Chapter 14

The Great Gilead's Traveling Magic Show was so successful in its time that it had been to every state in the nation including a Hawaiian event in which the Great Gilead–once proclaimed by newspapers to be second only to Houdini–escaped from the mouth of an active volcano while dangling handcuffed upside-down from the chain of a hovering helicopter (which accounted for his lack of eyebrows, thereafter).

But since the old man–who had idolized the magician since his youth–had purchased tickets to a show in Albuquerque–where he saw a woman sawed in half and her legs literally walk off the stage while she watched, and also, where he swiped the magic wand-looking pen–the Great Gilead and his magic show had mysteriously, or perhaps magically dissappeared from the public eye.

What the old man did find back in Albuquerque, was a small magic shop, named The House of Magic where locals said the Great Gilead had retired since falling from a three-story high crane which left him paralyzed from the waist down. 

What an honor it would be to meet him in person! thought the old man, despite the embarrassment of having to confess his thievery. 

Upon entering the magic shop and noticing no one but himself on the store floor, the old man browsed for a bit...

The shop had every parlor trick, gizmo and gadget invented to deceive and amaze from top hats and cards to saw boxes and levitation platforms. On the walls were awards, keys to cities, and pictures of the once famous illusionist smiling triumphantly at adoring fans next to the contraptions he had escaped from. 

"Good afternoon!" said a voice, startling the old man.

He turned to see a young suited gentleman carrying a large rectangular object in his hands covered in a purple cloth. 

Before the old man could even say hello, the young man continued with a gleam of bedazzlement in his eye,"Do you want money to magically appear in your cash register?"  Again, not waiting for a response, the salesman set the object he was carrying against a nearby shelf opposite the old man and pulled off the covering,"Behold, The Disappearing Mirror!"

A tiny flash of light coming from what appeared to be an ordinary full length mirror emphasized the flashy introduction.


"But I don't even work-"began the old man.


"Come stand in front of it and watch yourself disappear,"interrupted the salesman.


The old man obeyed and saw the wrinkled sack of bones refected in front of him. "It's accurate,"he concluded.

"And now,"said the salesman wielding a wand,"I shall use a cliche–no scripted magic words are required as stated by the manufacturer–and so, Abracadabra-Presto!!"

As silly as it seemed, it worked! For in an instant the image of the old man vanished from the reflection in front of him.


"Well, now that is something! How does it work?" asked the old man.


The salesman looked around as if guarding a secret,"The mirror is actually a camera,"he whispered.


"High resolution?"


"The highest. But keep it on the down low. When the cover comes off, a picture is taken of the empty space with the button on this wand and is stored inside. And then, like magic, it becomes a mirror. Once the person is standing in front you, say the magic words, push the button, and it shows the reflection which, (whispering) is actually the photo with the person missing."

"It really is impressive,"said the old man.


"So, how many would you like to take?"


"Ten-if I worked here. But as I have been trying to tell you, I am just a patron here myself."

Then the salesman's phone rang. "What honey? The entire pool?!-Who punctured–? The doghouse floated away–you can't be serious?! "began the salesman on the phone with an obvious crisis on hand.

 Then he put his hand over the phone and handed the wand to the old man,"Do you mind watching this-I'll be right back?"

"I'll try not to let it dissappear,"said the old man.


Shortly after the salesman departed, the old man made encountered another old man wheeling down the aisle with a slight drunken weave.

"Is that you, the Great Gilead!?"asked the old man. 
For he barely recognized his once beaming face that had slid to his chin and his pencil sharp moustache that had become a scribbly beard.

The man in the chair laughed and shook his head at the floor, then he looked up with bloodshot eyes and liquored breath and slurred, "What do you want?!"

"Well, first it is a great honor to meet you, sir,"said the old man.


"Well it may have been at one time but not any more,"said Gilead.


"But you were second only to Houdini."


"Do you remember who was second to Babe Ruth's home run record? Or second to Bruce Jenner's Olympic Decathlon? Or second to anything?"


The old man sighed. Then he got out the pen. "No, but I can remember–secondly–that I need to return this wand-ish writing utensil to you which I accidentally stole long ago."

"Ahh yes, I remember this gimmick,"said the Gilead, grabbing it and snapping it in two,"I don't believe in accidents...sir!"

"Neither do I anymore,"said the old man staring at Gilead's knees,"So you don't think that–"


"The man driving the crane was paid off by a third rate Las Vegas mob-funded act. They tried to take me out of the game; out of the limelight I worked years for. And they won."

"So you've given up, then? Surely, you can still perform-"


"Shirley who?" chuckled Gilead,"Well, I do have one trick left: a disappearing act."

"Oh I love those,"said the old man encouragingly,"May I watch?"


"Actually-you may be my assistant."


"T'would be an honor, sir,"said the old man.

Then he followed the Great Gilead into the back storage room of the magic shop. A large pipe ran thru the center of the ceiling. Boxes–many of booze– crowed the room. A furnace sat in one corner. On the opposite wall from him, the old man noticed a framed portrait of Christ atop some boxes. 


"You're a Christian, I presume?"asked the old man.


"Mother was...God answers prayers, she said. Never does mine."

"What do you pray for?"


"That God will show me a sign or teach me how to be happy again. Is that too much to ask?"

"No-I'm beginning to think that too much is His specialty."


"Well let's get on with it. Here,"said Gilead with a thick rope in hand,"loop this around that pipe and tie off this end around the leg of that furnace hot water heater. You know your knots, I presume?"

"I was a boy scout. I'll double hitch it." The old man did as was told.

"So was I,"said Gilead working the other end of the rope,"You know there was only one knot they would never teach me. So I had to learn it myself."


"Which one was that?"


"This one,"said Gilead presenting the tied rope,"the hangman's knot."


The old man swallowed hard, as he saw Gilead drape the noose around his neck and realized what he was about to be an accomplice to.

"Now then, if you will kick this chair out from under me, you sir–my last adoring fan–shall witness the GREATEST DISAPPEARING ACT EVER OF THE NOT–SO–GREAT GILEAD GUNTHER!!" shouted the drunken man.


"Wait!"said the old man as words flooded into his mouth," A magic act cannot rightly be performed without a magic wand now can it?"

"Rightly so."

"And one is hardly an audience, would you agree?"

"This is a private show."

"Well, at the very least you should witness your own last magic act. And I know just where a nice long mirror is and a magic wand as well."

And with that, the old man rushed into the main part of the store and picked up the Magic Disappearing Mirror and wand still abandoned by the domestically distracted salesman.


"Where are you-?"said the confused magician, removing the noose and wheeling after him,"I can't do this alone!"

The old man brought the mirror back into the storage room, set it up opposite the far wall and snapped a picture before Gilead could catch up to him.


"Ok-now then, let's get on with it," said the old man wheeling Gilead in front of the mirror and putting the noose back around his neck,"Now look into the mirror and I'll wave this magic wand and say the magic words and kick the chair out from under you."


Gilead looked at his pitiful reflection and then turned away.


"Please,"said the old man,"be respectful of the performer."


"Very well,"said Gilead turning back to his painful reflection.


Then the old man waved the wand and, pushing the button, pronounced some meaningless magic words.

He then cocked a leg back ready to kick out the wheelchair...


"Wait!"cried Gilead,"Wait!" He pointed to the mirror,"I am already gone. There's no one–"

"But there is,"contested the old man looking into the mirror,"Look closer, Gilead. Look and you will find the sign, the answer to your prayer."

Then Gilead saw the image of Christ in the mirror and began to sob,"How did you do–?"

"I didn't. This represents the greatest disappearing act ever performed by Him and the key to happiness: that a man disappears until His image is all that is seen. For His name is The Magician."

Then Gilead wept and wept, for the joy in his heart had magically spilled out, and said,"And the Balm of Gilead."

And then the old man left his address, returned the mirror to the salesman, and went on his way...