Rationing necessitated it

One cigar a day, was the edict from above. Some government bureaucrats had won out for once.

Or had they? The bureaucrats knew how to play ball, too. They'd leave loopholes about cigar size open to those clever enough to push the right boundaries.

Just in case the loophole was closed later, she'd bought several bundles for her locker in the officers' humidor. Drinks weren't her thing, but cigars helped busy work go by a lot quicker. Especially with all the desk work on this boring assignment. These could last all day. She could sell them for a pretty penny once she got promoted and moved on.