"You each get half," I said. "In exchange, you keep all of Kronos's forces away

from Manhattan."

 

"Oh, man," Hudson whimpered, reaching out for the sand dollar. "It's been so

long since I was clean." "The power of Poseidon," East River murmured. "He's a

jerk, but he sure knows how to sweep pollution away."

 

They looked at each other, then spoke as one: "It's a deal."

 

I gave them each a sand-dollar half, which they held reverently.

 

"Um, the invaders?" I prompted.

 

East flicked his hand. "They just got sunk."

 

Hudson snapped his fingers. "Bunch of hellhounds just took a dive."

 

"Thank you," I said. "Stay clean."

 

As I rose toward the surface, East called out, "Hey, kid, any time you got a

sand dollar to spend, come on back. Assuming you live."

 

"Curse of Achilles," Hudson snorted. "They always think that'll save them, don't

they?"