THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH Percy Jackson ... - No one's invited.

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Well, Manhattan’s a big city, with not much gardening space.”
Calypso frowned. “That is sad. Hermes visits from time to time. He tells me the world outside has
changed greatly. I did not realize it had changed so much you cannot have gardens.”
“Why haven’t you left your island?”
She looked down. “It is my punishment.”
“Why? What did you do?”
“I?Nothing. But I’m afraid my father did a great deal. His name is Atlas.”
The name sent a shiver down my back. I’d met the Titan Atlas last winter, and it had not been a happy
time. He’d tried to kill pretty much everyone I care about.
“Still,” I said hesitantly, “it’s not fair to punish you for what your father’s done. I knew another daughter
of Atlas. Her name was Zoë. She was one of the bravest people I’ve ever met.”
Calypso studied me for a long time. Her eyes were sad.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Are—are you healed yet, my brave one? Do you think you’ll be ready to leave soon?”
“What? I asked. “I don’t know.” I moved my legs. They were still stiff. I was already getting dizzy from
standing up so long. “You want me to go?”
“I…” Her voice broke. “I’ll see you in the morning. Sleep well.”
She ran off toward the beach. I was too confused to do anything but watch until she disappeared in the
dark.
***
I don’t know exactly how much time passed. Like Calypso said, it was hard to keep track on the island.
I knew I should be leaving. At the very least, my friends would be worried. At worst, they could be in
serious danger. I didn’t even know if Annabeth had made it out of the volcano. I tried to use my empathy
link with Grover several times, but I couldn’t make contact. I hated not knowing if they were all right.
On the other hand, I really was weak. I couldn’t stay on my feet more than a few hours. Whatever I’d
done in Mount St. Helens had drained me like nothing else I’d ever expected.
I didn’t feel like a prisoner or anything. I remembered the Lotus Hotel and Casino in Vegas, where I’d
been lured into this amazing game world until I almost forgot everything I cared about. But the island of
Ogygia wasn’t like that at all. I thought about Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson constantly. I remembered
exactly why I needed to leave. I just…couldn’t.and then there was Calypso herself.
She never talked much about herself, but that just made me want to know more. I would sit in the
meadow, sipping nectar, and I would try to concentrate on the flowers or the clouds or the reflections on