like tiny comets.

 

They seemed to be coming from all over the city, heading straight toward the

mountain. As they got close, they fizzled out. We watched them for several

minutes and they didn't seem to do any damage, but still it was strange.

 

"Like infrared scopes," Michael Yew muttered. "We're being targeted."

 

"Let's get to the palace," I said.

 

No one was guarding the hall of the gods. The gold-and-silver doors stood wide

open. Our footsteps echoed as we walked into the throne room.

 

Of course, "room" doesn't really cover it. The place was the size of Madison

Square Garden. High above, the blue ceiling glittered with constellations.

Twelve giant empty thrones stood in a U around a hearth. In one comer, a

house-size globe of water hovered in the air, and inside swam my old friend the

Ophiotaurus, half-cow, half-serpent.

 

"Moooo!" he said happily, turning in a circle.

 

Despite all the serious stuff going on, I had to smile. Two years ago we'd spent

a lot of time trying to save the Ophiotaurus from the Titans, and I'd gotten

kind of fond of him. He seemed to like me too, even though I'd originally

thought he was a girl and named him Bessie.