Jag watched her work, and helped out where he could, with a pang of longing for Ernesto and his magic tricks. Not that this was anything as discreet as his tricks had to be, but it was still ingenious.

"I'm all right," he assured her at her offer, not really needing any extra role in this. She could pull on the wire. He was happy handling the fire side of things.

He moved his hands in a wide circle in front of him (always the performer), and sent a long lick of flame to curl up under the container and become a hot plate hanging in mid-air, and licking up the sides of the container.