Disappearing Ink

From John Kennedy & Ken Rosenthal. The magician displays a modern looking ball-point pen. Its unique design allows everyone to see a portion of the ink cartridge through a cut away section in the middle. "You've heard of disappearing ink," the magician explains, "I am going to create the illusion of the ink and cartridge both disappearing!" He brings out a small black card and holds it behind the pen, causing the black ink cartridge to vanish against the dark background. The magician enhances the illusion by clicking the point in and out of the pen a few times, causing the mechanism to move up and down with no apparent support. "But look," he says as he slowly removes the black card, "the illusion has become real!" Everyone can now see right through the center. The cartridge and ink have completely vanished! Not only are they gone, but the mechanism still moves up and down when you click the point in and out of the pen. It looks absolutely impossible because there is nothing in the center to support it! The pen can be completely examined in this impossible condition.