"So, what — you're just going to let Kronos crush us?" I asked.

 

"If you want my help so bad, tell Apollo to give us the chariot."

 

"You're such a big baby."

 

She charged me, but Chris got between us. "Whoa, guys," he said. "Clarisse, you

know, maybe he's got a point."

 

She sneered at him. "Not you too!" She trudged off with Chris at her heels.

 

"Hey, wait! I just meant — Clarisse, wait!"

 

I watched the last sparks from Beckendorf s fire curl into the afternoon sky.

Then I headed toward the sword- fighting arena. I needed a break, and I wanted

to see an old friend.

 

FIVE

 

I DRIVE MY DOG INTO A TREE

 

Mrs. O'Leary saw me before I saw her, which was a pretty good trick considering

she's the size of a garbage truck. I walked into the arena, and a wall of

darkness slammed into me.