<strong>"Let us continue to keep it simple my friends. It is too nice a night for us to bring to dark spirits scrabbling at the doors, desperate to feast on what lies within. Do you have a coin good Sir? Have no fear, it will be returned to you?"</strong><br/><br/>David turned to another swarthy looking man, a single gloved hand extended. The patrons of the Bangers and Hounds were notoriously reluctant to part with cash, but the promise of another performance overcame that basic urge, and, with only a slight hesitation, a heavy silver coin was pressed into David's hand. He lifted the coin, twirling it in the air, letting the light glitter off it.<br/><br/><strong>"This is a coin, true and solid. There is no trickery in the coin. Now, my friend, will you sign it?"</strong><br/><br/>An ink pen seemed to appear in his hand, extended out to the patron. The man, a slightly confused look on his face, signed the coin, passing it back. Once more David raised it into the air, showing it to his audience.<br/><br/><strong>"Do you all see? Do you all see his signature upon the coin? Now, watch..."</strong><br/><br/>And he swallowed it.<br/><br/>The audience could see it in his mouth, see his throat work, see a sudden look of consternation on his face, almost pain, see a hand reach up to rest on his throat, slowly work down as his body shook, his hand moving to his shoulder. His other hand rolled his sleeve up, the pale flesh revealed in the light and there... right there... moving below the skin... the outline of the coin moving down his arm, buried deep within, down over the bicep, down his arm still, the audience pressing in to watch. Just above his wrist it stopped, pausing. David, with an uncomfortable look on his face, turned, showing any who had missed it, before snatching up a knife from a table. With a grimace he pushed the blade into the flesh of his arm, slicing down, blood seeping out as the blade cut into him. There were gasps and shouts as this man seemingly self-harmed, as he cut deeply in. David gasped, the knife placed down, and his free hand begans to squeeze the cut. The bulge from the coin moved, and suddenly it could be seen, slightly stained by blood, the tip appearing out the cut... then slowly it was forced out. David raised the coin, a few drops of blood falling down to stain the floor, the signature still clear to see. yet again cries and gasps arose as David smiled, even through the pain he must be feeling... musn't he?<br/><br/><strong>"Thanks you my friends. I will finish with one last act of mystery for your enjoyment."</strong>