"That's up to you," said Valnar. "You get some sort of a conveyance, and I'll construct a small Mental Ray to blackout anyone who tries to stop us."
Barlow took Valnar to the rooms he had engaged and managed to secure the apparatus Valnar declared essential. Luckily it could be made from altered radio parts, the sale of which wasn't restricted. But his own part of the task was harder.
Dodson was one of the first to realize the power of transportation, and held firm control of all its phases. Public conveyances wouldn't serve their purpose because, while Barlow's passports were necessarily in order even though forged, Valnar had none. And no forger was available.
They must steal either an auto or a plane—preferably, a plane. But there was no such thing as a private auto or plane, and the civic conveyances were carefully controlled.
Finally Barlow had to admit defeat and return to his rooms. He went in wearily and sat down. Valnar greeted him cheerfully.
"It's finished," he said, waving to the small assembly on the table.
Barlow peered at it. "I failed," he admitted. "Couldn't steal one anywhere."
"Then we'll get one with this," said Valnar.
Barlow thought of his wearying hours of search and felt like slugging the other. But he knew that Valnar would win any scrimmage, so he regretfully discarded the idea.
"Then we might as well free Laurine and the others before we take off," he suggested.