Karolina_Avalon
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« on: March 08, 2010, 05:59:11 PM » |
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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Chapter 13: I Plunge To My Death
Written by Katlyn
Summary
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover were two days into their Amtrak trip. Percy tried to keep a low-profile on the train because his name and picture were on the newspapers explaining that he was missing along with his mother. Annabeth tried to sooth Percy's fears but he was still worried.
Percy spent a majority of the trip looking out the window and he saw mythological creatures on the landscape, while the mortals were oblivious. Since they weren't able to afford a sleeping car, they were forced to sleep uncomfortably in their seats. Annabeth asked Percy what he was dreaming about since he was talking in his sleep. He told her he was dreaming about Hades and rescuing his mother. Annabeth told him that he couldn't barter with Hades because he was selfish and greedy. Percy asked what she would do if her father was taken by Hades. She explained that she would leave him down there to rot. Percy was taken aback by her answer. Annabeth explained that her father had resented her the moment she was dropped on his doorstep. He went on with his mortal life with his mortal family and Annabeth was left out. Her father and his wife always blamed her for bad things that happened so she took the hint and left to Half-Blood Hill.
As they passed through Mississippi into St. Louis, Annabeth saw the Gateway Arch and told Percy she wanted to build something like that someday. Percy and Annabeth both agreed to try and work together even though their mother and father did not. All three got off the train at the station for the three hour layover and went to the Arch.
As they made their way to the Gateway Arch, Percy smelled something 'wrong'. He asked Grover about it but he said it was just the Underground air. Percy asked if Hades had a hat like Annabeth's and she said yes, it is called the Helm of Darkness, which allowed him to become that darkness that everyone feared. Percy wondered since they couldn't see him, then he could be watching them undetected. They disagreed.
The trio went up the elevator with fat woman and her Chihuahua. She asked about their parents, and Annabeth told her that they were below. The Chihuahua growled at the kids until the fat woman shut him up. Percy was uncomfortable with the height and confined space while Annabeth observed the architecture of the structure. When it was near closing time they headed to the elevator. Once there, Percy noticed that there wasn't any room in that car and told Annabeth and Grover to meet him at the bottom. They hesitated but went down with that car.
The only others left on the deck were Percy, a family of three, the park ranger, and the fat woman with her dog. Percy noticed that the woman had a forked tongue and then her dog went crazy, barking at him. The woman spoke to her dog like she could understand him and explained to Percy that the dog was a Chimera. She showed her true form with reptilian skin, eyes, and teeth. The Chimera grew until it was its true form with the head of a lion, the body and hooves of a goat, and serpent for a tail. The woman told Percy that she was sent from Zeus to destroy him and that she was the Mother of Monsters, Echidna. She sent her Chimera after him and Percy struggled to get his sword. The other mortals present screamed and ran for their lives.
Percy went to kill the Chimera but it fought back. It shot putrid-smelling flames from its mouth and lit the carpet ablaze. Riptide formed in Percy's hands and he slashed at the Chimera's neck, it bounced off the collar and the serpent tail struck him in the calf. The Chimera knocked Riptide out of Percy's hands into the Mississippi below. Echidna and the Chimera had Percy at a disadvantage, she told him to jump and save himself in the water below. Percy did not believe her since he was so high up the fall would kill him. She told him to have faith in his bloodline and he was dying anyway from the Chimera poison. Percy turned around and jumped toward the river.
Characters Involved
Percy
Grover
Annabeth
Characters Mentioned
Gabe Ugliano
Gladiola
Hades
The Furies
Athena
Poseidon
Echidna
Chimera
Places Visited
St. Louis, The Gateway Arch
Quotes
Her hand crept up to her necklace. She fingered a glazed white bead painted with the image
of a pine tree, one of her clay end-of-summer tokens. "Let's just say I've got no love for the Lord
of the Dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom."
"What would you do if it was your dad?"
"That's easy," she said. "I'd leave him to rot."
"Can't we work together a little?" I pleaded. "I mean, didn't Athena and Poseidon ever
cooperate?"
Annabeth had to think about it. "I guess ... the chariot," she said tentatively. "My mom
invented it, but Poseidon created horses out of the crests of waves. So they had to work together
to make it complete."
"Then we can cooperate, too. Right?"
"But then ... how do we know he's not here right now, watching us?" I asked.
Annabeth and Grover exchanged looks.
"We don't," Grover said.
"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," I said. "Got any blue jelly beans left?"
Questions for consideration
Do you think Percy and Annabeth will have the same fate as Poseidon and Athena?
Is Percy's ability to smell other monsters strengthening as he is embracing his bloodline?
Why do you think Echidna wanted Percy to jump and save himself in the water below?
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