"We'll also have to establish a monetary system," Clive went on. "Unless there's trade, our city will perish."
"That's one thing we don't have to do," I said. We had been standing in the stone framework of a building and I had kicked a pile of dust with the toe of my boot. Under the dust was a mound of square, flat objects of gold. Coins.
"We've already got money."
Clive pounced on them. "My word," he explained. "We're wealthy!"
"Nuts," I said. "What can you buy with it?"
"It's gold," he said. "There may be a bank in these ruins!"
"You were talking awhile ago about food, shelter and water," I said. "We've got the shelter and water, but we still got to have food, unless we want those little rabbits for a steady diet." The animals weren't rabbits, but they were about rabbit-size.
"We've got to have economics," said Clive. "I'll pay you for all the food you bring in, and you can buy your food from me."
It sounded crazy, but I made like a willow again.
In order for him to have enough money to pay me to work, I had to find a bank. A good candidate seemed to be a building larger than the others that nestled against a hillside, surrounded by trees. It had a facade supported by fluted columns and it was in pretty good shape since the hill probably sheltered it from a lot of the weather that had taken such a toll from the other buildings.