But if this was the Sahara, and that man had the only eats and drinks, I'd starve." "Telling him the truth wouldn't be accepting favors from him," counseled Fred.
"I wouldn't tell him the time!" That attitude--and Will insisted that all the officials in the land would prove alike--limited our choice, for unless we were to allay official suspicion it would be hopeless to get away northward.
Southward into German East seemed the only way to go; there was apparently no law against travel in that direction.

On our way to the hotel we passed Coutlass, striding along smirking to himself, headed toward the office from which we had just come.
"I'll bet you," said Will, "he's off to get an ammunition permit, and permission to go where he damned well pleases! I'll bet he gets both! This government's the limit!" We laughed, but Will proved more than half right.

Coutlass did get ammunition.

Lady Saffren Waldon's influence was already strong enough for that.

He did not ask for leave to go anywhere for the simple reason that his movements depended wholly on ours--a fact that developed later.
At the hotel there was a pleasant surprise for us.