Page 22 (1/2)

The creature on the left looked disturbingly like a telkhine His face olfish His body was vaguely like a seal's--sleek black with flipper hands and feet His eyes glowed radiation green

The dude on the right was s and seaweed, with a chain-mail coat made of bottle caps and old plastic six-pack holders His face was blotchy with algae, and his beard was overgrown His deep blue eyes burned with anger

The seal, who had to be the god of the East River, said, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, kid? Or are you just extra stupid?"

The bearded spirit of the Hudson scoffed "You're the expert on stupid, East"

"Watch it, Hudson," East growled "Stay on your side of the island and mind your business"

"Or what? You'll throw another garbage barge at ht

"Hold it!" I yelled "We've got a bigger probleht," East snarled "Let's both kill hiood," Hudson said

Before I could protest, a thousand scraps of garbage surged off the bottolass, rocks, cans, tires

I was expecting it, though The water in front of me thickened into a shield The debris bounced off harlass that hit ainst ods stared at me

"Son of Poseidon?" East asked

I nodded

"Took a dip in the Styx?" Hudson asked

"Yep"

They both usted sounds

"Well, that's perfect," East said "Noe kill him?"

"We could electrocute him," Hudson mused "If I could just find some jumper cables--"

"Listen toManhattan'"

"Don't you think we know that?" East asked "I can feel his boats right now They're alot so my waters too"

"So stop them," I said "Drown therumbled "So they invade Olympus What do we care?"

"Because I can pay you" I took out the sand dollar iven ods' eyes widened

"It's mine!" East said "Give it here, kid, and I pro across the East River"

"Forget that," Hudson said "That sand dollar's mine, unless you want me to let all those ships cross the Hudson"

"We'll compromise" I broke the sand dollar in half A ripple of clean fresh water spread out fro dissolved

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

"Oh,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 kno 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 proot 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 ti you live"

"Curse of Achilles," Hudson snorted "They always think that'll save thereed They both laughed, dissolving into the water

Back on the shore, Annabeth was talking on her cell phone, but she hung up as soon as she saw me She looked pretty shaken

"It worked," I told her "The rivers are safe"

"Good," she said "Because we've got other proble over the Williae The Apollo cabin needs help And Percy, thethe enemyit's the Minotaur"

ELEVEN

WE BREAK A BRIDGE

Fortunately, Blackjack was on duty

I did my best taxicab whistle, and within a few minutes two dark shapes circled out of the sky They looked like hawks at first, but as they descended I could asi