And your friends help you.
It is the law
And will be the law as the trees stand.
Between friend and friend there is no parting
More than the fingers of a hand."
"We know the song," the marva said, gently. "But didn't you think these—" the marva gestured at the leopards, "might kill you?"
"Yes," Johnny said, "but I had to take the chance."
They asked many more questions about men and their ways. Many were hard for Johnny to answer or even to understand, but he tried very hard to be as clear and truthful as possible. Finally they seemed satisfied, and there was again silence in the diamond-wood grove.
With a nod to Johnny the black muzzled marva led the rest of the jewel bears away, and left Johnny and his animal friends alone. A short distance away the marva again formed a circle and clicked together quietly.
Then they called over his friend, the leopardess, the red monkey and the arrow-bird. They appeared to be asking them questions. Johnny, left to himself, wondered what was happening. It was all very strange. Rick's wrist watch said too much time had passed already.