Sons of Apollo
A reading of the Percy Jackson books written by Rick Riordan with exhilarating debriefs after each chapter.
Read by Panther Prakash and Dante Musa, the Sons of Apollo
Sons of Apollo
10. PJBL
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Chapter ten. We play the game show of death.
SPEAKER_01We did our summons after dark at a twenty foot long pit in front of the septic tank. The tank was bright yellow with a smiley face and red words painted on the side. Happy flush disposal co it didn't quite go with the mood of summoning the dead. The moon was full. Silver clouds drifted across the sky. Minos should be here by now.
SPEAKER_02Minos should be here by now.
SPEAKER_01Nico said, frowning. It's full dark. Maybe he got lost, I said, hopefully. Nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in ancient Greek. Immediately the bugs in the woods stopped chirping. In my pocket, the stygian ice dog whistle started to grow colder, freezing against the side of my leg.
SPEAKER_00Make him stop, Tyson whispered to me.
SPEAKER_01Part of me agreed. This was unnatural. The night air felt cold and menacing, but before I could say anything, the first spirits appeared. Sulphurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink. Stop him, Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant.
SPEAKER_00Only Bianca may drink.
SPEAKER_01I drew riptide. The ghost retreated with a collective hiss at the sight of this celestial bronze blade. But it was too late to stop the first spirit. He had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even his even in death his eyes were alive with malice. Minos, Nico said, What are you doing? My apologies, master, the ghost said, though he didn't sound very sorry. The sacrifice smelled good. I couldn't resist. He examined his own hands and smiled. It is good to see myself again almost in solid form. You are disrupting the ritual, Nico protested. Get the spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright, and Nico had to take up the chant again to keep them at bay. He seems Yes, quite quite right, Master, Nico said. Minos said with amusement. You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from these liars who would deceive you. He turned to me as if I was some kind of cockroach. Percy Jackson My The Sons of Poseidon haven't improved over the centuries, have they? I wanted to punch him, but I figured my fist would go right through his face. We're looking for Bianca D'Angelo, I said. Get lost. The ghost chuckled I understand you once killed my minotaur with your bare hands, but worse things await you in the maze. Do you really believe Deadlus will help you?
SPEAKER_04The other spirits stirred in agitation. Annabet drew her knife and helped me keep them away from the pit. Grover got so nervous he clung to Tyson's shoulder. Daedlus cares nothing for you, half bloods, Minos warned. You can't trust him. He is beyond counting and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods. The guilt of murder? I asked. Who did he kill? Do not change the subject the ghost growled.
SPEAKER_03You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to give up his goal. I would make him a lord.
SPEAKER_04Enough, Minos, Nico commanded. The ghost sneered.
SPEAKER_03Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them. Let me protect you. I will turn their minds to madness as I did the others. The others? Annabeth gasped. You mean Chris Rodriguez? That was you? The maze is my property, the ghost said. Not Daedalus.
SPEAKER_04Those who intrude deserve madness. Be gone, Minos, Nico demanded. I want to see my sister. The ghost bit back his rage. As you wish, master. But I warn you, you cannot trust these heroes. With that he faded into mist. Other spirits rushed forward. But Annabet and I kept them back. Bianca, appear, Nico intoned. He started chanting faster. And the spirit shifted restlessly.
SPEAKER_03Any time now Rover muttered.
SPEAKER_04Then a silverly silvery light flickered in the trees, a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others. It came closer, and something told me to let it pass. It knelt to drink at the pit. When it arose, it was the ghostly form of Bianca D'Angelo. Nico's chanting faltered. I lowered my sword. The other spirits started to crowd forward, but Bianca raised her arms and they retreated into the woods. Hello, Percy, she said. She looked the same as she had in life, a green cap set sideways on her thick black hair, dark eyes and olive skin like her brother. She wore jeans and a silvery jacket, the outfit of a hunter of Artemis. A bow was slung over her shoulder. She smiled faintly and her whole form flickered. Bianca, I said. My voice was thick. I'd felt guilty about her death for a long time, but seeing her in front of me was five times as bad. Like her death was fresh and new. I remembered searching through the wreckage of the giant bronze warrior she'd sacrificed her life to defeat and not finding any sign of her. I'm so sorry, I said. You have nothing to apologize for, Percy. I made my own choice. I don't regret it. Bianca! Nico stumbled forward like he was just coming out of a daze. She turned toward her brother. Her expression was sad as if she'd been dreading this moment. Hello, Nico. You've gotten so tall.
SPEAKER_05Why didn't you answer me sooner? He cried. I've been trying for months.
SPEAKER_03I was hoping you'd give up.
SPEAKER_01Give up He sounded heartbroken.
SPEAKER_02How can you say that? I'm trying to save you. You can't, Nico. Don't do this. Percy is right. No! He let you die. He's not your friend.
SPEAKER_01Bianca stretched out a hand as if to touch her brother's face, but she was made of mist. Her hand evaporated as it got close to living skin. You must listen to me, she said. Holding grudges is dangerous for a child of Hades. It is our fatal flaw. You have to forgive. You have to promise me this. I can't never Percy has been worried about you, Nico. He can help. I let him see what you were up to, hoping he would find you. So it was you, I said. You sent those iris messages? Bianca nodded. Why are you helping him and not me? Nico screamed. It's not fair. You are close to the truth now, Bianca told him. It's not Percy you're mad at, Nico. It's me. No! You're mad because I left you to become a hunter of Artemis. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger and stop blaming Percy for my choices. It will be your doom. She's right, Annabreth broke in. Kronos is rising, Nico. He'll twist anyone he can to his cause. I don't care about Kronos, Nico said. I just want my sister back. You can't have that, Nico, Bianca told him gently.
SPEAKER_02I'm the son of Hades. I can.
SPEAKER_01Don't try, she said. If you love me, don't. Her voice trailed off. Spirits had started to gather around us again, and they seemed agitated. Their shadows shifted, their voices whispered Danger. Tartarus stirs, Bianca said. Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the underworld. It is not safe for us to remain. Wait, Nico said. Goodbye, Nico, Bianca said. I love you. Remember what I said. Her voice shivered and the ghosts disappeared. Her form shivered and the ghosts disappeared, leaving us alone with a pit, a happy, flush septic tank, and a cold, full moon. None of us were anxious to travel that night, so we decided to wait until morning. Grover and I crashed on the leather couches in Garrian's living room, which was a lot more comfortable than a bedroll in the maze, but it didn't make my nightmares any better. I dreamed I was with Luke, walking through the dark palace on top of Mount Tam. I was a real it was a real building now, not some half finished illusion like I'd seen last winter. Green fires burned in braziers along the walls. The floor was polished black marble. A cold wind blew down the hallway. And above us through the open ceiling, the sky swirled with grey storm clouds. Luke was dressed for battle. He wore camouflage pants, a white t-shirt, and a bronze breastplate, but his sword, backbiter, wasn't at his side, only an empty scabbard. We walked into a large courtyard where dozens of warriors and draconae were preparing for war. When they saw him, the demigods rose to attention. They beat their swords against their shields.
SPEAKER_04A draconae asked. Soon, Luke promised. Continue your work. My lord, a voice behind him a voice said behind him. Kelly, the impusa, was smiling at him. She wore a blue dress tonight and looked wickedly beautiful. Her eyes flickered, sometimes dark brown, sometimes pure red. Her hair was braided down her back and seemed to catch the light of the torches, as if it were anxious to turn back into pure flame. My heart was pounding. I waited for Kelly to see me, to chase me out of the dream as she did before, but this time she didn't seem to notice. You have a visitor, she told Luke. She stepped aside, and even Luke seemed stunned by what he saw. The monster campe towered above him. Her snakes hissed around her legs. Animal heads growled at her waist. Her swords were drawn, shimmering with poison, and with her bat wings extended she took up the entire corridor. You Luke's voice sounded a little shaky. I told you to stay on Alcatraz. Campe's eyes blinked sideways like a reptile's. She spoke in that weird rumbling language, but this time I understood somewhere in the back of my mind.
SPEAKER_00I come to serve. Give me revenge.
SPEAKER_04You're a jailer, Luke said.
SPEAKER_00Your job I will have them dead. No one escapes me.
SPEAKER_04Luke hesitated. A line of sweat trickled down the side of his face. Very well, he said. You will go with us. You may carry Ariadne's string. It is a position of great honor. Kampe hissed at the stars. She sheathed her swords and turned, pounding down the hallway on her enormous dragon legs. We should have left that one in Tartarus, Luke mumbled. She is too chaotic, too powerful. Kelly laughed softly. You should not fear power, Luke. Use it. The sooner we leave the better, Luke said. I want this over with. Aww, Kelly sympathized, running a finger down his arm. You find it unpleasant to destroy your old camp. I didn't say that. You're not having second thoughts about your own uh special part? Luke's face turned stony. I know my duty. That is good, the demon said. Is our strike force sufficient, do you think? Or will I need to call Mother Hakate for help? We have more than enough, Luke said grimly. The deal is almost complete. All I need now is to negotiate safe passage through the arena. Hmm, Kelly said. That should be interesting. I would hate to see your handsome head on a spike if you fail.
SPEAKER_01I will not fail. And you, demon? Don't you have other matters to attend to? Oh yes, Kelly smiled. I am bringing despair to our eavesdropping enemies. I am doing that right now. She turned her eyes directly on me, exposed her talents, and ripped through my dreams. Shh. Suddenly, I was in a different place. I stood at the top of a stone tower overlooking rocky cliffs and the ocean below. The old man Daedalus was hunched over a work table, wrestling with some kind of navigational instrument, like a huge compass. He looked years older than when I'd last seen him. He was stooped and his hands were gnarled. He cursed in ancient Greek. Squinted as if he couldn't see his work, even though it was a sunny day. Uncle, a voice called, a small boy about Nico's age came bounding up the steps, carrying a wooden box. Hello, Peertix, the old man said through his though his tone sounded cold. Done with your projects already Yes, uncle.
SPEAKER_02They were easy Deadless scowled.
SPEAKER_01Easy The problem of moving water uphill without a pump was easy.
SPEAKER_02Oh yes.
SPEAKER_01Look The boy dumped his box and rummaged through the junk. He came up with a strip of papyrus and showed the old adventur some diagrams and notes. They didn't make any sense to me, but Deadalus nodded grudgingly. I see. Not bad. The king loved it, Pyrdic said. He said I might be even smarter than you. Did he know? But I don't believe that. I'm so glad mother sent me to study with you. I want to know everything you do. Yes, Dadless muttered. So when I die you can take my place, eh? The boy's eyes widened. Oh no, uncle but I've been thinking what does a man why does a man have to die anyway? The inventor scowled. It is the way of things, lad. Everything dies but the gods. But why? The boy insisted, if you could capture the animus, the soul in another form, well, you've told me about your automatons, uncle. Bulls, eagles, dragons, horses of bronze. Why not a bronze form for a man? No, my boy, Deadalus said sharply, you are naive. Such a thing is impossible. I don't think so. Per I don't think so. Perdix insisted.
SPEAKER_02With the use of a with the use of a little magic Magic Bah Yes, uncle.
SPEAKER_01Magic and mechanics together with a little work, one could make a body that would look exactly human, only better. I've made some notes. He handed the old man a thick scroll. Deadalus unfurled it. He read for a long time. His eyes narrowed. He glanced at the boy, then closed the scroll and cleared his throat. It would never work, my boy. When you're older, you'll see. Can I fix that astro lab then, Uncle? Are your joints swelling up again?
SPEAKER_04The old man's jaw clenched. No, thank you. Now why don't you run along? Purdix didn't seem to notice the old man's anger. He snatched a bronze beetle from his mound of stuff and ran to the edge of the tower. A low sill ringed the rim, coming just up to the boy's knees. The wind was strong. Move back, I wanted to tell him, but my voice didn't work. Purdix wound up the beetle and tossed it into the sky. It spread its wings and hummed away. Purdix laughed with delight. Smarter than me, Daedalus mumbled, too soft for the boy to hear. Is it true your son died flying, Uncle? I heard you made him enormous wings, but they failed. Daedlus' hands clenched. Take my place, he muttered. The wind whipped around the boy, tugging at his clothes, making his hair ripple. I would like to fly, Perdicx said. I'd make my own wings that wouldn't fail. Do you think I could? Maybe it was a dream within a dream, but suddenly I imagined the two headed god Janish shimmering in the air next to Daedalus, smiling as he tossed a silver silver key from hand to hand. Choose, he whispered to the old inventor. Choose. Daedalus picked up another one of the boy's metal bugs. The inventor's eyes were red with anger. Perdicx, he called. Catch He tossed the bronze beetle toward the boy. Delighted, Purdix tried to catch it, but the throw was too long. The beetle sailed into open sky and Purdix reached a little too far. The wind caught him. Somehow he managed to grab the rim of the tower with his fingers as he fell.
SPEAKER_03Uncle he screamed, help me.
SPEAKER_04The old man's face was a mask. He did not move from his spot. Go on, Purdix, Daedalus said softly. Make your own wings. Be quick about it. Uncle the boy cried as he lost his grip. He tumbled toward the sea. There was a moment of deadly silence. The god Janus flickered and disappeared. Then thunder shook the sky. A woman's stern voice spoke from above. You will pay the price for that, Daedalus. I had heard that voice before. It was Annabeth's mother, Athena. Daedalus scowled up at the heavens.
SPEAKER_03I have always honored you, mother. I have sacrificed everything to follow your way.
SPEAKER_04Yet the boy had my blessing as well, and you have killed him. For that you must pay.
SPEAKER_03I've paid and paid, Daedalus growled. I've lost everything. I'll suffer in the underworld no doubt, but in the meantime He picked up the boy's scroll, studied it for a moment, and slipped it into his sleeve.
SPEAKER_04You do not understand, Athena said coldly. You will pay now and forever.
SPEAKER_01Suddenly, Deadlas collapsed in agony. I felt what he felt. A searing pain closed around my neck like a molten hot collar, cutting off my breath, making everything go black. I woke in the dark, my hands clutching at my throat.
SPEAKER_02Percy Percy Percy.
SPEAKER_01Grover called from the other sofa.
SPEAKER_02Are you okay?
SPEAKER_01I steadied my breathing. I wasn't sure how to answer. I'd just watched the guy we were looking for, Deadalis, murder his own nephew. How could I be okay? The television was going. Blue light flickered through the room. What time is it? I croaked. Two in the morning, Grover said. I couldn't sleep. I was watching the Nature Channel. He sniffled.
SPEAKER_02I miss Juniper.
SPEAKER_01I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Yeah, well you'll see her again soon. Grover shook his head sadly.
SPEAKER_02Do you know what day it is, Percy? I just saw it on TV. It's june thirteenth, seven days since we left camp.
SPEAKER_01What? I said. What? That can't be right. Time is faster in the labyrinth, Grover reminded me. The first time you and Annabeth went down there, you thought you were only gone a few minutes, right? But it was an hour. I said. Right. Then it dawned on me what he was saying, and my throat felt searing hot again. Your deadline with the Council of Cloven Elders. Grover put the TV remote in his mouth and crunched off the end of it. I'm out of time, he said with a mouthful of plastic.
SPEAKER_02As soon as I go back, they'll take away my searcher's license. I'll never be allowed to go out again.
SPEAKER_01We'll talk to them, I promise. Make them give you more time. Grover swallowed. They'll never go for it.
SPEAKER_02The world is dying, Percy. Every day it gets worse. The wild I can just feel it fading. I have to find Pan.
SPEAKER_01You will, man, no doubt. Grover looked at me with sad goat eyes.
SPEAKER_02You've always been a good friend, Percy. What you did today, saving the ranch animals from Garyon? That was amazing. I I wish I could be more like you.
SPEAKER_01Hey, I said, don't say that. You're just as much a hero. No, I'm not. I keep trying, but he sighed.
SPEAKER_02Percy I can't go back to camp without finding Pan. I just can't. You understand that, don't you? I can't face Juniper if I fail. I can't even face myself.
SPEAKER_01His voice was so unhappy, it hurt to hear. We'd been through a lot together, but I'd never heard him sound this down. We'll figure out something, I said. You haven't failed. You're the champion goat boy, all right? Juniper knows that. So do I. Grover closed his eyes. Champion goat boy, he muttered dejectedly. A long time after he dozed off, I was still awake, watching the blue light of the nature channel wash over the stuffed trophy heads on Garion's walls.
SPEAKER_04The next morning we walked down to the cattle guard and said our goodbyes. Nico, you could come with us, I blurted out. I guess I was thinking about my dream and how much the young boy Perdicx reminded me of Nico. He shook his head. I didn't think any of I don't think any of us had slept well in the demon ranch house, but Nico looked worse than anybody else. His eyes were red and his face chalky. He was wrapped in a black robe that must have belonged to Gary and because it was three times too big for even a big even for a grown man. I need time to think. His eyes wouldn't meet mine, but I could tell from his tone he was still angry. The fact that his sister had come out of the underworld for me and not for him didn't seem to sit well with him. Nico, Annabeth said, Bianca just wants you to be okay. She put her hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away and trudged up the road toward the ranch house. Maybe it was my imagination, but the morning mist seemed to cling to him as he walked. I'm worried about him, Annabeth told me. If he starts talking to Minos' ghost again, he'll be alright, Eurishan promised. The cow herd had cleaned up nicely. He was wearing new jeans and a clean western shirt and had even and he'd even trimmed his beard. He'd put on Garan's boots. The boy can stay here and gather his thoughts as long as he wants. He'll be safe, I promise. What about you? I asked. Euryshin scratched Orthus behind one chin, then the other. Things are gonna be run a little different on this ranch from now on. No more sacred cattle meat. I'm thinking about soybean patties. And I'm gonna befriend those flesh eating horses. Might just sign up for the next rodeo. The idea made me shudder. Well, good luck. Yep. Euryshin spit into the grass. I reckon you'll be looking for Daedalus' workshop now. Annabeth's eyes lit up. Can you help us? Euryshin studied the cattle guard, and I got the feeling the subject of Daedalus' workshop made him uncomfortable. Don't know where it is. But Hephaestus probably would. That's what Hera said, Annabeth agreed, but how do we find Hephaestus? Euryshin pulled something from under the collar of his shirt. It was a necklace, a smooth silver disc on a silver chain. The disc had a depression in the middle, like a thumbprint. He handed it to Annabeth. Hepestus comes here from time to time, Euryshun said. Studies the animals and such so he can make bronze automat automaton copies. Last time uh did him a favor. Little trick. He wanted to play on my dad, Aries, and Aphrodite. He gave me that chain in gratitude. Said if I ever needed to find him, the disc would lead me to his forges. But only once. And you're giving it to me? Annabeth asked.
SPEAKER_01Euryshin blushed.
SPEAKER_00Ah don't need to see the forges, miss. Got enough to do here. Just press the button and you'll be on your way.
SPEAKER_01Annabeth pressed the button and the disc sprang to life. It grew eight metallic legs. Annabeth shrieked and dropped it, much to Eurishan's confusion.
SPEAKER_02Spider she screamed.
SPEAKER_01She's um a little scared of spiders, Grover explained. That old grudge between Athena and Arachne. Oh Eurishan looked embarrassed. Sorry, Miss The spider scrambled to the cattle guard and disappeared between the bars. Hurry, I said, that thing's not going to wait for us. Annabeth wasn't anxious to follow, but we didn't have much choice. We said our goodbyes to Eurishan. Tyson pulled the cattle guard off the hole and we dropped back into the maze. I wish I could have put the mechanical spider on a leash. It scuttled along the tunnel so fast. Most of the time I couldn't even see it. If it hadn't been for Tyson's and Grover's excellent hearing, we never would have known which way it was going. We ran down a marble tunnel, then dashed to the left and almost fell into an abyss. Tyson grabbed me and hauled me back before I could fall. The tunnel continued in front of us, but there was no floor for about a hundred feet, just gaping darkness and a series of iron rungs in the ceiling. The mechanical spider was about halfway across, swinging from bar to bar by shooting out metal web fiber. Monkey bars? Annabeth said. She leaped onto the first rung and started swinging her way across. She was scared of tiny spiders, but not of plummeting to her death from a set of monkey bars. Go figure. Annabeth got to the opposite side and ran after the spider. I followed. When I got across, I looked back and saw Tyson giving Grover a piggyback ride. Or was it a goateyback ride? The big guy made it across in three swings, which was a good thing since just as he landed, the last iron bar ripped free under his weight. He kept moving and passed a skeleton crumpled in the tunnel. It wore the remains of a dress shirt, slacks, and a tie. The spider didn't slow down. I slipped on a pile of wood scraps, but when I shined a light on them, I realized they were pencils, hundreds of them, all broken in half. The tunnel opened up onto a large room. A blazing light hit us. Once my eyes adjusted, the first thing I noticed were skeletons. Dozens littered the floor around us. Some were old and bleached white. Others were more recent and a lot grosser. They didn't smell quite as bad as Gary and Stables, but almost. Then I saw the monster. She stood on a glittery dais on the opposite side of the room. She had the body of a huge lion and the head of a woman. She would have been pretty, but her hair was tied back in a tight bun and she wore too much makeup. So she kind of reminded me of my third grade choir teacher. She had a blue ribbon badge pinned to her chest that took me a moment to read. This monster has been rated exemplary.
SPEAKER_04Tyson whimpered, Sphinx. I knew exactly why he was scared. When he was small, Tyson had been attacked by a Sphinx in New York. He still had the scars on his back to prove it. Spotlights blazed on either side of the creature. The only exit was a tunnel right behind the dais. The mechanical spider scuttled between the sphinx's paws and disappeared. Annabet started forward, but the Sphinx roared, showing fangs in her otherwise human face. Bars came down on both tunnel exits behind us and in front. Immediately the monster's snarl turned into a brilliant smile. Welcome, lucky contestants, she announced. Get ready to play, answer that riddle. Canned applause blasted from the ceiling. As if there were invisible sp loudspeakers. Spotlights swept across the room and reflected off the dais, throwing disco glitter over the skeletons on the floor. Fabulous prizes, the Sphinx said. Pass the test, and you get to advance. Fail, and I get to eat you. Who will be a contestant? Annabeth grabbed my arm. I've got this, she whispered. I know what she's gonna ask. I didn't argue too hard. I didn't want Annabeth getting devoured by a monster, but I figured if the Sphinx was gonna ask riddles, Annabeth was the best one of us to try. She stepped forward to the contestant's podium, which had a skeleton in a school uniform hunched over it. She pushed the skeleton out of the way and it clattered to the floor. Sorry, Annabeth told it. Welcome, Annabeth Chase, the monster cried, though Annabeth hadn't said her name. Are you ready for your test? Yes, she said. Ask your riddle. Twenty riddles, actually, the Sphinx said gleefully. What? But back in the old days, oh we've raised our standards to pass. You must show proficiency in all twenty. Isn't that great? Applause switched on and off like somebody turning on a faucet. Annabeth glanced at me nervously. I gave her an encouraging nod. Okay, she told the Sphinx, I'm ready. Drumroll sounded from above. The Sphinx's eyes glittered with excitement.
SPEAKER_05What is the capital of Bulgaria?
SPEAKER_04Annabeth frowned. For a terrible moment I thought she was stumped. Sophia, she said, but correct more canned applause. The Sphinx smiled so so wide her fang showed. Please be sure to mark your answer your answer clearly on your test sheet with a number two pencil. What? Annabelle looked mystified. Then a test booklet appeared on the podium in front of her, along with a sharpened pencil.
SPEAKER_01Make sure your bubble each answer clearly and stay inside the circle, the Sphinx said. If you have to erase, erase completely, or the machine will not be able to read your answers. What machines? Annabeth asked. The Sphinx pointed with her paw. Over by the spotlight was a bronze box with a bunch of gears and levers and a big Greek letter It on the side. The mark of Hephaestus. Now said the Sphinx, next question Wait wait a second, Annabeth protested. What about what walks on four legs in the morning? I beg your pardon, the Sphinx said clearly annoyed now. The riddle about man he walks on four legs in the morning, like a baby, two legs in the afternoon, like an adult, and three legs in the evening as an old man with a cane. That's the riddle you used to ask. Exactly why we changed the test, the Sphinx exclaimed. You already knew the answer. Now, second question What is the square root of sixteen? Four? Annabeth said, but correct which US president signed the Emancipation Proclamation Abraham Lincoln But correct Riddle number four How much hold up Annabeth shouted. I wanted to tell her to stop complaining. She was doing great. She just answer she should just answer the question so we could leave. These aren't riddles, Annabeth said. What do you mean? The Sphinx snapped. Of course they are. This test material is specifically specially designed. It's just a bunch of dumb random facts, Annabeth insisted. Riddles are supposed to make you think. Think? The Sphinx frowned. How am I supposed to test whether you can think? That's ridiculous. Now, how much force is required? Stop Annabeth insisted. This is a stupid test. Um Annab Grover cut in nervously.
SPEAKER_02Maybe you should just not you know finish first and complain later.
SPEAKER_01I'm a child of Athena, she insisted, and this is an insult to my intelligence. I won't answer these questions. Part of me was impressed with her for standing up like that, but part of me thought her pride was going to get us all killed. The spotlights glared. The Sphinx's eyes glittered pure black. Why then, my dear? The monster said calmly, if you won't pass, you fail, and since we can't allow any children to be held back, you'll be eaten. The Sphinx bared her claws, which gleamed like stainless steel. She pounced at the podium. No Tyson charged. He hates it when people threaten Annabeth, but I couldn't believe he was being so brave, especially since he'd had such a bad experience with a Sphinx before. He tackled the Sphinx midair and they crashed sideways into a pile of bones. This gave Annabeth just enough time to gather her wits and draw her knife. Tyson got up, his shirt clawed to shreds. The Sphinx growled, looking for an opening.
SPEAKER_04I drew riptide and stepped in front of Annabeth. Turn invisible, I told her. I can fight. No, I yelled. The Sphinx is after you. Let us get it. As if to prove my point, the Sphinx knocked Tyson aside and tried to charge past me. Grover poked her in the eye with somebody's leg bone. She screeched in pain. Annabeth put on her cap and vanished. The Sphinx pounced right where she'd been standing but came up with empty empty paws. No fe the Sphinx wailed. Cheetah That's when Annabeth no longer in sight. With Annabeth no longer in sight, the Sphinx turned on me. I raised my sword, but before I could strike, Tyson ripped the monster's grading machine out of the floor and threw it at the Sphinx's head, ruining her hair button. Well ruining her hair button. It landed in pieces all around her. My grating machine, she cried. I can't be exemplary without my test scores. The bars lifted from the exits. We all dashed for the far tunnel. I could only hope Annabeth was doing the same. The Sphinx started to follow, but Grover raised his reed pipes and began to play. Suddenly the pencils remembered they used to be parts of trees. They collected around the Sphinx's paws, grew roots and branches, and began wrapping around the monster's legs. The Sphinx ripped through them, but it bought us just enough time. Tyson pulled Grover into the tunnel, and then the bars slammed shut behind us. Annabeth, I yelled. Here, she said, right next to me. Keep moving. We ran through the dark tunnels, listening to the roar of the Sphinx behind us as she complained about all the tests she would have to grade by hand. Chapter ten.
SPEAKER_03Whoa! We escaped.
SPEAKER_01Oh my goodness. Damn out of the fireplace. This is fine.
