GR translation: We have to play the patterns.

[Mike Jing]

It dawns on Slothrop, literally, through the yellowbrown window shade, that
this is his first day Outside. His first free morning. He doesn’t have to
go back. Free? What’s free? He falls asleep at last. A little before noon a
young woman lets herself in with a passkey and leaves him the papers. He is
now an English war correspondent named Ian Scuffling.
“This is the address of one of our people in Zürich. Waxwing wishes you
good luck and asks what kept you so long.”
“You mean he wants an answer?”
“He said you’d have to think about it.”
“Sa-a-a-ay.” It’s just occurred to him. “Why are all you folks helping me
like this? For free and all?”
“Who knows? We have to play the patterns. There must be a pattern you’re
in, right now.”

What is the meaning of "play the patterns"?
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