A Magic Trick

"Thales, you have to see it to understand. I cannot describe it to you, because I don't understand it." Epithetus begged. Personally, I was never fascinated by parlor tricks.

"I have no time for street magicians or actors of any kind." I hoped that would be the end of it.

"I need you to see it, Thales. I need you to explain it to me. I have to know if it's real!" An appeal to my special intellect was a powerful lever of persuasion that Epithetus knew he was pulling. I was helpless.

"Fine. Where does your magician perform?"

"Down by the river. He lives in a cart without wheels. Isn't that charming?"

"It has clearly charmed you beyond explanation. But I will solve this mystery for you and then, hopefully, we can get back to work."

"I promise! I will work all day and all night for a week if you solve the trick."

"I will hold you to that."

Epithetus was a great assistant and an honorable man. He lacked a certain ability for thinking that would prevent him from ever being a peer, or even a student; but he made up for it in the qualities that made him a great friend. He was passionate, open, and endlessly interested in the lives of those around him. I had enjoyed having him in my tutelage and helping me with the farm. His most impressive quality, and the seed of his undoing, was the maintenance of a child-like wonder and optimism that most men abandon for the cynicism of age. He was young at heart, and this bargain was tainted by that fact from the outset. Had I known more about the magician, I never would have agreed to leave the farm.

The path to the river was open and empty. Green hills roll into trickling streams that all feed into one great current. The stone marked path is surrounded by half broken pebbles and the grass sways with the wind. The sun had started its descent but the crickets had not begun to sing. It was sunset when we arrived. What looked like a man, in the distance, sat by a painted cart that read “The Amazing Apollyon.” A small fish rotated over a well-managed fire.

“Apollyon!” Epithetus had waited long enough for the reveal. “We have come to see your tricks.”

The magician looked up from his cooking and gazed at us like we were the meal. “Welcome back and welcome stranger. I am The Amazing Apollyon.” He turned toward me. “I see my reputation precedes me.”

Epithetus was already drooling from the introduction. “Apollyon! You have to show him the trick you showed me! This is Thales. He is a man of reason. He has come to reveal your secrets!”

“My secrets? Well, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” Apollyon paused. “Thales… what makes you so curious about my tricks.”

“Nothing.” I replied bluntly. “Epithetus has insisted I solve this mystery for him.”

“Well…” His smile angled slightly more at the edge of his lips. “Let’s see what power reason has here.” Apollyon pulled a gold coin from his pocket and began to flip it around. “Do you see this coin?” He bit it after asking.

“Yes.” I answered.

“Would you like to test its quality?” He offered the coin in his outstretched arm. I took it from him and pressed it back and forth. “Well, what do you think?”

“It appears normal and solid.”

“May I have it back?” I handed it back to him as he finished the question and he began to flick it up and catch it repeatedly. Toss it side-to-side. Then, he held it up between his index finger and his thumb and asked. “Do you see the coin?”

“Yes.” My tone intentionally revealed the disappointment in what had been shown so far. The magician closed his fist on the coin and then, rapidly, opened his palm towards us.

“Now it is gone!” He shouted announcing the great reveal.

“Turn your hand around.” I had had enough.

“I beg your pardon?”

“It’s trapped between your fingers, isn’t it? It’s just sticking out the back and you are hiding it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His face twisted.

“Then you wouldn’t mind turning your hand around, slowly?”

“… No.” Apollyon was agitated but collected and he twisted his left hand slowly revealing the coin.

“Thales! How did you know?” Epithetus could not contain his excitement.

“It really had nowhere else to go and it had to go somewhere. There is no such thing as magic.” I uttered one sentence too many and Apollyon sprang into action.

“No such thing as magic? We have a non-believer!” He played to an invisible crowd. “Give me one more chance and I guarantee you will believe in magic.”

“That’s a lofty promise magician. Do what you will. It makes no difference to me.” My confidence bled into arrogance as the words came out. Apollyon continued the performance.

“For this next trick I will need a single volunteer, and because you are observing, I will need your help Epithetus.”

“Happy to help Apollyon.” Epithetus walked over and took his hand. Then the dance truly started.

“Epithetus, I do not want you to accept this blindly. For this trick, I am going to make you completely disappear. Do you agree to that?”

“I am ready for anything Apollyon.”

“Then say ‘I agree.’” The magician spoke seriously.

“I agree.” Epithetus complied.

“Excellent.” The way he said it, and the way his face convulsed after, should have been a sign to call it all off. No one has ever looked that evil with even neutral intentions. He ran to his cart and grabbed a large black sheet that was speckled with what looked like stars. It matched the sky that has progressed from twilight to early night. The crickets were singing. A rod ran through one edge and allowed him to hoist the screen easily. “Now Epithetus. Come with me behind this curtain.” He maneuvered it in a line in front of them and Epithetus obliged. “Now on the count of three, I am going to lift this curtain up. Once I do, I want you to count down from three and, when I drop it, you will disappear. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“Thales… are you ready?” He gave me one last look of amused malice.

“Ready.” I answered growing more and more unsure.

“One… two… three.” Apollyon lifted the curtain covering himself, the cart, and Epithetus. Then Epithetus began.

“Three… two… one.” The curtain dropped and they were all gone. The cart, the magician, and Epithetus. Suddenly, I was alone. I stood by the river and looked around desperate for any trace of them. All that remained was the night curtain, the camp fire, and the bones of burnt fish. I never saw Epithetus again, but I do believe in magic.