We were in London for visitation day with my sister, Sadie.

That’s a rule I never broke until the day of the explosion. Rule number one: I was not allowed to look in his workbag. My dad packed the same way, except he was allowed an extra workbag for his archaeology tools. You ever try to start a game of pick-up basketball in Aswan, Egypt? It’s not easy.Īnyway, my dad trained me early to keep all my possessions in a single suitcase that fits in an airplane’s overhead compartment. My dad was always telling me to put the book down and play some ball. I read a lot, too-pretty much anything I could get my hands on, from dad’s history books to fantasy novels-because I spent a lot of time sitting around in hotels and airports and dig sites in foreign countries where I didn’t know anybody. He sort of taught me whatever he thought was important, so I learned a lot about Egypt and basketball stats and my dad’s favorite musicians. My dad homeschooled me, if you can call it “home” schooling when you don’t have a home. Of course, there are other reasons my dad moved around so much, but I didn’t know his secret back then. You want to know how Egyptians pulled the brains out of mummies, or built the pyramids, or cursed King Tut’s tomb? My dad is your man. Go into a bookstore, find a book about Egypt, there’s a pretty good chance it was written by Dr. Mostly we go to Egypt, since that’s his specialty. but my dad’s an archaeologist, so his work takes him all over. You think I’m kidding? Since I was eight years old, my dad and I have traveled the world. I guess it started in London, the night our dad blew up the British Museum. Okay, Sadie is telling me to stop stalling and get on with the story. Then be prepared for your life to get very interesting. Hide it for the next person, the way Sadie and I did for you. Learn its secrets quickly and pass it on. But if you possess it too long, it will consume you. I mean, it will grant you almost unlimited power. The most important thing: when you open the package and find what’s inside, don’t keep it longer than a week. Just remember the story we’re about to tell you isn’t complete yet.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll know what those numbers mean. I won’t tell you which school or which locker, because if you’re the right person, you’ll find it.

If you’re hearing this story, you’re already in danger. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW HOURS, so listen carefully.

The red pyramid by rick riordan