Party at the Pyramids: A Rucksack Universe Story: Rucksack Universe

By Anthony St. Clair

The world could be hers.

 

After leaving her native Ireland nearly a decade ago on her sixteenth birthday, Aisling has traveled the world in pursuit of one goal: Make her own destiny, on her terms, and become known as the greatest fiddler in the world in the process.

 

Now, in Cairo, Egypt, at an impromptu party at the pyramids, a man shows up and offers her the world… as long as she earns it.

 

If only her past hadn't turned up too.

 

A grumpy camel. A talking Sphinx. And a crossroads where a young woman must choose which destiny she will make her own. If you like decisive women heroes, then grab your fiddle and get ready for a "Party at the Pyramids."

 

The Rucksack Universe series combines alternate history, speculative fiction, myth, adventure, globetrotting, and intrigue—all with well-poured pints of beer. Library Journal says Anthony St. Clair's storytelling has "universe building reminiscent of Terry Pratchett," and readers say they love the Rucksack Universe's unique combination of "quirk, wit, travel, and magic."

 

Praise for Anthony St. Clair and the Rucksack Universe

 

"Left me completely gobsmacked. Great concept, fun characters, and beautiful writing… High-stakes story, told with wit and compassion." – Nth Degree

 

"Brings the reader into the story and holds them there with every sight, smell, sound, and feeling…. St. Clair is now one of my favorite authors and I truly cannot wait to read more." – Online Book Club

 

"Fans of travel, fantasy, and beer will circle around this story. Matching Indian lore with universe building reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, St. Clair's tale will make readers reconsider fate." – Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal's Self-Published Ebook Awards

 

What Readers Say

 

"Cheeky and sophisticated."

 

"Pulls you in fast and keeps you on the edge of your seat."

 

"A page turner for sure."

 

"Fascinating new universe."

 

"Modern fantasy writing with very real characters and situations."

 

"Easy to read, wildly entertaining, and full of imagination."

 

"St. Clair is a fine storyteller who will keep you reading to the end and still wanting more."

 

"Anthony seamlessly combines quirk, wit, travel, and magic."

 

"Grabs your attention and doesn't let go."

 

"Entertaining fantasy full of twists and turns."

 

"Delightful and artful adventure into an intriguing world."

 

"Sharp writing and dialogue."

 

"Beautiful prose, smart humor and a slanted take on reality."

 

"Easy to slip into the myths of the situations and places."

 

"Just when you think you have it all figured out there is a twist that keeps you guessing."

 

"Buoyant with a unique humor, twist and focus on international travel."

 

"The story telling is exquisite and makes it hard to put the book down."

 

"An abundance of love, light, and wonder."

 

"Left me wanting more!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rucksack Press
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781940119601

Anthony St. Clair

Anthony St. Clair creates compelling fiction and non-fiction for a curious world full of everyday discoveries, endeavors, and surprises. He is the author of the ongoing Rucksack Universe series; covers craft beer, food, business, and more for various publications; and is a copywriter and content manager for select clients. When not at his desk or in his kitchen in Oregon, Anthony is on an adventure with his wife, son, and daughter.

Book preview

Party at the Pyramids

Party at the Pyramids

A Rucksack Universe Story

Anthony St. Clair

Rucksack Press

Contents

1. Vince Bling Presents

2. The One Thing Left to Do

3. Should’ve Left Cairo

4. Not Just the Noon Sun Shining

5. The World and the Woman

Thank You for Reading

Become a Wanderer

Also by Anthony St. Clair

Acknowledgments

Special Features

Sneak Peek HSR

About the Author

Wherever in the world it is held, a Vince Bling party is a must-not-miss production. Bling’s full moon parties on Thailand’s Koh Phangan and his pop-up dance-offs in Rio de Janeiro’s Lapa district are legendary. Perhaps no party compares, though, with his 141 AB spur-of-the-moment Party at the Pyramids in Cairo. The fiddling, I am told, was so world-class, some say Egypt’s gods and pharaohs could be seen in the sky.

—Guru Deep, Travels Through the Third Eye

1

Vince Bling Presents

Under the Sahara sun, the music of a thousand instruments— Thump. Twang. Strum. Pat. Crack. Hawoooooo! —crackled in the arid air. Guitars, fiddles, drums of all shapes and sizes, and so many different brass and wind instruments. Aisling had never realized how many ways people could blow air through something and hope for the best.

The lop-loppy view undulated left and right, up and down, as Aisling’s herky-jerky camel approached the eastern edge of the pyramids. She glanced back at the long black rectangular case that was lashed as best as she could manage to the camel, then stared forward again, feeling her bright blue eyes growing wide.

Before her and to the right, absorbing the light and heat of the nearly noon sun, the Great Pyramid of Giza held up the fierce sky, the same bright blue as Aisling’s T-shirt. The scents of grilling meats and rich, complex spicy sauces filled the air—overpowering even the earthy-sour odor of camel. Languages from all over the world—Arabic, Wolof, Spanish, English, and Hindi were only a few she recognized—mixed with the aromas. From the pyramid, all the way southeast to the Great Sphinx, crowds of thousands gathered. Many people played instruments, but not everyone did; after all, somebody had to make sure the musicians always had fresh drinks.

Aisling reached down her left leg, to the cargo pocket of her tan pants. She removed and unfolded the purple piece of paper she’d spied in the hostel common room in Cairo.

VINCE BLING PRESENTS! yelled the black, gold-flourished letters at the top of the flier. FREE MUSIC! FREE BEER! PARTY AT THE PYRAMIDS! WE DON’T STOP TILL THE SUN GOD WAKES UP!

Aisling hoped that last part wasn’t true. She stared at the mass of people all around her. Most of them were probably hohums: day-to-day folks trying to eek a drop of life out of what was otherwise mere dreary survival. How many believed the sun god thing? How many just found it amusing, as long as the beer stayed cold and endless?

Things like sun gods shouldn’t be real. But Aisling knew enough, had seen and heard enough—she sighed—had grown up around enough, to know better. Tunes that traveled through time in Oregon. A black-clad ancient hero she’d grown up around—but hadn’t known his true identity until her sixteenth birthday; she just knew him as a funny bald man in Ireland who liked pints of stout and crafted strange way-signs. Unlike normal way-signs, though, which are covered in arrows pointing to places all over the world, the arrows and places on his signs changed depending on who was looking at them and where they needed to go. She remembered when she had thought the signs odd. Now the