The guillotine consisted of a pair black lacquered wooden uprights 7 feet tall with metal runners down the inside faces. At the top of the uprights was a cross beam from which was suspended by a hook a block of heavy timber with the typical blade with the slanted edge embedded in the base. Below the blade was a set of stocks and behind the stocks was a bench that lined up with the hole of the stock. Karen examined the stocks and all she detected was a pair of panels with a gap between about the thickness of the hanging blade.
Karen's nervousness increased. The guillotine looked very real; solidly constructed with no dummy blade in the stock and it seemed that the sole purpose of the block above the blade was to give it the momentum required to force the blade through anything that was placed in the stocks. Below the stocks in front of the intimidating apparatus was a wide wicker basket with a pile of cushions in.
"Let me get this straight," said Karen, "you are planning to see how I react to performing in your magic show, by dropping a blade through my neck."
"No, I was planning to see how you reacted to having your head cut off. The basket is not for show, it's there to catch your head."
"Your kidding me, surely!" exclaimed Karen.
"The only way to find out for sure is to try it. Come for a walk outside your comfort zone; you might find you like it."
Karen felt this challenge would either be a step too far or a step on a path that would change her life. Ian saw the uncertainty, but remained silent; if this afternoon of auditions had taught him anything, it was "if you persuade someone to do something they later regret, you are in line for the blame."
Karen's dilemma swung both ways in the next minute. Finally she decide that she came here to see what it was like outside her comfort zone, so she had better take the step outside, or regret missing what might possibly be her only opportunity.
"Right! What do I do?"