The Magician

Chapter 1 p.3

In school we are taught of what is and what cannot be. It is made clear that that there is no true surprises in the world; everything is driven by a cause with logical reasoning.

I could remember a cold winter day in science class when Jack, being the wise crack he is decided he was above any physical law. Following our Thursday lesson on forces and motion the teacher decided Friday would be a good day for an experiment. He directed us to the lab and asked us to pair ourselves with a partner. Any given day I would have picked Emilia who took her study seriously and never received a grade bellow a "B+;" but she was too set in her beliefs and believed god to be an appropriate answer to the mysteries of science. The teacher was displeased and had her transferred to room 108 with the students interested in sculpting.

Laying on the lab table was a cup of water, a film canister with a tight-fitting lid, and two Alka-Seltzer® Tablets. Seeing as everyone partnered, I with Jack, the teacher instructed we pour some water in the film canister then drop a tablet in it and close the lid. After completing that he made us shake it and dared us to get the canister to stand again. One by one we all tried, only being disappointed and astonished as the capsule refused to stay up right, leaping up into the air. Frustrated, Jack placed the second tablet in the container and shook it ferociously. He then pushed down on the capsule to detour it from flying. As a result the bottom of the canister erupted and burst under his hand.

The teacher asked if anyone knew why this occurred. Anna had raised her hand and deemed it magic. He laughed then explained "The tablet reacted with the water and formed the gas CO2."

"But why did the film capsule leap," a student asked.

"Thanks to Sir Isaac Newton and laws. When CO2 gas is built up too great and the lid pops off, Newton's First Law is obeyed. The lid is stationary (not moving) but the growing gas pressure under it applies a large enough force to move it from its place. The upside down film canister shoots upward because of Newton's Third Law of Motion. Gas inside the canister escapes and pushes against the table. The table pushes back with the same force sending the canister upwards briefly."

Every thing had to have a push or pull, a distance over time. This is how the world works.

Back as I watched Alfred perform I knew I could no longer live by this rule. With a quick shiver of the hand the magician eradicated my understanding of the world. I was immediately drawn in and eager to explore the governing forces of this new world.

After placing his hand in the sand Alfred the magnificent was able to compel the sand to vibrate, a dance in unison with steady rhythm and intricate foot work.

The audience filled with whisperers. They could not believe what they were seeing, checking with the seat next to them if they saw it too.

To take his act even further Alfred rose all the sand from the stage then had it circle the auditorium.

"Am I seeing this right," I checked in with Emilie. She was jaw-dropped, too intrigued to respond to me.

After returning the sand to the stage he placed both his hands down on the floor in fists then let out a heavy scream of "ah!". Before him on stage the sand mimicked his clenched fists, erecting them self upward then smashing into the center stage. From his rolled up sleeves you could see bulging black veins running up his arms like dark roots bedded in the soul.

The room became quiet, uncertain of what they witnessed and uncertain of his health. His assistant helped him off the floor and fed him a glass of water. As he drank, the veins started to diminish and his breathes became heavy.

"I might have pushed myself too far," he said to his assistant then pushing her away and standing on his own. You would be unaware of the gruesome man we saw just seconds ago.

The whole audience stood up and cheered as he bowed.

He interrupts the applause and states "there is more."