Sword swallower

Before the Sword Swallower took the stage, his assistant rolled out a cart arrayed with a variety of small objects. Then the great showman himself emerged, bearing the implement of his trade. His blade was so long that, while he held it straight, it arched back with the tip hovering just above his scalp. The audience laughed, for nobody believed it possible that such a weapon might ever be consumed. But all at once the Sword Swallower threw back his head and thrust the blade upward, forcing its point down his throat. He compelled it in some ingenious way until nearly the whole length had disappeared. Certain members of that breathless crowd might have seen the look of ecstasy which washed over the sword swallower's face at that moment. As he drove the last of it down, the tip emerged from his antipodal orifice. He turned around so that everyone could see it protruding from the back of his pants. The sharp edge glittered under the heavy lights. Then the sword swallower shuffled over to the little cart where he proceeded to slice up the objects one at a time, amidst a standing ovation