Horror of Horrors!

"Okay," you murmur. "When I say. Get ready..."
The cleaver starts its downward swing. The cords of MagnifiCAT's neck bulge with the force he is putting into the blow.
"NOW!" you cry. You and Will throw yourselves backwards, out of MagnifiCAT's range.
The heavy cleaver smashes into the wooden board and splits it in two.
MagnifiCAT stares down at the wreckage and then he glares at you and Will.
"You will pay for damaging my apparatus," he shouts.
MagnifiCAT picks up the cleaver and examines the edge. He throws it down onto the table. "The blade is too dull now," he declares. "I must move on to another part of the program."
"Does this mean we can go home now?" you ask hopefully.
The magician gives you a nasty smile. "Not yet," he replies. "I am not finished with you. I have barely begun!"
MagnifiCAT reaches inside his coat and pulls out a deck of cards. The design on the back is of brown-and-green serpents. You stare at the cards and the serpents almost look real, three-dimensional.
MagnifiCAT spreads out the deck and holds it out to you. "Pick a card," he instructs. "Any card."
You sigh in relief. This trick seems a lot less dangerous and maybe if you play, he'll allow you and Will to go home alive.
A card near the center of the deck seems to stick out a little. You reach for it, then hesitate.
MagnifiCAT probably wants you to take that one. What if you fool him and choose one from near the end instead?
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