“Oh dear, that’s an awfully philosophical question, isn’t it?” And as he believes one should with all philosophical questions, Pal considers it seriously, looking thoughtful. “On a macro scale and speaking practically, dietary simplicity is probably the answer. Having anything and everything at one’s fingertips is a luxury, and if one cannot adjust to scarcity when it becomes necessary, well,” he makes a helpless kind of gesture, “not put too fine a point on it, but humanity did have to be resurrected.”

But then he grins. “That said, it would be a pity to give up chocolate now that I’ve had the real thing. Or the cake with the colored sprinkles and the ridiculous name—funfetti?”