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Prologue

The ician billed as the Ree, well-lit stage A pair of tight black trousers clung to his long, s His feet were shod in a pair of supple black leather boots A long black cloak hung from a pair of broad shoulders and swirled around his ankles when he ainst the blood red curtains behind hiht, one to make nine-year-old Savanah Gentry press closer to her father Savanah didn’t knohat the devil looked like, but she had always i black cloak The Rely, and as far as she could see, he didn’t have horns or a tail

The ician looked out over the audience “For , I will need several volunteers”

Savanah Gentry nudged her father “Raise your hand”

“What?”

“Raise your hand!” She was eager to kno the e, he could find out “Hurry, Daddy!”

William Gentry looked at his only child As always, he could deny her nothing that was in his power to give, and so, with a shake of his head, he raised his hand

“You, there in the fourth row,” thefor Savanah’s father to come forward

“Is it all right if hter comes with me?”

The Remarkable Renaldo turned his attention to Savanah The touch of his gaze on her face sent a shiver down her spine It wasn’t fear; it waswhen she knew the present she had hoped for all year aiting for her under the tree Hardly daring to breathe, she waited for the ician’s decision

“If you wish,” Renaldo decided at last

Savanah felt as if her heart were trying to jump out of her chest as she followed her father up the stairs and onto the stage, which was e white door that was mounted on wheels and stood in the middle of the floorboards

The ician quickly selected three other e to stand beside the door He opened it, stepped through, and then turned toward the men

“Gentle a bow in Savanah’s direction, “please examine the door and see that it is quite ordinary”

Savanah’s father was the first to step forward He ran his hands over both sides of the door, inspected the fra

The other men did likewise

Feeling self-conscious, Savanah stepped through the opening, then hurried to her father’s side

“And now, if you will exaician requested “All of it I wish you to assure the audience that there are no hidden trapdoors”

Aot down on their hands and knees and crawled around the stage, running their hands over the floorboards One by one, they gained their feet

“Are you all quite satisfied?” Renaldo asked

The men nodded in the affirmative