The lump man didn't have any eyes, but it groped around the table, stumbling

over Prometheus's fingers. "I have been whispering in man's ear since the

beginning of your existence. I represent your curiosity, your sense of

exploration, your inventiveness. Help me save you, Percy. Do this, and I will

give mankind a new gift — a new revelation that will move you as far forward as

fire did. You can't make that kind of advance under the gods. They would never

allow it. But this could be a new golden age for you. Or . . ." He made a fist

and smashed the clay man into a pancake.

 

The blue giant rumbled, "Uh-oh." Over at the park bench, the empousa bared her

fangs in a smile.

 

"Percy, you know the Titans and their offspring are not all bad," Prometheus

said. "You've met Calypso."

 

My face felt hot. "That's different."

 

"How? Much like me, she did nothing wrong, and yet she was exiled forever simply

because she was Atlas's daughter. We are not your enemies. Don't let the worst

happen," he pleaded. "We offer you peace."

 

I looked at Ethan Nakamura. "You must hate this."

 

"I don't know what you mean."