The Magician stepped onto the stage and looked at the class. “It’s time for a quiz! Who remembers what this outline on the front of the box is? Yes- Cinny, I believe?”
“Magician, sir, it’s a strong psychological indicator.” The girl smiled, and the Magician responded in kind.
“Good- can you tell us what that means?”
“Um, it makes the brain think that whatever’s inside is still in the same place- like with the zig-zag wand you showed us!”
“Exactly. Are there any other psychological indicators you can remember?”
“Um- black outlines to make a box look smaller? But this one doesn’t have any!”
“Precisely, Cinny. Because the box your teacher is in is already very small. Do you think she has a lot of room to move inside there?”
The girl thought for a moment. “Well, if the outline’s there, it implies she should, because the outline is supposed to distract us from the possibility…”
“Oh!” Another student piped up. “Sometimes an outline actually does show where things are, because, of course, she doesn’t have much space!”
“True, Rachit- so let’s give Miss Luna even less room to move around!” The Magician took a blade from Skye, and slid it through the front of the box.
“Eeek!” The teacher’s voice came from within. The Magician turned the box to the side and stepped back, allowing the class to see the blade had penetrated the whole way through. They watched as he pushed another blade in, then turned the box to show them emerging from the back. The outline indicated the poor volunteer would have been practically decapitated.
“Class- think she’s moved around any? If not- how’s she avoiding the blades?”
One boy called out, “Can I stick a blade through?!”
“Billy, don’t think I didn’t hear you!” Miss Luna called out sternly from inside the box.
There was laughter, then some commotion- “How’s she still in there?!” Called out another boy.
“The box is bigger than it looks! She’s leaning to the side!”
“Put in another blade!”
The Magician laughed. “I thought you liked your teacher! Okay- let’s show you she can’t be on the left side of the box.”
The teacher’s legs wiggled as the Magician slid a third blade through the box, the sharp, cold steel taking up most of the space on one side.
“Okay, she’s on the right side!”
The Magician chuckled, and slid a fourth blade into the box, taking up most of the remaining room. The class cheered, while Skye brought out another blade.
“And just in case you think she’s between all of these… Skye, why don’t you do the honors?”
Skye pushed the wide blade through the top of the box, nearly bisecting it vertically.
To be continued...