Krystal109
Guest
|
 |
« on: February 24, 2010, 04:30:25 PM » |
|
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Chapter 9: I Am Offered A Quest
Written by Chris
Edited by Krystal
Now that Percy has been determined he’s been moved to the Poseidon cabin and he’s utterly miserable. Just as he was beginning to feel like he fit in, he was singled out and everyone was steering clear of him. After what he’d done to the Ares gang, his sword fighting lessons had become one-on-one with Luke, who pushed him even harder. Annabeth still taught him ancient Greek, but she seemed distracted and scowled at him daily; it was a nightmare. Not to mention that someone had resented him, having left a mortal newspaper about the car accident with his mother.
That night Percy had a dream about running along the beach in a storm, trying to stop two men in Greek tunics from fighting. They appeared to be fighting over something and Percy knew he had to stop them, somehow, but before he could an evil voice from under the earth called out to him. The ground spilt open and swallowed him up and as he fell he woke up in cabin three.
A knock on the door from Grover informed him that he was being summoned to the big house by Mr. D. Grover escorted Percy to the house, commenting on the weather, and hid back as Dionysus spoke to Percy. Dionysus informs that if he had his way he’d destroy Percy, but it’s against his mission to protect the children at Camp Half-Blood. So instead, he will be going to Olympus for a meeting and if Percy isn’t gone when he gets back he will be turned into a dolphin and sent back to Poseidon. And with that, Dionysus disappeared.
Chiron tells Percy he has received a quest and Percy assumes that the weather is due to Zeus and Poseidon’s fighting over something. Chiron seems surprised at Percy’s knowledge and so Percy explains that he’s been having dreams. Chiron informs that they are indeed fighting over a lightning bolt, not just any zigzag lighting rod, but Zeus’ Master Bolt and symbol of his power. The fact is, gods cannot enter each other’s domain, and so Zeus believes that Percy stole the bolt for Poseidon during the winter solstice. Percy doesn’t understand why he is being accused of something so ridiculous, but he has until the summer solstice (10 days) to find the bolt and return it or there will be a war between the gods. Finally understanding the magnitude of this quest, Percy accepts the quest and wonders where the bolt could possibly be. Chiron seems to know, but first Percy must visit the Oracle.
Percy heads to the attic where the Oracle and a storage area for all old hero memorabilia reside. On a stool by the window sat a mummy-like corpse that Percy thought was dead, but quickly learned otherwise. The mummy itself wasn’t alive, but she was the receptacle for a powerful green mist that now surrounded him.
After getting up the courage to ask about his destiny, the Oracle transformed into Gabe and his buddies playing poker. One by one Gabe and his buddies spoke Percy’s prophecy: he is to travel west and face the god that has turned, he shall find what is stolen and see it safely returned, but shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend and shall fail to save what matters most. The figures dissolved and Percy’s audience with the Oracle was over.
Back downstairs Chiron waits for Percy to reveal his fate. Percy lies and only tells Chiron the good news, but Chiron knows that he’s not telling all and warns that the Oracle’s words often have double meanings that aren’t clear until it has come to pass. Percy anxiously changes the subject to which god lives in the west and learns that Hades has the most to gain from his brother’s war. The simple fact is that the Furies only obey Hades and someone summoned a hellhound, a spy, so nowhere is safe for Percy now.
After more conversation about the danger Percy is going to have to face Grover joins the quest, despite his apprehensions and the temptation of Maine, and the other is Annabeth. The three head off to pack for the most dangerous place on earth, the Underworld now located in Los Angeles, steal back the most powerful weapon of the gods, and return in just ten short days. No problem!
Characters Involved
Percy Jackson
Grover Underwood
Mr. D/Dionysus
Mr. Brunner/Chiron
Oracle of Delphi
Gabe Ugliano
Eddie
Annabeth Chase
Characters Mentioned
Hellhound
Poseidon
Luke Castellan
Clarisse La Rue
Eileen Smythe
Sally Jackson
Castor
Pollux
Zeus
Cyclopes
Titans
Kronos
Rhea
Hera
Demeter
Hestia
Mrs. Dodds/Alecto
Minotaur
The Fates
Hades
Places Visited
Camp Half Blood
Camp Half Blood: Poseidon’s Cabin
Camp Half Blood: The Big House
Memorable Quotes
Grover: “He wants to kill…I mean, I’d better let him tell you.” (Page 131)
Mr. D: “Come closer,” Mr. D said. “And don’t expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father.” (Page 132)
Chiron: “Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D,” Chiron put in.
Mr. D: “Nonsense,” Dionysus said. “Boy wouldn’t feel a thing.” (Page 132)
Grover: “Er, Percy…?” Grover said. “We don’t use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky.” (Page 136)
Chiron: “Wouldn’t that put a twist in your toga?” (Page 137)
Chiron: “And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?”
Percy: “Bad?” I guessed.
Chiron: “Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight.”
Percy: “Bad,” I repeated.
Chiron: “And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus’s wrath.” (Page 138)
Grover: “Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?” he asked weakly. (Page 146)
Questions for consideration:
What do you think of Percy’s dream and how it foreshadowed the quest he was about to receive? What do you think was causing the dreams?
What do you think the Oracle’s prophecy meant? Who do you think will betray him and what will he lose in the end?
Is there anything else in this chapter that you’d like to discuss with the group?
|
Author