right now. Maybe I'll change my mind growing up.

"You've got plenty of time to think about it! And you can think whatever makes sense to you as long as you know how to follow the law and do it consistently."

He droops slightly and goes quiet and pensive and curls up on the entryway floor.

She goes over to the piano and plays something fluttery.

I want to see the rest of this house. And sleep soon.

"Okay, let's get you a tour," she says, standing up. "Haemi! The baby wants a house tour, we can show him his room, he's getting sleepy. - we set up a room for you, in case that's more comfortable than napping in the garden, but either is fine."

I'll have to see it!

Haemi emerges from the room on the right. "A tour sounds good! In here -"

In there is a parlor; it has its own screen currently displaying a view of the ocean panned over from the air, and a broad horseshoe-shaped coffee table and sideboard and a big window looking out on the garden and a shelf of board games and a table with video game consoles tucked into it.