"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.
With Clive at my heels, I went inside. It was light, since the roof had
rotted away. It was a temple with a hollow square sacrificial altar in
the center of a large hall. And it was better than a bank.
Scattered everywhere were gold coins, such as we had already found. In
addition there were bars of blackened silver, glass jugs filled with
precious stones, solid gold candlesticks, ornaments and jewelry.
"You will be well paid, my subject," said Clive. "People of every
planet in the universe will envy the people of this planet."
"What's the name of our planet, by the way?" I asked.