the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic

since it made his whole body swirl.

 

"You'd better get back to camp," I told him. "Guard it as best you can."

 

He pointed at me and raised his eyebrow quizzically.

 

"I'm staying," I said.

 

Argus nodded, like this answer satisfied him. He looked at Annabeth and drew a

circle in the air with his finger.

 

"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."

 

"For what?" I asked.

 

Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. Fie brought out a bronze shield

and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much standard issue — the same kind

of round shield we always used in capture the flag. But when Annabeth set it on

the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings

to the Statue of Liberty — which wasn't anywhere close to us.

 

"Whoa," I said. "A video shield."

 

"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "I had Beckendorf make this before — "