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"Of course," said Phillip, and he looked in the direction that ht the three of us, carrying us toward the surface with forh the water, the tide dragged us to the side, and I clawed my way toward the surface Just a few more inches

"Your stop, I believe," said Phillip "Be safe"

I nodded and h the water now, and he was grinning at his uncle and giving hiured We’d nearly drowned, and he was shed up an impossible a sand, and I stood shakily, ether But ere out of the ocean and still had a few minutes left before Cronus expectedflashed at the edge ofFor a split second, I thought I saw a dark-haired figure looone

Deep breaths We were out of the ocean, and I had nothing to panic about any everything I loved counted

Cool waves lapped atlike a leaf "All right," he rasped "I ad first was a--a mistake"

"No shit," I said in a voice that trembled as much as his did We stood a few yards from the shoreline of Cronus’s island, and the palace looht sky "Are you okay?"

"I’ll live," he said wryly "At least until we get inside"

"How are we getting through the barrier?" I couldn’t see it, but I could feel it, thru in my bones like a force field If Cronus couldn’t penetrate it--at least not enough to leave, even though his reach now extended as far as Cairo--then hoe supposed to?

"We walk," said James "The barrier’s meant to keep Cronus trapped, not us Walter even insisted we didn’t modify it to include Calliope Until we realized she had you, of course"

"You mean--" I faltered I should’ve tried harder to escape Somehow I could’ve found a way Phillip could’ve picked ht e of possibilities that floodedI had tried to escape I’d done everything I could And right now, all I could focus on was how to s finally went my way

"I mean what?" said Jao"

Without of the ocean to meet my fate

Unnatural silence settled over the island The cliffs overlooking the shore stood tall and unyielding, but despite their iht, Ja to find the quickest way up

"It’s not going to work," I said, annoyed We asting too o around"