"Why you come to Ethiopia?" He glances at Magnificence. "With monkey."

"We're searching for a friend. An archeologist. He's fallen out of contact with his university."

He looks VERY suspicious of this claim.

"Why you not wait till crisis over?"

"Well, if we wait until the war is over, our friend might be dead before we find him."

"Hmph. American come in, American cause trouble. Don't want any trouble. Especially with monkey."

"We also do not want any trouble. Nor does the monkey."

"We don't want any trouble either, sir. Our friend is American, too. Maybe we can convince him to leave? But we would have to find him, first."

"Monkey always want trouble."

This man LOVES Magnificence and wants to be FRIENDS.

:D

Oh no.

Can someone please grapple the monkey.

She will firmly hold Magnificence's hand.

Look Magnificence. She has a snack.

Her animal handling is Poor but her strength is Strong.

Magnificence wants to take a picture of his friend.

He takes out his camera, which is hidden in a watch, and attempts to photograph the customs inspector.

...It might not be a very good picture.

"Monkey has a watch."

"He likes the ticking sound. Gives him something to focus on when people are talking. Keeps him out of trouble."

"Hm." He seems impressed in spite of himself at this skillful monkey training.

"He's really quite a well-trained monkey, sir. But I like to make things easy for him."

Yes, Anemone is very impressive. Please be impressed with her and drop the monkey charges.

"You taking American friend away from Ethiopia?"

"Yes, sir. If we can find him."

"What you think Il Duce?"

Zoe has no idea about global politics. Is she supposed to like Il Duce or not like him.

Presumably she is supposed to like him? But what if this guy is part of some sort of Ethiopian secessionist movement.

Anemone recognizes that "Il Duce" is how Mussolini is referred to by fascists, and that the Italian entry inspector for a proto-war-zone is probably loyal to the dictatorial government.

"A great leader, sir. The Americans would do well to respect him."

He is just simply keeping his mouth closed.

Zoe is not going to contradict Anemone here unless she is VERY certain. Which she is not.