"What is this money?" the black muzzled one asked.
Johnny was surprised. The word Baba used for money must not be a real marva word. If only Baba was here to explain! Johnny tried the best he could to explain how money works. The marva shook its head in wonder at the strange ways of men.
"But why do you want our claws and teeth?" the marva asked.
"To make rings and plastic." But they understood neither the word "ring" nor the word "plastic." Johnny had to explain that plastic was the material that headglobes were made from. He explained also that rings and jewelry were used for decoration.
"And that is why we are killed on sight?" asked the marva.
"Yes, old one." It made Johnny sad for himself, for the marva, and for his people, to have to admit this.
His answer caused a stir among the marva.
"I have one more question," the old marva said. "Why did you come into the jungle with the marva, Baba?"
"He would have died or been killed otherwise, and he was my brother, or like my brother. It was like the song he sang:
"You help your friends