a Shakespearian actor in college! Picked up a little swordplay!"

 

I liked him even better for that, but then a Laistrygonian giant charged toward

my mom. She was rummaging around in an abandoned police car — maybe looking for

the emergency radio — and her back was turned.

 

"Mom!" I yelled.

 

She whirled when the monster was almost on top of her. I thought the thing in

her hands was an umbrella until she cranked the pump and the shotgun blast blew

the giant twenty feet backward, right into Nico's sword.

 

"Nice one," Paul said.

 

"When did you learn to fire a shotgun?" I demanded.

 

My mom blew the hair out of her face. "About two seconds ago. Percy, we'll be

fine. Go!"

 

"Yes," Nico agreed, "we'll handle the army. You have to get Kronos!"

 

"Come on, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth said. I nodded. Then I looked at the rubble

pile on the side of the building. My heart twisted. I'd forgotten about Chiron.

How could I do that?