TITLE: Merlock Stones, Magician
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 3, 2012
SUMMARY: One morning not very long ago I heard a furious ringing on my front doorbell, and when I finally ventured to open it someone fell through the door, shut it, and turned the bolt. "Very sorry for the inconvenience," the intruder said brightly, shaking my hand as I stared at him in incomprehension.
oOo
One morning not very long ago I heard a furious ringing on my front doorbell, and when I finally ventured to open it someone fell through the door, shut it, and turned the bolt.
"Very sorry for the inconvenience," the intruder said brightly, shaking my hand as I stared at him in incomprehension. "I just—oh, no." He looked out the window and ducked away. "They're here!" he hissed, crouching down behind the coatrack.
A strange noise was emanating from beyond the door. It sounded almost like an angry crowd of people. At that moment I heard awful bangs on the door and muffled shouts, that sounded like "Hurt his bones! Hurt his bones!"
"What on earth?" I asked. Turning to my unexpected visitor I saw he was looking quite carefully at a painting on my wall. When he saw me looking he hurriedly stuffed his hands into the pockets of his voluminous ivy-green coat with an embarrassed expression. "They're out for blood," he said apologetically.
"What are you talking about?"
"Can't you hear? They're chanting my name."
"Oh! Your name. What is your name?"
He bowed with a flourish. "Merlock Stones, magician."
"And why do I have an angry mob outside my door?" I inquired, staring hard at the man.
"Well..." his eyes slid away from mine. "I believe they took objection to my magic show."
"Ah." I gathered my thoughts together. "Well, I'll show you out the back, then. You should have a decent head start that way."
Merlock Stones blanched. "Oh no. Thank you. But they will certainly find me... there are none so insistent as those who have been disappointed in their expectations."
I shook my head. "What did you do to get them riled up like this?"
"I don't have a clue."
"Surely you must have some idea?"
"They first began to get restless when I did my vanishing act," he said, looking around. "I asked everyone to put their valuables on a table, and watch it every moment. I presently made the objects disappear. After they finished clapping I went to pack up my things, but someone shouted that I was a thief."
"Why did you think they wouldn't come after you?"
"Because, if they had thought to look, they would have found everything right where it was supposed to be! That is the problem with people! They don't use their brains!" He appeared very put out. "If you will just lend me a coat or two of yours I can go out the back in disguise."
"I have a better idea," I said. "Hide in the closet." I opened the door and faced the crowd. 'Excuse me, " I asked. "Why are you banging on my door?"
"That thief stole our valuables!" someone wailed. The man in front tried to push past me, but I blocked the entrance. "If you will just look in your pockets, I believe you will find everything in order."
Slowly, angry shouts changed to muttered apology, and the crowd dispersed. Merlock edged out of the closet and stood beside me. "Brilliant!" he said. "My eternal thanks. I never did catch your name."
"It's John," I said distractedly.
"Goodbye, then," Merlock Stones said with a grin, and handed me back the painting from my wall.
He ducked out the door and was soon lost to sight.