the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

Frank – at least Jason assumed it was Frank – had turned into a gorilla. He was swinging upside
down off the starboard rail, using his massive strength and his flexible feet to hang on while he
untangled some broken oars. Apparently the crew was trying to get the ship airborne, but, even if they
managed to take off, Jason wasn’t sure the sky would be any safer.
Even Festus the figurehead was trying to help. He spewed fire at the rain, though that didn’t seem to
discourage the storm.
Only Percy was having any luck. He stood by the centre mast, his hands extended like he was on a
tightrope. Every time the ship tilted, he pushed in the opposite direction and the hull stabilized. He
summoned giant fists of water from the ocean to slam into the larger waves before they could reach
the deck, so it looked like the ocean was hitting itself repeatedly in the face.
With the storm as bad as it was, Jason realized the ship would’ve already capsized or been
smashed to bits if Percy wasn’t on the job.
Jason staggered towards the mast. Leo yelled something – probably Go downstairs! – but Jason
only waved back. He made it to Percy’s side and grabbed his shoulder.
Percy nodded like ’sup. He didn’t look shocked, or demand that Jason go back to sickbay, which
Jason appreciated.
Percy could stay dry if he concentrated, but obviously he had bigger things to worry about right
now. His dark hair was plastered to his face. His clothes were soaked and ripped.
He shouted something in Jason’s ear, but Jason could only make out a few words: ‘THING …
DOWN … STOP IT!’
Percy pointed over the side.
‘Something is causing the storm?’ Jason asked.
Percy grinned and tapped his ears. Clearly, he couldn’t hear a word. He made a gesture with his
hand like diving overboard. Then he tapped Jason on the chest.
‘You want me to go?’ Jason felt kind of honoured. Everybody else had been treating him like a
glass vase, but Percy … well, he seemed to figure that if Jason was on deck he was ready for action.
‘Happy to!’ Jason shouted. ‘But I can’t breathe underwater!’
Percy shrugged. Sorry, can’t hear you.
Then Percy ran to the starboard rail, pushed another massive wave away from the ship and jumped
overboard.
Jason glanced at Piper and Annabeth. They both clung to the rigging, staring at him in shock.
Piper’s expression said, Are you out of your mind?
He gave her an okay sign, partly to assure her that he would be fine (which he wasn’t sure about),
partly to agree that he was in fact crazy (which he was sure about).
He staggered to the railing and looked up at the storm.
Winds raged. Clouds churned. Jason sensed an entire army of venti swirling above him, too angry
and agitated to take physical form, but hungry for destruction.
He raised his arm and summoned a lasso of wind. Jason had learned long ago that the best way to
control a crowd of bullies was to pick the meanest, biggest kid and force him into submission. Then
the others would fall in line. He lashed out with his wind rope, searching for strongest, most ornery