Houdini's Last Trick (The Burdens Trilogy) by David Khalaf Read Free Book Online Page A

guy.”
    Mayer sat down behind his enormous desk. His chair was raised so that he’d sit a good six inches higher than anyone in the room. Houdini had the sense of visiting a king at his court.
    “I like you, Houdini, I do. You’re good wholesome fun. Daring and dangerous, sure, but none of that sex and drugs and new-fangled jazz they’re playing in the seedy night clubs. You’re family entertainment.”
    The magician gave a perfunctory smile. Like so many others before him, Mayer assumed Houdini was a prude because he didn’t drink, never cursed publicly, and was solidly married. But the magician had grown up in vaudeville, one of the bawdiest cultures in America. Mayer would be shocked to know the kind of people Houdini counted as friends.
    “Let’s get down to business,” Mayer said. “I’ve got a job for you.”
    He said it as if Houdini were an out-of-work juggling clown. But Houdini paid him no heed. Whatever movie Mayer wanted him to be in, Houdini had no intention of actually doing it.
    The magician had remembered Mayer’s telegram as he was making his way out West. He was hoping Mayer would bankroll his visit there, since he had no money and no way to get a wire transfer with Bess hiding in their cabin. Besides, he was afraid someone might be watching his accounts.
    All Houdini had to do was to listen to Mayer’s pitch, feign interest in the project, and ask for a week to think about it. Mayer would put him up in studio housing and, if he was lucky, offer him a per diem for food. He hadn’t eaten in nearly two days.
    “I want you to perform an escape,” Mayer said.
    “What’s the movie?” Houdini asked. “And who’s in it?”
    “There’s no movie,” Mayer said. “I want this to be a live stunt. In front of a massive crowd.”
    “To promote a movie?”
    Mayer winked and leaned in conspiratorially.
    “Actually, to downplay a movie.”
    The man’s eyes twinkled with a kind of spiteful glee.
    “Some independent studio is releasing a film they hope will save their crumbling business. It’s the most expensive film of the decade. If it bombs, the whole studio will go under.”
    Mayer clenched his mouth but Houdini realized the man was trying to suppress a smile.
    “Mr. Mayer, are you afraid of competition from an underdog?”
    “I’m afraid of actors who think they’re producers,” Mayer said. “Just because they’ve been in a few movies, they now think they can make them.”
    He sighed theatrically and looked out the window behind him.
    “These ragtag companies are going to ruin the studio model we’ve worked hard to establish. Their ‘independent’ films could bring down the industry. They could ruin the economy of Los Angeles. The whole thing is very…un-American.”
    To Houdini, it sounded like the most American thing imaginable.
    “And what does this have to do with me?”
    “The film is called The Thief of Baghdad and it’s showing at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre. I want you to overshadow the premiere by performing your greatest escape—on Hollywood Boulevard, right across the street.”
    Houdini’s heart leapt; he loved the challenge of an outdoor performance. For a moment he forgot that he was only there to feign interest.
    “And what stunt would you have me perform? The Milk Can Escape? The Chinese Water Torture Cell?”
    Mayer’s grin grew so big Houdini thought the ends of it would reach his beady eyes.
    “I want you to perform the grandest escape you can imagine. I’ll pay you whatever you make for six month’s worth of shows, and cover the cost of whatever supplies and staff you need. The cost is of no concern.”
    Houdini felt his palms begin to sweat as his heartbeat increased.
    “I can do any stunt I want?”
    This could be his one chance to perform the Hangman’s Death without Bess knowing. Once he did it and proved it was safe, he was sure she’d be amenable to him repeating it in New York.
    No, you fool. You’d be telling that giant Atlas exactly