“Here’s how it works: my brave volunteer steps inside the box. I lock him in. I spin the box ten times—very fast.
“A magical force inside the box will send the boy into another dimension. He will disappear!
“I must ask for absolute silence while I do this trick. I need complete concentration.”
For several seconds I heard nothing.
Then the box began to spin. “Whoa!” I cried. My body slammed against the back of the box.
It whirled around faster than any ride in an amusement park. I shut my eyes. I felt so dizzy.
I hope I don’t puke, I thought. That would spoil everything.
The box kept spinning, spinning. How will the trick work? I wondered. How will I disappear?
What if he really sends me into another dimension?
But that’s just talk, I told myself. Magician talk—to entertain the audience.
Isn’t it?
10
The box spun faster and faster. I clutched my stomach. I saw stars dancing before my eyes.
When is it going to stop? I thought. I’m really going to be sick.
Then, suddenly, the bottom of the box dropped out from under me.
“Help!” I cried as I fell down, down, down.
“Whoa!”
I slid down a long wooden chute and landed—thunk!—on some kind of mattress.
I lay on my back in a daze. I heard water dripping somewhere. A dim yellow light flickered from a bare bulb on the ceiling.
I sat up, gazing around me. The room was nearly empty, dark and damp, with a cement floor. I spotted a furnace in the corner.
I’m in the basement of Midnight Mansion, I realized.
I stood up and examined the chute. So that’s how the trick works, I thought. Amaz-O sets up his spinning box over a trap door in the floor of the stage. The bottom of the box drops out, and the volunteer slides down the chute and out of sight. When Amaz-O opens the door of the box—presto!—the volunteer has disappeared. It’s so simple.
But how do I get back upstairs? I wondered. How will Amaz-O make me reappear?
Muffled applause drifted down from overhead. I could hear Amaz-O’s voice, faintly. “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. I must be going now. I’ve got to disappear into the fifth dimension and find that boy! Good night!”
The audience laughed. Then I heard music, an explosion, and loud clapping.
Amaz-O must have made himself disappear, I thought. He’ll probably come sliding down this chute any minute.
I waited.
No one came sliding down the chute.
I waited a few more minutes.
Nothing.
He must have disappeared some other way, I figured.
He’ll show up soon, I thought. He’ll come and let me out of here. And then I’ll ask him how he does that trick with the alarm clock. Maybe he’ll even give me his autograph!
A few minutes later I heard chairs scraping across the floor upstairs and a stampede of footsteps. The show was over. The audience was leaving.
Is somebody going to let me out of here? I wondered. I was getting a little nervous. I sat down on the mattress to wait.
What’s taking Amaz-O so long?
Maybe he wants to wait until everyone is gone, so no one will figure out how he did the trick. That must be it.
I waited a little longer. I heard a rustling, scuttling noise. A rat! I thought, jumping up off the mattress. I stared at the floor, watching for the rat.
The noise stopped.
Maybe it wasn’t a rat, I thought, trying to calm myself. My muscles were all tense. Maybe it was only a mouse. Or a cockroach. Or my imagination.
The drip, drip, drip of the water somewhere in the basement was starting to drive me crazy. Drip, drip, drip. Like some kind of water torture.
Where is Amaz-O? When is he going to let me out of here?
I listened for signs of life upstairs. Nothing. Everything was silent up there now.
Okay, I said to myself. Everyone is gone. You can let me out now, Amaz-O.
I listened hard. I didn’t hear anyone in the building.
What if Amaz-O is gone, too? I thought, panicking. What if he forgot about me and left me here?
I’ve got to find a way out myself, I decided.
I crept across the cement floor, keeping an eye out for rats.
It sure is dark down here, I thought.
I drifted toward the dripping sound and found myself in a room with a big laundry sink. I crossed the laundry room. On the other side I found a steep flight of steps leading to a door at the top.
Aha, I thought, feeling better now. A way out.
I climbed the rickety stairs. I reached for the doorknob and pushed.
The door didn’t open. I turned the knob again and pulled.
Nothing.
The door was locked!
I rattled the door as hard as I could. I pounded on it with my fists.
“Let me out of here!” I cried. “Can anyone hear me?
“Let me out of here!”
11
“Hey!” I shouted. I rattled the door. “Somebody! Get me out of here!”
How could Amaz-O do this? I thought angrily. How could he forget all about me like this?
He wouldn’t lock me in the basement on purpose—would he?
No, I told myself. Why would he want to do that?
It’s all just a big mistake.
I shook the door again. It loosened a little. I pushed on it, and it opened a crack.
The door was bolted from the outside with a metal hook. But the hook wasn’t secure.
I’ll bet I can break the door open, I realized.
I backed partway down the stairs. Then I ran to the top and threw myself against the door.
“Ow!” I grunted. The door loosened a little more. But it didn’t open. And now my shoulder ached.
Then I thought the unthinkable. I couldn’t believe I was thinking this—but I sure wished Ginny were with me.
She could’ve karate-kicked through that door in about five seconds. I know, because she’s kicked her way into my bedroom lots of times.
Where is Ginny, anyway? I thought. She must be outside in the parking lot, waiting for me.
I had to try again. I rammed my shoulder against the door as hard as I could.
Bang! The hook broke, and the door flew open.
Excellent, I thought, rubbing my shoulder. I’m out of that horrible basement at last.
But where am I now?
A long, dark corridor.
“Hello?” I called. No answer. “Hello?”
Where is everybody? I wondered. Shouldn’t there be stagehands bustling around or something?
I tiptoed down the hall. The place appeared deserted.
How could they have left me down in the basement like that? I thought angrily. How could they leave me here alone—and just go home?
At the end of the hall I saw a sliver of light. It came from under a door.
Someone’s still here, I realized. Maybe it’s Amaz-O!
I crept down the hall. The door had a star on it. It must be Amaz-O’s dressing room! I thought. This is fantastic! I’m alone in Midnight Mansion with the great Amaz-O! We’ll probably stay up all night talking about magic. If I could get him to show me a few of his secrets…
I felt so excited and nervous my hands shook. I almost forgot about being left in the basement.
That was just a mistake, I thought. A stagehand forgot to come get me. Amaz-O must have thought I was all right. He’ll probably be really glad to see me.
I stared at the star on the door. What should I do? I wondered. Should I knock? Should I call out his name?
I’ll knock, I decided. I stepped to the door. Thunk! I tripped over something propped against the wall. A large black case with PROPERTY OF AMAZ-O written on the side.
Wow, I thought, running my fingers along the gold letters. This must be Amaz-O’s magic kit! I’m touching it with my
own hands!
I turned back to the door. I was about to meet my idol, my all-time hero. It was the biggest moment of my life.
I reached for the door. My hand trembled. I knocked lightly.
I waited.
Maybe he didn’t hear me, I thought. I knocked again, harder this time.
Nothing.
“Hello?” I called softly, peeking into the room. Amaz-O’s big white rabbit perched on the couch.
Amaz-O sat on a chair across from the rabbit. I could see his legs.
“Hello?” I called again. “It’s me. From the disappearing act. Can I come in?”
I paused at the door. Amaz-O didn’t answer me. Suddenly the door slammed shut in my face!
“Hey!” I cried in surprise.
A voice growled at me from the other side. “Beat it!”
“But—I’m your biggest fan! I’d just like to shake hands—”
“Beat it!” the voice snarled again. “Beat it, punk!”
12
Punk? Punk?
Did the great Amaz-O call me a punk?
I couldn’t believe it. I stood staring at the star on the door in shock.
How could Amaz-O talk to me this way? After I volunteered for his disappearing trick—and he left me locked in the basement!
What’s his problem, anyway?
For a few seconds I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. My hero had called me a punk. The greatest magician in the world—and he turned out to be a big fat jerk!
Okay, so he wasn’t fat. But he was the biggest jerk I’d ever met in my whole life.
I hung my head and turned away from the door to leave. Then I saw it again—the big black case.
Amaz-O’s magic kit.
Without thinking, I grabbed the case and ran.
It was heavy and awkward, but I lugged it down the hall as quickly and quietly as I could.
Why am I doing this? I wondered as I burst into the stage area.
I’m still not sure why I did it. I’d gone through so much trouble to get to the show—sneaking out of the house to meet Amaz-O. And then he was so mean to me. Maybe I wanted to get back at him.
It doesn’t matter why I did it. I did it. I stole Amaz-O’s magic tricks.
In the back of my mind, I knew I was headed for trouble.
I paused near the stage. Was Amaz-O following me? I listened.
Not a sound. No one coming. I swallowed hard and started running again.
I passed under the chandelier in the lobby and burst through the front door. I hope Amaz-O was the last person in the club, I thought. I hope there aren’t any guards lurking around.
I didn’t have time to check. I dragged the case across the gravel parking lot toward my bike.
Almost there, I told myself, panting. The parking lot was empty now. The floodlights that lit up the mansion were off. The old house lay hidden in darkness.
It must be really late, I thought. I’d better hurry home.
My bike stood where I’d left it, leaning against a rail.
I was reaching for the handlebars when a voice called “Stop!”
I froze.
I knew I was caught.
13
I heard heavy footsteps crunch toward me across the gravel parking lot.
Here they come, I thought. They’ve caught me red-handed with Amaz-O’s bag. They’ll probably arrest me.
“Where were you?” the voice called.
Ginny! I’d completely forgotten about her. Oops.
“Why are you leaving without me?” she demanded.
“Wh-why?” I stammered. What could I say? I didn’t want to admit I’d forgotten all about her. “I-I wasn’t leaving without you. I was looking for you. Where have you been?”
“Looking for you, Tim,” she snapped. “What happened to you? You disappeared—and you never came back!”
“It’s a long story,” I said.
She leaned forward to read the lettering on Amaz-O’s black case. “‘Property of Amaz-O.’ Where did you get that?”
“He gave it to me,” I lied. “Wasn’t that nice of him?”
She reached out to open the clasp that held the case shut. “Cool. What’s inside?”
I stopped her hand. “I’ll show it to you when we get home. It’s filled with tricks. Amaz-O said I could keep it. He was grateful to me for being such a good sport in the disappearing act.”
Ginny looked puzzled. “If Amaz-O gave you that case,” she began, “why are those guards running this way?”
I glanced toward the mansion. Two guards charged across the parking lot, waving flashlights. Uh-oh.
I grabbed the case. “Let’s get out of here!” I cried. “Quick—get on your bike. Let’s ride!”
“I can’t!” Ginny cried.
“Huh? Why not?”
“My bike is gone!”
14
I jumped on my bike. “Too bad!” I cried. “See you at home!”
“Tim!” Ginny wailed. “You can’t leave me here!”
I would have left her there if I could. She can take care of herself. But I knew Mom and Dad would kill me.
Besides, when the guards caught her, she’d tell on me. I’d still get in trouble.
I sat on my bike, watching the guards run right for us. Then I spotted her bike on the edge of the parking lot. “It’s over there!” I told her. “Hurry!”
She raced to her bike. I balanced the case on top of my handlebars. It wasn’t easy.
“Stop!” a guard yelled. Ginny and I sped out of the parking lot and down the dark street.
“Hey—stop!” the guards shouted. The beams of their flashlights blinded me for a second. I pedaled as hard as I could. Ginny darted ahead of me.
I clutched the black case with one hand and steered with the other. The case slowed me down. The guards were gaining on us. At the first corner I zoomed left. Ginny followed.
I glanced back. The guards had stopped running. One of them bent over, panting.
“They’ll never catch us now!” Ginny shouted. We biked home as fast as we could. The streets were empty and really dark. The lights were out in most of the houses.
It’s after midnight, I realized. Please let Mom and Dad be asleep. If they catch us, they’ll ground us till we’re thirty-five! I’d almost rather be arrested.
But then, if I got arrested, Mom and Dad would still ground me.
We braked at our street and walked our bikes into the driveway.
“Sshhh,” Ginny whispered.
“Sshhh yourself,” I whispered back.
We parked the bikes in the garage. It was hard to see without the lights on. On the way into the house, Ginny tripped over the lawn mower.
“Ow!” she yelped.
“Quiet!” I snapped.
We both froze. Did Mom and Dad hear us?
Silence. “I think it’s okay,” I whispered.
“That hurt,” Ginny whined.
“Ssshhhh!”
We sneaked into the house. “I’ll hide the case in my room,” I whispered.
“I want to look at it now,” Ginny protested.
I shook my head. “It’s mine.”
“No, it’s not. You have to share it with me.”
“Amaz-O gave it to me,” I insisted, even though it wasn’t exactly true.
“I’m going to tell Mom and Dad,” Ginny threatened. “I’ll tell them you woke me up and forced me to go with you to Midnight Mansion.”
“You little brat!” I cried angrily. Stupid Ginny. “Okay, I’ll share it with you.”
“Promise?”
“If you promise not to tell Mom and Dad.”
“I promise. But you can’t keep the case in your room. It’s both of ours now.”
I sighed. “All right. I’ll hide it in the attic. Okay?”
She nodded.
“But we won’t touch it until Saturday,” I said. “On Saturday, we’ll have plenty of time to try everything out and do it right. Deal?”
“Deal.
On Saturday we’ll both open the case, at the same time, together.”
“Right. Now go to bed. I’ll sneak it up to the attic.”
We tried to be careful going up the creaky stairs. It took us about ten minutes. At the top I paused to listen for sounds from Mom and Dad’s room.
“Everything is okay,” Ginny whispered. “Dad is snoring.”
She crept into her room and shut the door. I tiptoed up to the attic, lugging the black case.
I shut the attic door and switched on the light. Where can I hide this? I wondered, gazing around at all the junk. I stepped over piles of old magazines. In one corner sat my old toy chest.
Perfect, I thought, opening the chest. I pulled out a toy school bus and a couple of trucks to make room for the case.
What’s in here, anyway? I wondered as I hefted Amaz-O’s case. I held Amaz-O’s magic kit in my hands. How could I go to sleep without seeing what’s in it? How could I wait two whole days until Saturday?
Maybe I’ll take a little peek inside, I thought. Just a quick one. Then I’ll go to bed.
I set the case on the floor. My hands trembled as I fumbled with the clasp.
Here goes, I thought, tugging open the clasp. I pulled the case open—
And it blew up in my face!
15
I fell over backwards. I lay sprawled on the floor, covering my eyes.
What happened?
Am I dead?
I opened my eyes. I squeezed my arms. I grabbed my chest.
I’m okay, I realized.
I sat up. The case sat on the floor. No signs of an explosion.
Carefully I crawled over to the case. I could have sworn it had blown up. But I didn’t see anything that would blow up.
Then, taped to the inside of the top flap, I saw a little metal disk. I tapped it. It made a muffled roar.
I examined the metal disk. It was an electronic chip. It made an explosion sound effect when I shook it or tapped it.
Just one of Amaz-O’s tricks.
What else is in here? I wondered.
I pulled out all kinds of cool stuff. A pair of trick handcuffs. A pocket watch for hypnotizing people. Three different decks of trick cards. A rope. And a long chain of silk scarves tied together.