the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

things about the average wait time.
‘Check it out.’ Jason pointed. ‘Were those signs here when we walked in? And that door?’
Leo didn’t think so. On the wall to the right of the statue, above a closed metal door, were two
electronic signboards. The top one read:
The sign below that read:
THE DOCTOR IS:
INCARCERATED.
NOW SERVING NUMBER: 0000000
Jason squinted. ‘I can’t read it that far away. The doctor is …’
‘Incarcerated,’ Leo said. ‘Apollo warned me that Asclepius was being held under guard. Zeus
didn’t want him sharing his medical secrets or something.’
‘Twenty bucks and a box of Froot Loops that statue is the guardian,’ Piper said.
‘I’m not taking that bet.’ Leo glanced at the nearest pile of waiting-room dust. ‘Well … I guess we
take a number.’
The giant statue had other ideas.
When they got within five feet, she turned her head and looked at them. Her expression remained
frozen. Her mouth didn’t move. But a voice issued from somewhere above, echoing through the room.
‘Do you have an appointment?’
Piper didn’t miss a beat. ‘Hello, Hygeia! Apollo sent us. We need to see Asclepius.’
The alabaster statue stepped off her dais. She might have been mechanical, but Leo couldn’t hear
any moving parts. To be certain, he’d actually have to touch her, and he didn’t want to get that close.
‘I see.’ The statue kept smiling, though she didn’t sound pleased. ‘May I make a copy of your
insurance cards?’
‘Ah, well …’ Piper faltered. ‘We don’t have them on us, but –’
‘No insurance cards?’ The statue shook her head. An exasperated sigh echoed through the
chamber. ‘I suppose you haven’t prepared for your visit, either. Have you washed your hands
thoroughly?’
‘Uh … yes?’ Piper said.
Leo looked at his hands, which, as usual, were streaked with grease and grime. He hid them behind
his back.
‘Are you wearing clean underwear?’ the statue asked.
‘Hey, lady,’ Leo said, ‘that’s getting personal.’
‘You should always wear clean underwear to the doctor’s office,’ chided Hygeia. ‘I’m afraid you
are a health hazard. You will have to be sanitized before we can proceed.’
The golden snake uncurled and dropped from her arm. It reared its head and hissed, flashing sabrelike
fangs.
‘Uh, you know,’ Jason said, ‘getting sanitized by large snakes isn’t covered by our medical plan.
Darn it.’