“Why?”
“Because we’re taking the initiative. That puts him in a reactive instead of an active role.”
“You’re right,” I said thoughtfully. “I don’t under- stand.”
“Look kid, if we just sat here and waited for him, he could take his time and choose exactly what he wanted to do and when he wanted to do it. That’s an active role and lets him play with his entire list of powers. Right?”
“I guess so.”
“But we aren’t doing that. We’re carrying the attack to him. That should limit him as to what he can do. There are only a certain number of responses he can successfully use to each of our gambits, and he’ll have to use them because he can’t afford to ignore the attack. Most of all, we’ll rob him of time. Instead of leisurely choosing what he’s going to do next, he’ll have to choose fast. That means he’ll go with the option he’s surest of, the one he does best.”
I considered this for a few moments. It sort of made sense.
“Just one question, Aahz,” I asked finally.
“What’s that, kid?”
“What if you’ve guessed wrong?”
“Then we drop back ten and punt,” he answered lightly.
“What’s a….”
“Then we try something else,” he amended hastily.
“Like what?”
“Can’t tell yet,” Aahz shrugged. “Too many variables. We’re going with my best guess right now. Beyond that we’ll just have to wait and see.”
We sat staring into the dying fire for a few minutes, each lost in our own thoughts.
“Say, Aahz?” I said at last.
“Yea, kid?”
“Do you think we’ll reach Isstvan before Frumple does?”
“Relax, kid. Frumple’s probably drinking wine and pinching bottoms in some other dimension by now.”