The Immortalists: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

In February 1988, Klara performs in a Cabaret theater to an unreceptive audience. But afterward, a man approaches her, and she recognizes him as Raj, one of the first people she met in San Francisco. They go out to a café and start talking. When Raj asks about Simon, she explains that he died of AIDS when he was 20 years old. She’s grateful that now she has a name for what happened, but she quickly changes the subject because talking about Simon upsets her.

Klara asks about Raj, who is a mechanic. He explains that when he was growing poor up in India, his dad wanted him to be a surgeon, and Raj moved to the U.S. when he was ten with his dad’s cousin. He says he quickly figured out that he preferred fixing things instead of people. Klara talks about her own journey, explaining that initially the grind of performing was exciting, but now she’s tired of doing it alone and constantly trying to get bookings. She does still get excited about changing the way people see the world, though.

Raj suggests that Klara cut the small magic in her act and perform bigger tricks. She says that she’d have to get real equipment and an assistant. She starts explaining a few tricks she’d like to do—one where a cage with a bird completely disappears in the magician’s hand. The Proteus cabinet is another: it is a cabinet on casters that’s shown to be completely empty, and then after it’s closed, a knock comes from inside and a person appears. Raj suggests that the tricks are accomplished through a collapsible cage and mirrors. Klara agrees but says that the mechanics have to be flawless to achieve the illusions.

Klara goes on, explaining that her favorite trick is Second Sight, invented by Charles Morritt. He asked for objects from audience members and then his assistant, who was blindfolded and facing a wall, would identify the objects. Raj suggests a few solutions, all of which Klara debunks, saying that she’s thought about it for years. Raj says they’ll just have to think harder.