point just opposite my navel. It was well defended when I wore my armor. It

would be hard to hit by accident, and few enemies would aim for it on purpose.

No place was perfect, but this seemed right to me, and a lot more dignified

than, like, my armpit or something.

 

I pictured a string, a bungee cord connecting me to the world from the small of

my back. And I stepped into the river.

 

Imagine jumping into a pit of boiling acid. Now multiply that pain times fifty.

You still won't be close to understanding what it felt like to swim in the Styx.

I planned to walk in slow and courageous like a real hero. As soon as the water

touched my legs, my muscles turned to jelly and I fell face-first into the

current.

 

I submerged completely. For the first time in my life, I couldn't breathe

underwater. I finally understood the panic of drowning. Every nerve in my body

burned. I was dissolving in the water. I saw faces — Rachel, Grover, Tyson, my

mother — but they faded as soon as they appeared.

 

"Percy," my mom said. "I give you my blessing."

 

"Be safe, brother!" Tyson pleaded.

 

"Enchiladas!" Grover said. I wasn't sure where that came from, but it didn't

seem to help much.