Page 385 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

take the middle end, the actual medium-length
piece, and draw it out (Figure 11-11K). Move just
fast enough, and the audience will not notice that it
isn’t one of the end pieces. As you bring it out, you
say, “One medium piece.”
Now for the final tricky move. As you reach
back toward your right hand, you shift the medium
piece to pinch it between your left index and mid-
dle fingers (Figure 11-11L). It’s a very subtle move.
When you bring your hands together, your left
thumb and index fingers grasp the other two ends
and your right thumb and index fingers grasp the
medium piece. You draw out the two ends, the inter-
lock hidden behind your left hand, and leave the
medium piece behind.
“Two medium pieces,” you say, and it looks
indeed as though you’d simply pulled out a second
medium piece. It’s impossible, but the audience sees
it happen. Now you reach across, again, and draw
away the real medium piece once more, saying,
“And three medium pieces.”
To finish, you once again bring the bottom ends
up one at a time, and lay them alongside the upper
ends (Figure 11-11M).
“But because we live in a world where professors
have to make a living, too”—you grab the second,
third, and fourth ends from the left (Figure 11-11N)
and yank them out—“We also have”—once more
with the hypnotic moves—“a long, a medium, and
a short.”
Applause, applause.

TOPOLOGICAL BONDAGE

Get a couple of volunteers to join you to figure out
a little puzzle. Ideally they are slightly infatuated,
easily embarrassed, and not-quite-comfortable with Figure 11-12. Topological Bondage. Two interlocked
each other. Tell them that the name of this puzzle is ropes bind two volunteers together. The puzzle is to
Topological Bondage. Restrain them from leaving. get separated without untying the Bowlines, removing
Tie the hands of each together with a 3-foot length them from wrists, or cutting the cords (or arms). The
of line, the two lines crossing (Figure 11-12). Use search for a solution can lead to some creative contor-
loose Bowlines around the wrists so that they can tions, but the solution is topological: Pass a bight from
get out if they need or want to. (“Now remember, if one side out through a wrist loop of the other side, over
at any time this gets to be too much for you, you can the hand, and back under the wrist loop (C). Sweet.
slip the loops off, bury your face in your hands, and

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