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xix<br />
Piper<br />
WHEN SHE RECOUNTED her dream for Percy, <strong>the</strong> ship’s toilets exploded.<br />
‘No way are you two going down <strong>the</strong>re alone,’ Percy said.<br />
Leo ran down <strong>the</strong> hall waving a wrench. ‘Man, did you have to destroy <strong>the</strong> plumbing?’<br />
Percy ignored him. Water ran down <strong>the</strong> gangway. The hull rumbled as more pipes burst and sinks<br />
overflowed. Piper guessed that Percy hadn’t meant to cause so much damage, but his glowering<br />
expression made her want to leave <strong>the</strong> ship as soon as possible.<br />
‘We’ll be all right,’ Annabeth told him. ‘Piper foresaw <strong>the</strong> two <strong>of</strong> us going down <strong>the</strong>re, so that’s<br />
what needs to happen.’<br />
Percy glared at Piper like it was all her fault. ‘And this Mimas dude? I’m guessing he’s a giant?’<br />
‘Probably,’ she said. ‘Porphyrion called him our bro<strong>the</strong>r.’<br />
‘And a bronze statue surrounded by fire,’ Percy said. ‘And those … o<strong>the</strong>r things you mentioned.<br />
Mackies?’<br />
‘Makhai,’ Piper said. ‘I think <strong>the</strong> word means battles in Greek, but I don’t know how that applies,<br />
exactly.’<br />
‘That’s my point!’ Percy said. ‘We don’t know what’s down <strong>the</strong>re. I’m going with you.’<br />
‘No.’ Annabeth put her hand on his arm. ‘If <strong>the</strong> giants want our <strong>blood</strong>, <strong>the</strong> last thing we need is a<br />
boy and a girl going down <strong>the</strong>re toge<strong>the</strong>r. Remember? They want one <strong>of</strong> each for <strong>the</strong>ir big sacrifice.’<br />
‘Then I’ll get Jason,’ Percy said. ‘And <strong>the</strong> two <strong>of</strong> us –’<br />
‘Seaweed Brain, are you implying that two boys can handle this better than two girls?’<br />
‘No. I mean … no. But –’<br />
Annabeth kissed him. ‘We’ll be back before you know it.’<br />
Piper followed her upstairs before <strong>the</strong> whole lower deck could flood with toilet water.<br />
An hour later, <strong>the</strong> two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m stood on a hill overlooking <strong>the</strong> ruins <strong>of</strong> Ancient Sparta. They’d already<br />
scouted <strong>the</strong> modern city, which, strangely, reminded Piper <strong>of</strong> Albuquerque – a bunch <strong>of</strong> low, boxy,<br />
whitewashed buildings sprawled across a plain at <strong>the</strong> foot <strong>of</strong> some purplish mountains. Annabeth had<br />
insisted on checking <strong>the</strong> archaeology museum, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> giant metal statue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spartan warrior in <strong>the</strong><br />
public square, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> National Museum <strong>of</strong> Olives and Olive Oil (yes, that was a real thing). Piper<br />
had learned more about olive oil than she ever wanted to know, but no giants attacked <strong>the</strong>m. They<br />
found no statues <strong>of</strong> chained gods.<br />
Annabeth seemed reluctant to check <strong>the</strong> ruins on <strong>the</strong> edge <strong>of</strong> town, but finally <strong>the</strong>y ran out <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
places to look.