"No, two!" she said, "And that's all. If you argue with me you'll have none."

I didn't argue.

Mysto talked about his travels for a while, and some of his shows. He was famous, he said, all round the world, but not in the way magicians on TV were. He didn't like TV he said, "Its too deceptive," he said, "You never know if its real magic, or trick photography. If its all done with computers and special effects there might as well not be a magician there. Magic has to be done close-up, real, to be effective. People have to really see the impossible, or they won't be property amazed."

And then he glanced at the clock on the wall and said: "Oh by the way, your rabbit should be gone by now."

"Gone?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, "Vanished. Ka-putt. Faded away. It was a magic rabbit."

"No it wasn't!" I said, jumping up from my seat.

"Have a look then," said Mysto.

I ran from the room and looked into the box on the lawn. Sure enough, it was empty. The brick was still holding the loose board hard against the box, and the wire-netting was still nailed across the bottom. So where had my rabbit gone? I hunted everywhere. Mysto was right. There was nothing there.

"Geronimo's gone," I said when I got back.

"Of course he is," said Mysto, "I told you he was a magic rabbit. They don't usually last very long."

"A magic rabbit?" I said, "How can a rabbit be magic?"

"Its what I do to them that makes them magic," said Mysto, "But that's all I can tell you. The rest is a secret."

"You came and took my rabbit, when I wasn't looking," I said.

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"Would you like another rabbit, only this time you keep an eye on it?"

"Yes, please" I said.