'•' The Sea of Monsters '•'

3 :: Test 'Can Percy Drown?' Is a Go

Published: October 1, 2021
Edited: July 26, 2022
'•'

"You are in so much trouble," Clarisse informed us, a hand on her hip.

We'd just finished a ship tour we didn't want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. We'd seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute.

We'd seen the pilothouse and the powder magazine and gunnery deck (Clarisse's favorite) with two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine-inch rifled gun fore and aft- all specially refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.

Everywhere we went, dead Confederate sailors stared at us, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls. They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia. They were interested in me and Percy, too, because our last name was Jackson- like the Southern general- but then Percy ruined it by telling them we were from New York.

They all hissed and muttered curses about Yankees. Tyson was terrified of them. All through the tour, he insisted Annabeth hold his hand (after I flatly refused) which she didn't look too thrilled about.

Finally, we were escorted to dinner. The CSS Birmingham captain's quarters were about thesize of a walk-in closet, but still much bigger than any other room on board. The table was set with white linen and china. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and Dr. Peppers were served by skeletal crewmen. I didn't want to eat anything served by ghosts, but my hunger overruled my fear.

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse told us smugly. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

"Mr. D has an SUV?! Since when?!" I cried. No one answered me.

'Shut up Neri' Percy sighed over our twin link. I jumped at the sound of his voice, but relaxed when I remembered that it was just my brother.

"Did they give you this ship?" Percy asked aloud.

"'Course not. My father did."

"Ares?"

"No Perce, her other dad, Godzilla. Who else?!"

Clarisse sneered. "You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won't you, Captain?"

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes fixed me with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone." Clarisse smiled.

"Destroy anyone. I like that."

Tyson gulped.

"Clarisse," Annabeth had her best strategy voice as she leaned forward earnestly, "Luke might be after the Fleece, too. We saw him. He's got thecoordinates and he's heading south. He has a cruise ship full of monsters-"

"Good! I'll blow him out of the water."

"You don't understand," I snapped, there were innocent mortals on that ship. "The Andromeda is three times the size of this ship. They have a fucking drakon! We have to combine forces. Let us help you-"

"No!" Clarisse pounded the table. "This is my quest, seaweed girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you two will not steal my chance."

"Where are your cabin mates?" Percy asked quietly, as though he had been thinking of something. "You were allowed to take two friends with you, weren't you?"