The End
I blink but all I see is white. It’s like I’m in heaven but my body is frozen in time. I’m shaking but not from fear. My arm is sore with what looks like welts in the skin.
Where am I? I turn and see a dark shadow bounding towards me. Is that a wolf? I try to run but it’s too slippy and I fall as the cold and teeth of the beast rip into me. My final cries are deafened by my own voice.
‘Where is everyone and how in the hell did I get up here?’
The Start
“Welcome onto the stage…”
The magician shoved the microphone under my nose. I blinked, blinded by the spotlights and the stares from the front rows.
“Uh, Stan.”
“Great to have you volunteer, Uh Stan. Or is that Stan Uh as in Stan Uh and take a bow?”
His grin gleamed like the polished ivories of a grand piano while the audience gave a courteous laugh. I wasn’t sure whether to join in so I just nodded. His assistant Suzie lead me to the side while the spotlights converged on the Great Galzon.
“While trekking through Tibet as a wandering vagabond I discovered an ancient temple buried deep within a snowy summit of the Himalayas. There I entered a monastery of monks who had unearthed the secrets of the gods. By gaining their trust I shared in their sacred knowledge and tonight I want to reveal that mystery to you.”
The lights split into two as the curtain behind us raised. A tacky mock-up of a rugged mountain range appeared. Two ledges made of plasterboard lay on either side of the stage and between them was a drop into an abyss.
“Those monks faced starvation amongst the blizzards and ravenous beasts. To reach the valley below they had to risk their lives by travelling over the mountaintops. Yet utilising their magic arts they discovered a way to traverse over space and time in an instant!”
He snapped his fingers into the microphone which made me lurch in surprise. Suzie held me fast.
“Tonight I will use those incantations to vault our volunteer. He will reappear fully formed more than twelve feet away in a moment of time.”
The Great Galzon spun on his heel to face me.
“Stan, we have never met before tonight?”
“Uh, no,” I stammered.
“And you have complete faith in my abilities to evaporate your body…”
“Evaporate?” I began but he continued:
“…then reform it in precisely the same condition over there?”
Before I could speak Suzie ushered me onto the plasterboard while Galzon skipped to the other ledge. He dropped to one knee before drawing up a black, velvet curtain. Suzie did likewise but the curtain stopped at my waist. Galzon pressed his finger to his lips to quieten the crowd.
“I have only attempted this feat with live animals. Most of them reappeared in one piece.”
Suzie dug her nails into my arm as I tried to leave.
“Stan on the count of three, then? One. Two. And three.”
Suzie whipped up the curtain shielding all the light. A split second later and it was bright again. Except she was no longer holding my arm.
The applause thundered as I stood there bemused. The Great Galzon dropped the curtain at my feet and strutted out to take his bow. Suzie waved from twelve feet away on the other ledge while I waited for someone to explain what had happened.
All alone now in the Great Galzon’s dressing room, I stood by the dressing table while the autograph hunters finally left. Suzie shut the door while Galzon removed his hat.
“So what happened?” I said.
Galzon wiggled to get out of his outfit. “What do you mean, Stan?”
“Don’t put on an act with me,” I said. “What happened tonight?”
“You’re here in one piece aren’t you?”
I placed my hands on my hips, reassured they were still there.
“Where did he go? He was supposed to meet us backstage by the trapdoor.”
Freddie Galzoni tore off his fake moustache and spun on his chair.
“Stan, your twin brother probably got himself drunk and split. Don’t worry about it. He’ll turn up somewhere.”
I blink but all I see is white. It’s like I’m in heaven but my body is frozen in time. I’m shaking but not from fear. My arm is sore with what looks like welts in the skin.
Where am I? I turn and see a dark shadow bounding towards me. Is that a wolf? I try to run but it’s too slippy and I fall as the cold and teeth of the beast rip into me.
Why am I alone and how in the hell did I get all the way up here?