tilting at dragons

Tilting at Dragons

   I hesitated briefly before letting the knocker fall. I couldn't set off on such an important dragon-slaying assignment without soliciting the counsel and support of my good friend and next door neighbor, but I hated to awaken him so early in the morning. I needn't have worried.
    "Hey,Sir Bibber!" he gushed warmly. "To what do I owe the honor?"
    "Got a dragon assignment coming up, Buck," I explained. "Seek and destroy. Hope I didn't wake you."
    "Oh, no," he reassured me with a wave. "I was up early, anyway. Preparing for a business trip."
    "Uh, what is it that you do, again?" I asked.
    "Business consultant," he said. "Travel a lot. A lot more than I'd like, to tell you the truth. Well, come on in!" Buck, always the gracious host, swept me into his home. "Take a load off! At least, take a helmet off!"
    I plopped down on a large divan, but Buck steered me graciously to the room's only recliner.
    "Sorry," he said apologetically. "That's my spot. I like to stretch out there."
    It was just as well. The divan was hard and lumpy. All springs, it seemed.
    "So, tell me all about it," Buck urged.
    "There's been a lot of dragon sign lately," I began. "Outlying homesteads burned to the ground, kidnapped maidens, major treasure heists, especially gold. You know how dragons are supposed to like to lie on top of their treasure."
    Buck nodded attentively. "Any sightings?"
    "Yes, several," I continued. "There're more than one, but we think there's one ring leader."
    "Any idea where the beast lives?" asked Buck, stretching out luxuriously on his lumpy divan.
    "Not until yesterday!" I said excitedly. "That's when we got what we believe to be a reliable report that the dragon we're seeking has a lair in the highlands to the north."
    "Help! Help, Sir Knight! Save me from the dragon!"
    The screams sounded like they were coming from upstairs.
    "What's that?" I asked, somewhat alarmed.
    "Just my niece," Buck chuckled. "She likes to play knights and dragons."
    "Oh, that's a relief." I relaxed. "Say, I didn't know you had a niece."
    "She's just visiting for a few days," said Buck.
    "Help! Help! Save us!"
    "Hmm," said I. "That was a different voice. In fact, that sounded like more than one voice."
    "Nieces," corrected Buck.
    "Oh. How many?"
    "Sixteen ... Or seventeen."
    "Wow! It's a blessing to have so much family around you."
    "Yes," he smiled. "Yes, it is. But your dragon ..."
    "Oh, yes. The king, of course, chose me because of my long service to the crown and extensive experience with dragons. But I'm wondering what the best approach would be. Should I strike quickly or take my time investigating the dragon's domain? It might be better to discover its vulnerabilities first, but then I might lose the advantage of surprise."
    Buck shifted on the divan, and a small pile of gold coins fell on the floor.
    "What's that?" I inquired.
    "Oh, I don't trust banks." He gave an embarrassed smile. "Kind of old fashioned, huh?"
    "Not at all," I reassured him. "I know how you feel. So, what do you think about my strategy?"
    He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Strike quickly," he said. "Definitely. You never want to give the enemy a chance to prepare."
    "Hmm," I mused. "Yes. That's what I think, too."
    "Right," he said. "Off with you, then. I know you'll do the kingdom proud."
    "Thanks," I said humbly. "I know I can always count on you."