Free Prince of Air by Ann Hood Page A

Weiss,” a deep voice said.
    Felix and Maisie looked up into the blue eyes of Dash.
    How long has he been standing there?
Felix wondered.
What else has he heard us say?
    â€œYou’re not Houdini?” Felix said.
    Dash laughed and stretched his hand out for Felix to shake.
    â€œThere is no Houdini,” he explained. “Or, more accurately, Houdinis, since there’s two of us. Ehrich read some book about a French magician, and he liked the name, that’s all.”
    Maisie sighed. “So the guy we’re looking for is in France then. How are we supposed to get to France?”
    Dash laughed again, harder this time.
    â€œYou’ll have to go farther than France if you want to meet Jean-Euge’ne Houdin,” he said.
    â€œWhere is he?” Felix asked.
    They’d sailed for weeks across the Atlantic with Alexander Hamilton and escaped the Boxer Rebellion in China with Pearl Buck. They would just have to do whatever it took to find the right Houdini.
    â€œNo matter where,” Felix said. “We can do it.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Dash said. “He died over twenty years ago. Unless you know a way to the afterlife.”
    He watched Felix’s flummoxed expression.
    â€œAh,” he said, “I didn’t think so.”
    He began to walk away, still laughing to himself.
    â€œWait a minute!” Felix called after him.
    Dash Weiss paused.
    â€œBut why are you and Ehrich the Brothers Houdini then?”
    Dash shook his head. “Ehrich,” he said. “He’s obsessed with Jean-Euge’ne Houdin. He read his book, and he’s learned some of his tricks, so now he’s taken his name, too. Except his friend gave him the bright idea of adding the
i
at the end.” He waved his hands in the air. “Sounds more mysterious.”
    Felix nodded.
    â€œWell,” he said, “thanks, anyway. Ehrich Houdini isn’t the guy we’re looking for, either.”
    â€œMaybe Ehrie can help you,” Dash said. “If he ever stops practicing and comes out.”
    â€œDid you just call him Harry?” Maisie said, unsure if she’d heard right.
    Dash grinned. “Ehrie,” he corrected her. “That’s his nickname. Like I’m Dash, but my name is really Theo.”
    â€œOh,” Maisie said, disappointed.
    â€œBut it’s funny you say that. He calls himself Harry. For the act, you know. Sounds more American.”
    Maisie and Felix looked at each other and then back at Dash, who tipped his hat at them and disappeared in the darkness.
    â€œEhrich Weiss,” Felix said, unable to contain his excitement. “He’s Harry Houdini!”
    The door burst open, and out stepped the man they were looking for. Harry Houdini, all five feet five inches of him, turned his blue-gray eyes onto first Felix and then Maisie.
    â€œYouse guys need something?” he asked.
    Felix broke into a big smile.
    â€œIn fact, Harry Houdini,” he said, “we do.”

    To Maisie, Harry Houdini acted like a grown-up. Maybe it was his intense eyes that seemed to bore right through a person. Or maybe it was the confidence with which he moved and spoke, like he was already world famous. Even though she had never heard of Houdini, the fact that Felix had made Maisie look at him differently. With Clara and Alexander and Pearl, they didn’t have any idea who they would grow up to be or what things they would do. But here was someone whose future they knew. And somehow, that made Maisie feel differently.
    â€œLet me ask youse,” Harry said. “Was the trick bad? Did it not amaze you?”
    â€œThe Metamorphosis?” Felix said, surprised. “It was awesome!”
    â€œWe did the switch in three seconds,” Harry continued as if Felix hadn’t spoken. “Do we need to be faster?
Can
we be faster?”
    He slapped his forehead. “Ach!” he moaned. “Dash is incapable of being