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

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Without waiting for us to protest, he picked up Annabeth and me as easily as if we were kittens, slung us
both on his back, and galloped off toward the Big House.
***
I didn’t tell them the whole story. I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about Calypso. I explained how I’d
caused the explosion at Mount St. Helens and gotten blasted out of the volcano. I told them I’d been
marooned on an island. Then Hephaestus had found me and told me I could leave. A magic raft had
carried me back to camp.
All that was true, but as I said it my palms felt sweaty.
“You’ve been gone two weeks.” Annabeth’s voice was steadier now, but she still looked pretty shaken
up. “When I heard the explosion, I thought—”
“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry. But I figured out how to get through the Labyrinth. I talked to Hephaestus.”
“He told you the answer?”
“Well, he sort of told me that I already knew. And I do. I understand now.”
I told them my idea.
Annabeth’s jaw dropped. “Percy, that’s crazy!”
Chiron sat back in his wheelchair and stroked his beard. “There is precedent, however.Theseus had the
help ofAriadne . HarrietTubman , daughter of Hermes, used many mortals on her Underground Railroad
for just this reason.”
“But this ismy quest,” Annabeth said. “Ineed to lead it.”
Chiron looked uncomfortable. “My dear, it is your quest. But you need help.”
“Andthis is supposed to help? Please! It’s wrong. It’s cowardly. It’s—”
“Hard to admit we need a mortal’s help,” I said. “But it’s true.”
Annabeth glared at me. “You are thesingle most annoying person I have ever met!” And she stormed
out of the room.
I stared at the doorway. I felt like hitting something. “So much for being the bravest friend she’s ever
had.”
“She will calm down,” Chiron promised. “She’s jealous, my boy.”
“That’s stupid. She’s not…it’s not like…”
Chiron chuckled. “It hardly matters. Annabeth is very territorial about her friends, in case you haven’t
noticed. She was quite worried about you. And now that you’re back, I think she suspects where you
were marooned.”