Page 24 (2/2)

Frank stu sure he was still in one piece

"Keto!" Porky snapped--literally, since he clicked his fingers to his thuuests with so much information Less education, more entertainment! We’ve discussed this"

"But--"

"No buts! We’re here to present ‘Death in the Deep Seas!’ Sponsored by Monster Donut!"

The last words reverberated through the roohts flashed Ss that smelled like real donuts

"Available at the concession stand," Phorcys advised "But you’ve spent your hard-earned denarii to get the VIP tour, and so you shall! Come with me!"

"Um, hold it," Percy said

Phorcys’s sod, aren’t you?" Percy asked "Son of Gaea?"

The crab hed "Five thousand years, and I’m still known as Gaea’s little boy Never ods in existence Older than your upstart father, by the way I’od of the hidden depths! Lord of watery terrors! Father of a thousand monsters! But, no…nobody even knowsthe Titans in their war, and I’m exiled froht the Olympians said Atlantis," Keto explained "Their idea of a joke, I guess, sending us here instead"

Percy narrowed his eyes "And you’re a goddess?"

"Keto, yes!" She smiled happily "Goddess of sea iant sea life, but ed to the itate the flesh of their victims and keep themselves fed for up to six years on the sa his stoe whistled "Six years? That’s fascinating"

"I know!" Keto beamed

"And how exactly does a killer squid rend the flesh froe asked "I love nature"

"Oh, well--"

"Stop!" Phorcys deladiators fight to the death!"

Athe water dance with ht Tords fell to the bottonored the Go Fish

"Curse it!" Phorcys stori Cora habits"

"Excellent!"

Before Percy could object, Keto led Coach Hedge away through aFrank and hiod

A bead of sweat traced its way down Percy’s neck He exchanged a nervous look with Frank This felt like a divide-and-conquer strategy He didn’t see any way the encounter was going to end well Part of hiive them the element of surprise--but they hadn’t found out any useful inforain He wasn’t even sure he could find the exit

Phorcys must’ve read his expression

"Oh, it’s fine!" the god assured hiood care of your friend And honestly, the best part of the tour is still to co to get a headache He wasn’t sure if it was from yesterday’s head injury, Phorcys’s special effects, or his sister’s lectures on nauseating sea ed "Dionysus sent us here"

"Bacchus," Frank corrected

"Right" Percy tried to keep his annoyance in check He could barely reod Whatever" He looked at Phorcys "Bacchus said you iant brothers of yours--Ephialtes and Otis And if you happen to know anything about this Mark of Athena--"

"Bacchus thought I would help you?" Phorcys asked

"Well, yeah," Percy said "I mean, you’re Phorcys Everybody talks about you"

Phorcys tilted his head so that his mismatched eyes almost lined up "They do?"

"Of course Don’t they, Frank?"

"Oh…sure!" Frank said "People talk about you all the tiod asked

Frank looked uncoood announcer’s voice And, um, a disco ball--"

"It’s true!" Phorcys clacked his fingers and thuest collection of captive sea monsters in the world!"