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mouth.<br />
‘Hold it,’ Piper said. ‘Is <strong>the</strong>re something wrong with Leo or not?’<br />
Asclepius cleared his throat. ‘I … never mind. Forget I said anything. Now, you want <strong>the</strong><br />
physician’s cure.’<br />
Piper frowned. ‘But –’<br />
‘Seriously, guys,’ Leo said, ‘I’m fine, except for <strong>the</strong> fact that Gaia’s destroying <strong>the</strong> world<br />
tomorrow. Let’s focus.’<br />
They didn’t look happy about it, but Asclepius forged ahead. ‘So this daisy was picked by my<br />
fa<strong>the</strong>r, Apollo?’<br />
‘Yep,’ Leo said. ‘He sends hugs and kisses.’<br />
Asclepius picked up <strong>the</strong> flower and sniffed it. ‘I do hope Dad comes through this war all right.<br />
Zeus can be … quite unreasonable. Now, <strong>the</strong> only missing ingredient is <strong>the</strong> heartbeat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chained<br />
god.’<br />
‘I have it,’ Piper said. ‘At least … I can summon <strong>the</strong> makhai.’<br />
‘Excellent. Just a moment, dear.’ He looked at his python. ‘Spike, are you ready?’<br />
Leo stifled a laugh. ‘Your snake’s name is Spike?’<br />
Spike looked at him balefully. He hissed, revealing a crown <strong>of</strong> spikes around his neck like a<br />
basilisk’s.<br />
Leo’s laugh crawled back down his throat to die. ‘My bad,’ he said. ‘Of course your name is<br />
Spike.’<br />
‘He’s a little grumpy,’ Asclepius said. ‘People are always confusing my staff with <strong>the</strong> staff <strong>of</strong><br />
Hermes, which has two snakes, obviously. Over <strong>the</strong> centuries, people have called Hermes’s staff <strong>the</strong><br />
symbol <strong>of</strong> medicine, when <strong>of</strong> course it should be my staff. Spike feels slighted. George and Martha<br />
get all <strong>the</strong> attention. Anyway …’<br />
Asclepius set <strong>the</strong> daisy and poison in front <strong>of</strong> Spike. ‘Pylosian mint – certainty <strong>of</strong> death. The curse<br />
<strong>of</strong> Delos – anchoring that which cannot be anchored. Now <strong>the</strong> final ingredient: <strong>the</strong> heartbeat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
chained god – chaos, violence and fear <strong>of</strong> mortality.’ He turned to Piper. ‘My dear, you may release<br />
<strong>the</strong> makhai.’<br />
Piper closed her eyes.<br />
Wind swirled through <strong>the</strong> room. Angry voices wailed. Leo felt a strange desire to smack Spike<br />
with a hammer. He wanted to strangle <strong>the</strong> good doctor with his bare hands.<br />
Then Spike unhinged his jaw and swallowed <strong>the</strong> angry wind. His neck ballooned as <strong>the</strong> spirits <strong>of</strong><br />
battle went down his throat. He snapped up <strong>the</strong> daisy and <strong>the</strong> vial <strong>of</strong> Pylosian mint for dessert.<br />
‘Won’t <strong>the</strong> poison hurt him?’ Jason asked.<br />
‘No, no,’ Asclepius said. ‘Wait and see.’<br />
A moment later Spike belched out a new vial – a stoppered glass tube no bigger than Leo’s finger.<br />
Dark red liquid glowed inside.<br />
‘The physician’s cure.’ Asclepius picked up <strong>the</strong> vial and turned it in <strong>the</strong> light. His expression<br />
became serious, <strong>the</strong>n bewildered. ‘Wait … why did I agree to make this?’<br />
Piper placed her hand palm up on <strong>the</strong> desk. ‘Because we need it to save <strong>the</strong> world. It’s very