Chapter 8

Sanjay polished off a second plastic bottle of cold green tea we’d purchased from a vending machine and threw it into a trashcan. “The ninja,” he said, “has been spying on Akira and his assistant, Yako. And once I arrived last week, he began following me too.”

“Why?” I looked carefully around the more central part of Arashiyama that we’d made our way to on foot. I spotted the raised platform of a train station in the distance, but no ninjas were in sight.

“It appears someone is attempting to steal Akira’s secrets. Or worse.”

“Worse? You mean trying to kill him with those ninja weapons?”

“No. Trying to expose Akira as a fraud.”

“He is a fraud,” I said. “His whole act is premised on him possessing supernatural powers.”

“He’s a great magician and showman. In that sense, he’s not a fraud.”

I stared at my friend in disbelief. “You idolize Houdini and hate the charlatans who claim to perform real miracles. Frauds like Akira.”

“It’s more complicated than that.”

“Then please explain it to me. I don’t get it. You’re here in Japan for your Japanese debut as a magician, made possible by Akira, Japan’s most famous magician. Akira invited you both because you’re somewhat famous—”

Sanjay cleared his throat. I internally rolled my eyes.

“Right, because you’re world famous,” I corrected, but couldn’t help adding, “in the magic world. And because Akira’s big summer show is based around the Indian Rope Trick, therefore an Indian theme. So he thought getting the famous Hindi Houdini would be a great addition to warm up the crowd and get them in the mood for his grand illusion, which will be witnessed by a lucky few hundred people and also televised to millions. I get all that. What I don’t understand is why you said yes.”

“My theater—”

“Is a poor excuse. There are plenty of magicians you could work for who don’t claim to possess fake powers. And who don’t have strange men dressed as ninjas following them around.”

Sanjay’s lips twitched. “If you’d seen some of his enthusiastic fans, you’d know the spying ninja is one of the least strange among them. Anyway, the man dressed as a ninja, who I really hope isn’t Hiro, probably thinks I know the secret of how the trick is done. But I don’t. Akira never tells anyone how his illusions are performed.”

“That’s what’s especially weird about this whole situation. Akira is still keeping you in the dark. I thought you signed a nondisclosure agreement so he wouldn’t have to keep it a secret from you.”

“It’s not such a strange thing. The contract was just a precaution in case I accidentally saw anything I shouldn’t. Magicians are very guarded with their illusions. Especially in this case. You have to understand, this illusion is different than all others. The Indian Rope Trick is considered the world’s greatest illusion.”

“Tamarind and I read up on it. It sounds pretty cool. Why haven’t you done it? Too cliché?”

“No. Because it’s impossible.”

“That’s what you said before we were so rudely interrupted by your ninja friend. But Akira is going to do it, so I know you’re just being dramatic.”

“I meant what I said. It goes against all the laws of physics and is truly not possible to do as it’s been described—not unless real magic exists, as Akira claims.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“No. And neither does Akira. It’s only his public persona. Which is very annoying.” Sanjay breathed deeply. It seemed to calm him, because he grinned at me. “Do you want to hear the story behind the Indian Rope Trick? It’s big on history, so you’ll love it. Hang on.” Sanjay pulled his cell phone from what looked like thin air but must have been a pocket. Sleight of hand was second nature to him. He probably hadn’t realized he’d done it.

A range of emotions flickered across his face. I knew my best friend well enough to read most of his facial expressions, but not this time. After recognizing fear and anger, I couldn’t gauge the emotion he landed on.

“We have to leave,” he said. The phone was nowhere in sight. “There’s a change of plans.”

“What’s happened?”

“Not only does Hiro want to expose Akira as a fraud. He’s stooped to something far worse. Sabotage.”

I realized, then, the emotion that had flickered across Sanjay’s face. He was terrified.