"I'm really not equipped to explain this to an alien. Can you take that part for granted?"

"I... suppose I can take it that people believe that for granted, yes..."

"So people believe that, so the reds aren't allowed to touch anything or anybody except the stuff they need to do their jobs, which no one else touches, and each other, and their houses and such."

"And... Savo let them touch the food?"

"Savo coordinated a - fantastically complicated and difficult secret project to arrange that virtually all the food in Voa was, or was not provably not, touched at some remove by at least one red. It's not dangerous. In itself; people can have - dangerous psychological reactions. Or starve themselves. ...And we're an exporter and our neighbor started a war."

"...I appreciate the sentiment behind this but that was such a bad idea. They started a war?"

"To claim some farmland. So they can have independent food security without having to import." He rubs his hand over his face. "Savo was - trying very hard to make it work. He got a red to hand him something to eat on live television, then ate it. People weren't ready."

She rubs her temples. "And so you went into hiding. Okay. I'm... actually not sure if fixing your material scarcity problems the straightforward way would actually even be a good idea, now."

"The straightforward way?"

"Teaching people how to summon makers and changers and movers in safe ways so they can get anything they want. This... might have very, very bad side effects for the red population."

"...probably. They riot if anyone suggests advancing robotics."

"Robotics?"

"To replace their jobs."

"...because then people won't need them anymore and do... what?—is the answer kill them all. Say the answer isn't kill them all."

"The reds certainly think so."

"Are they wrong?"

"Nobody's gotten that far. Probably not."

Sigh. "Savo works for the government, then?"

"Most blues do one way or another."

"Directly enough that he could actually enact such a plan."

"The job title is Allocator. He's still in the capitol, he just sent us here."

She nods. "...you know, it just occurred to me that I can change things."

"...you were advertising that as your magical power a moment ago."

"Yes, I was. And it means that of course I could change contaminated food into non-contaminated food."

"Were you paying attention when I explained it wasn't a physical property."