He gave the necessary permission, and soon she returned. “He is sleeping peacefully,” said she. “Morkaba is watching over him. Now I’m ready,” and they all went down the marble steps of the Jkak’s palace, eager for their first sight of this new, strange land. CHAPTER V DEATH IN JUPITER They walked down a lovely avenue to the outer gates. It was grass-covered, soft and velvety and cool. Birds with the gayest plumage hopped among the branches of the trees, and came fearlessly up to the strangers. One bird, perhaps as big as an English bullfinch, of many colours and with a fan-shaped tail, perched on Mavis’ shoulder, and chirped prettily to her. “How wonderful!” said she. “Did not your, birds do that?” asked Waz-Y-Kjesta. “No, they were too nervous.” “Nervous?” “Yes—frightened—terrified,” she explained. “I understand the meaning of the word you utter,” said he, “but you will not find the sensation of fear known on Keemar. We live in harmony with our birds, our animals, and even our fish. They are all our friends.” At the end of the avenue they found themselves on a broad road. Hills rose up at the side, steeply in some places, while in others the rise was more gradual, leaving moorland and valley in view. Houses were built at intervals along the roads, all of wonderful, coloured marbles, but they were all surrounded by beautiful grounds, and added to the scene. “Oh,” said Mavis suddenly. “There’s a shop.” Waz-Y-Kjesta looked puzzled, and followed her gaze. “Oh yes, you mean our Omdurlis. How else should we get food to eat and clothes to wear?” “How then do you manage about your coinage? Do you have money?” asked Alan curiously. “I know not the word.” “How do you buy things—what do you give in exchange?” “Oh, we have laika—royla, suka and minta,” said he; and he drew from his purse that hung satchel-wise across his shoulders, some coins. The first was square, as large as a five shilling piece, and green in colour. “This will purchase the most,” he said. “Five roylas make a laika.” The royla was exactly the same, but no bigger than a florin. “Then there are ten sukas to a laika, and twenty mintas.” The last two coins were of a bronze hue and as big as a shilling and a sixpence. “I expect those five coins are equal to a fiver, a sovereign, a two shilling piece and a sixpence,” said Mavis thoughtfully. “How do you get your money?” asked Sir John. “Oh, from the Rorka,” explained the Waz. “I am a Waz—I receive one thousand roylas or two hundred laikas a murvin. The Jkak will get a thousand laikas, while little Morkaba, who is born of the workers, gets but ten and her food.” “I suppose the shopkeepers make a lot of money,” said Desmond.