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Instead of simply reading about feats of abraca-derring-do, perhaps you'd like to be magicked right now! I've prepared two eerie amazements you can try instantly.
David Avadon
1. Think of any number from one to ten. Now multiply it by nine.
2. If there is more than one digit in your result, add them together so you just have one number. OK.? Now subtract five from the total.
3. Imagine that numbers represent letters in the alphabet, so that one is A, two is B, et cetera. Think of the letter that would go with the number you've arrived at. Do you have the letter?
4. Now imagine you're in Europe, and think of a country that begins with the letter you are thinking of.
5. Whichever country you've chosen, think of the second letter in the name of the country. Now think of any animal that begins with that letter - not a fish or bird, but an animal, and make it exotic.
6. Now think of the color the animal would actually be if you saw it in the wild. If it's an animal that has two colors, like a tiger or a zebra, choose either of the colors. Now picture yourself sitting on the animal.
7. I'll peer through your forehead into your brain, amid all the neurons to just the right synapse. Would you like to know what I see?
1. Find a deck of cards. Any one will do, even if some of the cards are missing.
2. Mix the cards well, then deal nine cards onto the table. Put the rest of the deck aside, you won't be using it.
3. Lift up the nine cards and deal them into three groups with three cards in each group.
4. Lift up any one of the piles and place it on top of either one of the other two piles.
5. That leaves one lonely group of three cards on the table. Lift up that group and peek at the card on the bottom of the pile. Remember it. If there are other people with you, show it to them as well so they can share in the sense of Wow! you'll experience at the denouement of this caper.
6. Now place that group on top of the other so all nine cards are together again.
7. Pick up all the cards and hold them in your left hand.
8. You are going to use the cards in your hand to spell the card you chose, the one you've just memorized. First you're going to spell the name or number of your card. Deal one card onto the table for each letter in the name of your card. For example, if you had a two you would spell T-W-O; if you had a queen, you would spell Q-U-E-E-N. Spell the name now.
9 That leaves a few cards still in your left hand. Place those atop the cards you've just dealt. Now lift up all the cards from the table and hold them in your left hand again.
10. Now spell O-F, dealing a card onto the table for each letter. Again place the cards left in your hand on top of the cards on the table and lift up all the cards.
11. Spell the suit of your card, either H-E-A-R-T-S, C-L-U-B-S, S-P-A-D-E-S or D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S. As before, place the cards left in your hand on top of the cards on the table and lift up all the cards.
12. Now I'd like you to spell my name, Avadon. This time make a row of cards, dealing from left to right, one card for each letter: A-V-A-D-O-N.
13. One of those cards seems to be glowing, irresistibly attracting me. I am beguiled, drawn to the card you dealt for the letter "O," the card fifth from the left. I'm curious to see what it is. Please turn it over.
Amazing!
This puzzling case of Kismet was devised by Jim Steinmeyer. Illustrations by Tom Jorgenson.
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