"Skorkin knows he must obey you," Keetack said. "He will do anything you ask, and will harm none of your people."
"Hello, friend-pet," Johnny said.
The rhinosaur turned and looked at him with his little blue-black eyes and grunted a greeting. Johnny noted it. It probably meant "hello."
"Was that his speech?" Johnny asked.
"Yes," Keetack answered. "They have more words than the other creatures of the green lands. Only the monkeys of all our friend-pets come near to being as smart as they. They are a people, too, of great courage."
"I know," Johnny said. He remembered the rhinosaur charge at the colony.
At the mention of the word "monkey," the little red ape whom Johnny had rescued from Ed began to chatter and jump up and down.
"He likes you and wishes to go with you," Keetack said. "Do you want him to?"
"Oh, yes," Johnny answered. The monkey leaped to his shoulder. Johnny suddenly had an idea. "Could the leopardess, her cubs, and the arrow-bird come too?" he asked. "That is, if they want to?"
Keetack understood what was in Johnny's mind and nodded his approval. "It is a good idea," he clicked. "It would be a good way to prove to your people that the animals can be friendly."