In an awkward moment, the two boys tried to sit in the same chair at the head of the table. The tension in the mess hall was like an electrical storm brewing, which was totally possible, considering Percy’s and Jason’s powers. And unless they succeeded in this quest, the world would be destroyed. They were under way, with a bunch of angry Romans behind them and the ancient lands ahead. No more easy days at Camp Half-Blood, pretending the future was still a long way off. No more waiting for Leo to finish the ship. Maybe their presence should’ve reassured Piper, but seeing all of them in one place only reminded her that the Prophecy of Seven was unfolding at last. It was the first time they’d all sat down together-just the seven of them. “Crazy day, huh?”Īfter everyone had cleaned up, Coach Hedge took the helm and the demigods gathered below for dinner. “Meeting in the mess hall, one hour,” he said. But he grinned like a madman and announced that they were safely under way. The TEAM LEO on his chest now read: AM LEO. His T-shirt looked like it had been caught in an escalator and chewed to shreds. He was caked in sweat, lime dust, and tar. Finally Leo emerged from the engine room.
The ship became quiet except for the drone of machinery. The oars creaked and groaned, and Piper felt the ship lift into the air. After what seemed like hours, the engine began to hum.
In the engine room below, it sounded like Leo and the others were doing an Irish line dance with anvils tied to their feet. Down the hall, Hazel moaned miserably in her cabin. Festus the figurehead breathed fire several times. Waves crashed against the hull as angry voices came from above deck-Percy shouting, Coach Hedge yelling at the lake. Jason and Piper stayed below as the ship rocked back and forth. “I’ll just…” She swallowed, pointed weakly down the passageway, and ran off. The ship listed again, and Hazel hugged her stomach like she was going to be sick. The three of them ran off, leaving Hazel at the cabin door. I’ll hold off the water spirits as long as I can.” “Great.” Percy handed the bucket of tar to Frank and Annabeth.