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

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

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

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“Are they?All of them?All the time?” She pursed her lips. “Tell me, <strong>Percy</strong>. I have no wish to argue with<br />

you.but do you support the gods because they are good, or because they are your family?”<br />

I didn’t answer. She had a point. Last winter, after Annabeth and I had saved Olympus, the gods had<br />

had a debate about whether or not they should kill me. That hadn’t been exactly good. But still, I felt like<br />

I supported them because Poseidon was my dad.<br />

“Perhaps I was wrong in the war,” Calypso said. “And in fairness, the gods have treated me well. They<br />

visit me from time to time. They bring me word of the outside world. But they can leave. And I cannot.”<br />

“You don’t have any friends?” I asked. “I mean…wouldn’t anyone else live here with you?it’s a nice<br />

place.”<br />

A tear trickled down her cheek. “I…I promised myself I wouldn’t speak of this. But—”<br />

She was interrupted by a rumbling sound somewhere out on the lake. A glow appeared on the horizon.<br />

It got brighter and brighter, until I could see a column of fire moving across the surface of the water,<br />

coming toward us.<br />

I stood and reached for my sword. “What is that?”<br />

Calypso sighed.“A visitor.”<br />

As the column of fire reached the beach.Calypso stood and bowed to it formally. The flames dissipated,<br />

and standing before us was a tall man in gray overalls and a metal leg brace, his beard and hair<br />

smoldering with fire.<br />

“Lord Hephaestus,” Calypso said. “This is a rare honor.”<br />

The fire god grunted.“Calypso.Beautiful as always. Would you excuse us, please, my dear? I need to<br />

have a word with our young <strong>Percy</strong> <strong>Jackson</strong>.”<br />

***<br />

Hephaestus sat down clumsily at the dinner table and ordered a Pepsi. The invisible servant brought him<br />

one, opened it too suddenly, and sprayed soda all over the gods work clothes. Hephaestus roared and<br />

spat a few curses and swatted the can away.<br />

“Stupid servants,” he muttered. “Good automatons are what she needs. They never act up!”<br />

“Hephaestus,” I said, “what’s going on? Is Annabeth—”<br />

“She’s fine,” he said.“Resourceful girl, that one. Found her way back, told me the whole story. She’s<br />

worried sick, you know.”<br />

“You haven’t told her I’m okay?”<br />

“That’s not for me to say,” Hephaestus said. “Everyone thinks you’re dead. I had to be sure you were<br />

coming back before I started telling everyone where you were.”

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