Annabeth came up to me. She was dressed in black camouflage with her Celestial

bronze knife strapped to her arm and her laptop bag slung over her shoulder —

ready for stabbing or surfing the Internet, whichever came first.

 

She frowned. "What is it?"

 

"What's what?" I asked.

 

"You're looking at me funny."

 

I realized I was thinking about my strange vision of Annabeth pulling me out of

the Styx River. "It's, uh, nothing." I turned to the rest of the group. "Tha nks

for coming, everybody. Chiron, after you."

 

My old mentor shook his head. "I came to wish you luck, my boy. But I make it a

point never to visit Olympus unless I am summoned."

 

"But you're our leader."

 

He smiled. "I am your trainer, your teacher. That is not the same as being your

leader. I will go gather what allies I can. It may not be too late to convince

my brother centaurs to help. Meanwhile, you called the campers here, Percy. You

are the leader."