shapes. Once, she'd even left the attic and taken a little zombie stroll into

the woods to deliver a message. I wasn't sure what she'd do for the "Great

Prophecy." I half expected her to start tap dancing or something.

 

But she just sat there like she was dead — which she was.

 

"I never understood this," I whispered.

 

"What?" Annabeth asked.

 

"Why it's a mummy."

 

"Percy, she didn't used to be a mummy. For thousands of years the spirit of the

Oracle lived inside a beautiful maiden. The spirit would be passed on from

generation to generation. Chiron told me she was like that fifty years ago."

Annabeth pointed at the mummy. "But she was the last."

 

"What happened?"

 

Annabeth started to say something, then apparently changed her mind. "Let's just

do our job and get out of here."

 

I looked nervously at the Oracle's withered face. "So what now?"

 

Annabeth approached the mummy and held out her palms. "O Oracle, the time is at