04 The Mark of Athena

“I can input star charts and order you a smoothie, if you want. Of course I can do latitude and
longitude!”
Annabeth rattled off the numbers. Leo somehow managed to punch them in while holding the
wheel with one hand. A red dot popped up on the bronze display screen.
“That location is in the middle of the Atlantic,” he said. “Do the Party Ponies have a yacht?”
Annabeth shrugged helplessly. “Just hold the ship together until we get farther from Charleston.
Jason and Percy will keep up the winds!”
“Happy fun time!”
It seemed like forever, but finally the sea calmed and the winds died.
“Valdez,” said Coach Hedge, with surprising gentleness. “Let me take the wheel. You’ve been
steering for two hours.”
“Two hours?”
“Yeah. Give me the wheel.”
“Coach?”
“Yeah, kid?”
“I can’t unclench my hands.”
It was true. Leo’s fingers felt like they had turned to stone. His eyes burned from staring at the
horizon. His knees were marshmallows. Coach Hedge managed to pry him from the wheel.
Leo took one last look at the console, listening to Festus chatter and whir a status report. Leo felt
like he was forgetting something. He stared at the controls, trying to think, but it was no good. His
eyes could hardly focus. “Just watch for monsters,” he told the coach. “And be careful with the
damaged stabilizer. And—”