The Linking Rings: (An Eli Marks Mystery Book 4) (The Eli Marks Mysteries) by John Gaspard

Author:John Gaspard [Gaspard, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Albert's Bridge Books
Published: 2019-07-21T22:00:00+00:00

Harry was still upstairs rehearsing, so I spent the next forty-five minutes wandering the room, watching magicians as they ran through routines and sought advice and counsel from their peers. From time to time I tossed in a thought or a comment. Once it became apparent this interloping American had a pretty solid handle on the basics of magic, folks starting coming up to me to ask questions they might have been too shy to address to Laurence Baxter, Hector Hechizo, or any of the other high-profile magicians who moved in and out of the room.

I helped one young lad with his top change, using many of the same words—although with a warmer tone— that the legendary Dai Vernon had used on me the one time I met him at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles. At the time, I was about the same age as the kid I was currently assisting.

"The thing about the top change," I said as I quickly demonstrated it, "is that it's a ballsy move which often requires more guts than actual skill. You just have to dive in and do it. Plus, if you're able to distract them with a larger move while you do it, they don't even notice the smaller move."

I did it for him twice more and then offered some tweaks while he demonstrated it back to me. By this time a small group had formed around us, consisting of magicians from about twelve to twenty, running the geeky gamut from "just a little" to "oh my, yes very."

Satisfied he had the understanding he needed, the kid with the top change question turned away and was replaced by another young magician who lamented he was having trouble with audience management.

"For this trick, they're supposed to hold two cards facedown," he said, the level of distress obvious in his tone. "But they keep turning the cards over and revealing them before I want them to."

"That's a tricky one," I agreed, taking the two cards from him and holding them facedown between my thumb and forefinger, just as the audience member would do at that point in the trick. I went through the phases of the illusion in my mind, forming a response to his question. However, before I could get the words out, another voice took over.

"Oh, luv, it's all in the eyes. You can control their every move with your eyes and just the slightest touch."

I looked over to discover the female magician I had seen here on my first night had stepped in and was taking over. She wasn't dressed for a performance, but her attire still had a vaguely steampunk Victorian vibe to it. Big hair, big eyes, and a big smile. Before I could pull her name from my memory, she did it for me.

"Angelika," she said with a broad smile. "We met the other night. Mind if I weigh in with my two pence worth?"

I nodded my acquiescence, but she was already moving full speed ahead.

"So, you

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