The Magical Peppers and the Great Vanishing Act. Sian Pattenden

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СКАЧАТЬ course,” said a delighted Potty.

      “Let me think,” said Henry. “You’ll have to perform the trick outside – create a bit of atmosphere, wave a wand around, then – whoosh! – the museum vanishes, at least to the naked eye.”

      Potty nodded.

      Henry paused again. Esmé could see that he was thinking through each detail in his mind.

      “What I suggest,” said Henry at last, “is that making the museum disappear is all well and good, but we could add a little something extra.”

      Potty looked intrigued.

      “How about,” continued Henry, “a taster version of the trick, to whet the audience’s appetite for the main event? I suggest you make a small object disappear first – pretending that this is the sole performance – until you suddenly and unexpectedly make the museum disappear. Catching the audience off guard like that will give the whole trick the wow factor.”

      Potty raised his one furry eyebrow. “Wow factor. I hadn’t thought of that,” he said. “It’s a wonderful idea.”

      “We would just have to choose the first object,” said Henry, as someone with another trolley holding skull-shaped pencil sharpeners passed by.

      Here, Esmé piped up. “We could use something from the museum – something ancient and special and magical... if that’s all right, Mr Henry.”

      Monty agreed. “Good plan – it would give it a theme.”

      “Yes,” answered Henry. “Ancient, special and magical; that would be excellent.”

      “A pencil sharpener?” Monty suggested.

      “Would that be magical?” asked Esmé. “Or even ancient?”

      “I was thinking we could find a really old one.”

      “I’ve an idea,” said Esmé, remembering the laser display outside the museum. “How about the crown?”

      “Or maybe a mummified head?”

      “Didn’t I just see a crystal skull on a mouse mat?” asked Potty.

      “You can’t make a mouse mat disappear; that wouldn’t be very exciting,” said Monty.

      “No no!” said Potty. “A piece of crystal would be marvellous – it would cast a magical light – but it must not be too large and awkward to disappear.”

      “Incredible,” said Henry, his eyes wide. “You have all come up with the answer yourselves.”

      Esmé wondered what Henry J. Henry meant by this. Of course they had come up with the answer – they were planning Potty’s show.

      “I have something that is exactly what you need – an item that is part of the Royal Collection. A crystal skull. It is ancient, magical and special. Not only that, it is worth millions.”

      “Well, we can try something else if it’s too precious,” said Potty. “I wouldn’t want to—”

      “No no no, I insist you use it,” said Henry, a broad smile on his lips.

      “We would take good care of it,” promised Monty.

      “It sounds perfect,” said Potty, holding out his hand. “Let’s shake on it, Mr Henry. This is going to blow the Queen’s socks off.”

      Henry seemed delighted. “I’ve always thought that with other rivals – I mean, other magicians – the best thing is to pool ideas.”

      Esmé noticed Henry J. Henry suddenly blush and trail off. Did he just say rivals? Surely he didn’t see Potty as competition any more? Mr Henry was a successful museum curator, not an entertainer.

      “Can we see this crystal skull?” asked Monty.

      “Yes, I will have to check it for size and weight,” said Potty.

      “We can go and look at it now, if you like,” said Henry, regaining his composure. “I can show you the Wealth and Wisdom Zone, which houses the Royal Collection.”

      “Marvellous,” said Potty, guiding the children with his long arms as Henry led the way. The throbbing mass of cleaners, who were busy sweeping and polishing the floor, simultaneously parted as Henry walked through the main hall.

      “He seems most enthusiastic. A fine fellow,” Uncle Potty murmured to the twins.

      Monty nodded.

      “Glance upwards, young sports!” Henry called to the Peppers, walking behind him. In so doing, Esmé and Monty both saw a number people in white lab coats dangling from the ceiling. They were also armed with broomsticks and were trying to polish the ceiling. No expense, it seemed, had been spared for this royal opening.

An excerpt from TRICK: Magic Bottle

      Kindly and in your best loud voice, ask for a volunteer from the audience. Show him or her an empty bottle, then drop drop drop your magic wand inside, noting how easily it falls in.

      Your volunteer will gasp “Crikey!” as you turn the bottle upside down and the wand magically remains suspended inside.

      The clue is in a dark-coloured bottle and a pencil eraser that you have in your pocket. After you have shown your volunteer the empty bottle, slip the eraser inside it without anyone seeing – you must practise your sleight of hand skills here. Drop the wand into the bottle and push it into the eraser.

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