The Lightning Thief

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover spend two days on the train, but nothing attacks them. The picture the tourist took in New Jersey of Percy with Riptide is in all the papers, so Percy keeps an eye out and tries to lay low. The accompanying article says that Smelly Gabe is offering a cash reward for information as to Percy’s whereabouts. One evening, as Grover snores, Annabeth asks who wants Percy’s help and shares that he’s been talking in his sleep. He describes his dreams of the voice in the pit. Annabeth insists that it doesn’t sound like Hades, and it doesn’t make sense for Hades to ask Percy to bring the bolt if Hades already has it. When Percy mentions Mom, Annabeth reminds him that he can’t barter with Hades. If Hades had her dad, she’d leave him to rot.

Percy is shocked, but Annabeth shares that her dad wasn’t thrilled when she showed up in a golden cradle. He married a mortal woman and had two kids, and they pretend that Annabeth doesn’t exist. Percy says that Mom married an awful guy to protect him and that maybe Annabeth’s dad is doing the same, but Annabeth fingers her necklace and the gold class ring on it. She says that her dad doesn’t care about her; her dad and stepmom treat her like a freak, and she ran away at seven years old. Athena guided Annabeth, along with a couple of friends, to Camp Half-Blood.

Eight days before the summer solstice, the train passes through St. Louis. Annabeth twists to look at the Gateway Arch and says she wants to build a great monument to the gods. Percy laughs at the thought of Annabeth being an architect and sitting still, so Annabeth insults Poseidon. Percy asks if they can cooperate at all, pointing out that even Poseidon and Athena cooperated once. The train stops for a layover, so Annabeth insists on riding to the top of the Arch. They meander through the museum; and Percy smells something odd, but Grover insists that underground air always smells like monsters. Still, something feels wrong. Percy asks about Hades’s symbol of power, the helm of darkness, which allows him to become darkness and radiate fear. Percy asks if they can know that Hades isn’t here now. They can’t.

Percy feels even worse when he sees the tiny elevator: he hates confined spaces because of his ADHD. The three get in with a large woman and a Chihuahua, which Percy thinks must be a service dog. They make small talk on the way up, but the woman and dog’s eyes look unintelligent and vicious. Up on the observation, deck Percy feels even more nervous, so he’s thrilled when it’s time to go. Annabeth and Grover get in an elevator, and there’s no room for Percy, so he insists he’ll take the next one. The only people on the deck now one family and the woman with her Chihuahua. The woman smiles, and a forked tongue flicks out. The woman calls the Chihuahua “son” and sighs that it’s not a good time. She smiles again and tells Percy that the dog is her son, the Chimera.

As the Chimera barks, it grows until it touches the ceiling and transforms into its monstrous form. The woman introduces herself as Echidna; dumbfounded, Percy asks if that’s a kind of anteater. Echidna sets the Chimera on Percy for this insult. Percy knows he has to protect the mortals. He engages the Chimera, which blows a hole in the side of the observation deck with flames. He tries to stab at the lion head, but the snake head tail bites Percy’s leg and pulls him off his feet. Riptide falls into the Mississippi River below. Percy knows he can’t just die—he has to protect the mortals. Echidna taunts Percy that he should jump and prove that he’s Poseidon’s son. Percy stands at the edge, thinks of his childhood memory of Poseidon visiting him, and jumps. He prays for Poseidon to help him.