Chapter 1

The audience watched the magician mesmerized by his latest illusion. The Frenchman smiled as he performed the feats of magic for them. Los Angeles was only one stop on the way to fame and fortune...Senor Foucard held the golden object and pulled it apart. The audience murmured as the object burst into flames. The audience continued to clap as the tall well-dressed man held the flaming gold halves up into the air and smiled as he stood on the tavern stage.

"Bravo, Señor! Bravo," Sergeant Mendoza clapped while Victoria Escalante looked on skeptically.

"You really don't believe in all of this, Sergeant?"

"The man is a genius, Senorita Victoria! A real artist! You know how much I loved the circus. The clowns...the magic. All of it!"

"It is just one of his tricks, Mendoza! Don't you see that?" The taverness continued to watch as the magician performed another feat.

The audience watched as Foucard placed the halves on a table behind him. The man obviously a magician, faced the crowd and held up a vial of clear water. "Water. Our earth is half submerged by it."

Diego and Don Alejandro watched with interest as he performed the trick. "Actually, seventy percent of the earth is under the surface of the water," the de la Vega heir whispered to his father.

Foucard glared at Diego for his remarks although they were very accurate. "But this water is unlike any you will ever see….A dead bird, found just today by Sergeant Mendoza and myself," the magician placed the limp, white bird on the table, "For those who believe that death is everlasting, you are about to be proven wrong. Perhaps the beautiful lady could lend her graceful hand to my effort?"

Victoria took the gentleman's proffered hand and followed him to the stage as Diego, Don Alejandro, and everyone else clapped loudly. "Now, if you would so kindly, Señorita, pour some water from the vial onto the bird." The tavern owner sprinkled some of it on the bird's face. To the astonishment of the crowd, the bird started to move. The magician poked at it as it started flapping its wings and chirping. Foucard lifted the bird into the air. The bird quickly while perched itself on the magician's finger. The crowd cheered its approval as the magician smiled at his assistant. "Thank you, Señorita," he said as he lifted her hand to his lips…

"Really quite spectacular," Don Alejandro whispered to his son.

"He must have switched birds somehow. There must be some explanation, Father."

"Nonsense, son. His hands never touched it, Diego."

"Do we still have an unbeliever," Foucard said as he approached the young caballero and his father.

"Everything can be explained scientifically, of course," Diego stated, "I don't believe the bird was actually dead. Perhaps, it had too much wine or it was merely unconscious, perhaps."

"O ye of little faith. Do you doubt my abilities?"

"I believe there is a scientific explanation for it...I am not a believer in the art of illusion, Senor," the taller man said apologetically.

"Señor Skeptical, perhaps you would like to help me in my next trick," the magician challenged, "as part of your research, of course. This way, por favor."

A reluctant Diego got to his feet and joined the magician on stage as Victoria clapped and smiled at Diego. The caballero gave a little bow once he walked onto the stage. The magician lifted the blade back up the small paneled guillotine. "Put your hand through there." Diego stuck his left hand into the hole. The magician placed a carrot into a smaller hole to the right of Diego's hand.

Victoria looked on worriedly as does Don Alejandro and the rest of the audience. The magician pushed down the blade and the carrot is cut in two but Diego's hand is not severed. Mendoza and Don Alejandro sighed with relief as Victoria looked on impressed. The magician removed the front of the panel to reveal that the blade is intact and should have cut off Diego's hand as people clap and cheer…

"So what is the secret of the magician this time, Señor Skeptical?"

"Two different blades?"

"I must say, you are quite impressive. Almost as impressive as this fine timepiece." Foucard pulled a pocket watch out of his jacket as Diego patted his waistband and realized the watch must be his. "I believe this belongs to you. Thank you, Señor."

Diego bowed to the magician then to the crowd before he walked off the stage and returned to his seat. I will concede the second trick but the first one...that I do not believe...

"Now if you could please donate whatever you can before I must disappear from your pueblo," the magician handed a brown top hat to Mendoza who makes a big show of placing a coin in the hat. The magician walked past Mendoza and over to Victoria. "Your assistance was appreciated, Señorita as well as your beauty."

Diego looked on with interest and a touch of jealousy as Foucard lifted Victoria's hand to his lips once more…

The magician showed the audience his empty hands and then produced a bouquet of cloth flowers…"A beautiful bouquet for a beautiful lady," he smiled as he presented the smiling senorita with the bouquet. Victoria was charmed by the simple gesture it seemed.

"Gracias, Senor," she smiled, "The flowers are beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you," Foucard replied as a jealous Diego watched with interest. There is no reason for me to be jealous...Is there?