He shoved the car into gear and they moved off.

The show that was currently at the Reno Playhouse – it had been there for the past six months – was called The Circus of the Mind. There was a glass panel next to the front door, and behind it a black and white poster showing the eyes and forehead of what might have been a hypnotist or a magician. His hands, disembodied, floated above him, the fingers pointing towards the viewer. It read:

There are many things in life that cannot be explained. Powers that exist on the edge of our consciousness. Do you dare journey into the world of the paranormal? Be amazed! Be mystified!

This is a show you will never forget.

FEATURING

Swami Louvishni – world-famous Indian fakir

Bobby Bruce – hypnotist to the stars

Mr Marvano – master illusionist

Zorro – escapologist

Scott amp; Jamie Tyler – telepathic twins

Performance times: 7.30 p.m. amp; 9.30 p.m. Tickets: $35 – $55 (Senior citizens half price)

By twenty past seven that evening, a small crowd had gathered on the pavement, waiting for the door to open. There were about fifty people. Most of them had been attracted to the theatre by leaflets given to them by the receptionists in the hotels where they were staying. The leaflets promised “Five dollars off – this week only.” In fact, there was five dollars off every week. The same leaflets had been handed out for the entire time that The Circus of the Mind had been playing. And the receptionists were only recommending it because they had been paid to do so. They would receive five dollars for every ticket they sold.

The audience was already beginning to wonder if the show really was going to amaze or mystify them in the slightest.