promise. And maybe for a while things will get better. But we gods have never

been good at keeping oaths. Y ou were bom because of a broken promise, eh?

Eventually we'll become forgetful. We always do."

 

"You can change."

 

Hermes laughed. "After three thousand years, you think the gods can change their

nature?"

 

"Yeah," I said. "I do."

 

Hermes seemed surprised by that. "Y ou think . . . Luke actually loved me? After

all that happened?" "I'm sure of it."

 

Hermes stared at the fountain. "I'll give you a list of my children. There's a

boy in Wisconsin. Two girls in Los Angeles. A few others. Will you see that they

get to camp?"

 

"I promise," I said. "And I won't forget."

 

George and Martha twirled around the caduceus. I know snakes can't smile, but

they seemed to be trying.

 

"Percy Jackson," Hermes said, "you might just teach us a thing or two."