Chapter 47 45

□□□ Dear audience, the last show is finally about to start. Now it's time to present the greatest and most controversial illusion of all: the infamous burning mirror. In this weekend's performance, you have seen the performance by Harry.Houdini, P. T．Selby and Howard.The illusion created by masters such as Teuston.However, none of them have attempted anything like a burning mirror. Our performers will be trapped in a hellish space, surrounded by relentless approaching flames, the only escape door is a small exit, but it is blocked and guarded by a wall of fire. In other words, this exit may be impossible to escape at all.Maybe it's just an illusion.

My venerable audience, I must first warn you that this trick was last performed three years ago, and it turned out to be a tragedy.I know because I was there at the time. So, please, for your own sake, it is best to take a moment to observe this tent and think about what to do when disaster strikes. No, it may be too late to think now.Perhaps the most important thing for you to do at this time is to pray to God immediately. □□□ Moorlake had walked into Central Park, standing under a tree about fifty meters away from the brightly lit tent of the Circus of Fantastic Circus.He was bearded again, in jogging attire and a turtleneck sweater, a tuft of sweat-drenched blond hair peeking out from under a baseball cap emblazoned with the Bank of Manhattan 10K.The sweat on his face was from his water bottle, and the purpose of the faux pas was to create a sense of who he was: he was an executive at a major bank, jogging in the park on a Sunday night.Now, he happened to be resting and panting under the tree, and he was absent-mindedly looking at the circus tent not far away.

Everything is perfect and natural. He found himself unusually calm now.The sense of composure reminded him of the Hawsbury Circus fire in Ohio, of the time before the signs of disaster were apparent.It stands to reason that he should feel very surprised, surprised that he is almost numb, surprised that his emotions have completely fallen into a coma.But, he didn't, and now he only felt those similar things, listening to the music, listening to the bass effect amplified by the tense tent.He heard the same spreading applause, laughter, and gasps of admiration. During his years on stage, he rarely suffered from stage fright.When you are fully proficient at each step and have been fully rehearsed beforehand, then what is there to be nervous about?That's exactly what happened to him.Everything had been carefully planned, and he knew the show would run as planned.

Looking at the tent that was about to disappear on the earth in a few minutes, he noticed two figures coming out of the tent and passing the business gate that he had just driven the ambulance in.They were a man and a woman, and they were talking in whispers, almost pressing their mouths to each other's ears, so as to drown out the loud music coming from the tent. Very good!One of those people was Kadeski.He was still worried just now, wondering if the producer would be on set when the gas went off.He had seen the other woman before, and she appeared in Lincoln.The girl with reddish-purple hair in Rhyme's place.

□□□ i am illusionist □□□ This is what you said, Moorek laughed secretly in his heart. Kadeski pointed to the tent, and they walked in the direction he was looking.Moorlake reckoned that they were going within ten feet of the ambulance.He checked his watch.It's almost time. □□□ Now, my dear friends, my most beloved viewers □□□ At about nine o'clock sharp, a foamy flame shot from the door into the tent.In a short time, the flames engulfed the stands, spectators and some decorations, and the shadow of the flames quickly spread across the brightly colored tents.The music was suddenly interrupted, replaced by screams, and black smoke coiled up from the top of the tent.He leaned forward, mesmerized by the terrifying sight.

More smoke, louder screams. He had to work hard not to let any unnatural smile come across his face.He said a prayer of thanks he didn't believe in any particular deity, so he dedicated it to the late Harry.Houdini, his idol, the basis on which he named himself, is also the highest example of magicians. The sight of the circus tent frightened the people who stayed in this corner of the park like Morelake. Some of them immediately rushed to participate in the rescue, while some just stood there dumbfounded.Moorlake waited for a few more minutes, but he also knew that hundreds of police officers would rush into the park soon, so he showed a worried expression, while pretending to call the fire brigade with his mobile phone to report the fire, while calling Walk on the sidewalk outside the park.Even so, he couldn't help but stop again.He turned his head and saw that the huge banner in front of the tent had been half covered by the thick smoke.One of the banners is a masked Alechino, also known as Harrogan, who shows his hands outstretched to the audience, showing his empty palms.

□□□ See, my venerable audience, I have nothing in my hands. □□□ But, like all sleight-of-hand performers, he still holds something in his hand, using a skilled backhand hiding technique to hide that object where the audience cannot see it.And only Moorek knew what that thing was. Hidden in the hands of the shy Harrogan was death.