Child of Artemis

Chapter 11

The Argo II lifted up and out of the camp. The speakers blared, "About 16 hours till we get there. Time for dinner!"

Avalon went to the dining hall, where everyone else has already gathered and were eating. She grabbed some silverware, a goblet, and a plate. Her goblet filled with spring water and fondue appeared in a bowl on her plate, surrounded by apple slices and croutons.

Selene and Nova loped in. They greeted Avalon. Getting up, Avalon got a plate and goblet for each of them and placed them on the floor. Nova dug into a steak and Selene crunched up a slice of bacon.

"The Great Wall of China is huge. Where are we supposed to find the clue?" Taylor asked. "Let's figure that out when we get there," Aurora replied. They ate in silence.

Percy and Annabeth came in. They each sat down with a plate and a goblet. Buttered corn and cooked fish appeared on Annabeth's plate. Percy had a cheeseburger, a pizza slice, a slice of pie, and his drink and pie, for some odd reason, were blue, as was the bun of his burger and the crust of his pizza.

Aurora watched him discreetly as he downed the burger and pizza slice in a matter of minutes. When he started on the pie, she mouthed to Annabeth, "How does he eat like that?" Annabeth shrugged.

Hazel entered last and sat down in front of the plate and goblet Annabeth had set out for here. Hazel's plate produced a bowl of shrimp gumbo. She picked up her fork and pushed her shrimp around the rim of the bowl. It was clear that she was upset. Her eyes were red from crying.

After dinner, Avalon headed above deck and looked down at the landscape. The golden sun lit up the grey and green hills, shining bright light on one side of the hills but casting dark shadows on the other. The cerulean sky greatly outlined the rays of the setting sun. Whispy white clouds absorbed the orange rays on one side, and glowed blue on the other.

The land ended, quickly and suddenly, to be replaced by endless blue water as far as Avalon could see. Near the coast the water was green, but grew blue as soon as they flew past the shallows. The water then turned a dark, navy blue. It looked like blue land, and the ripples were hills with villages in their shadows, but the villages and the people in them were too small to see.

Avalon went to the bathroom attached to her cabin. Taking her toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, she squeezed some toothpaste onto the brush. She then brushed her teeth.

A banging noise sounded from above deck. Avalon quickly rinsed her mouth and toothbrush, laid down her brush, and rushed out, pausing to grab her bow and quiver.

Slithering serpent women-- dracaenae-- lined the rail of the Argo II. Ivan, Taylor, and Aurora stood in the middle of the ring, swords at the ready. Avalon looked over the shoulders of the dracaenae. One of the snake women ran at Taylor, to be sliced to dust, which flowed up and over the sides of the boat to be dispersed by the wind.

She rushed back to her cabin and collected the moon-shaped minotaur horns. She ran back above deck and aimed it at the nearest monster.

A glowing silver ball of energy appeared between the two ends of the crescent. The whole weapon turned silver. Silver light hit the nearest dracaenae and spread to the next, illuminating them but ignoring the demigods.

The dracaenae burst into dust. The ring of snake women was now just piles of dust and assorted spoils of war. Ivan spread his hands in front of him, and the dust floated up and over the sides of the boat and dispersed.

"I'm going to bed," Aurora said. She went below deck. "See you tomorrow," Ivan added, following her. Avalon followed them, leaving Taylor above deck.

In her cabin, Avalon opened the closet door and pulled out a loose t-shirt and pants. She switched clothes and got in bed. Within minutes she fell asleep.

Avalon dreamed a dream she hadn't had for a while. The story of her birth replayed itself in her mind, but this time, at the beginning of the dream, Hecate and the cage with Ivan in it disappeared. The cavern was now empty except for the stone spire. A symbol blazed to life on the back wall: a dove. Under that, Avalon saw the Great Wall of China. The dream faded.

 Avalon woke up. A few rays of morning light penetrated through the curtain pulled over the doorway. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was 4:00 am. "Avalon," said Aurora. "It's your turn for watch."

Avalon got up and Aurora left. She changed into a t-shirt and jeans and grabbed her bow and quiver. Going above deck, she paced back and forth around the Argo II and looked for anything amiss.

Nothing happened. After a few hours, Ivan stumbled out from below deck, followed by Aurora. "Where's Taylor?" she asked. "I'm over here!" a voice yelled. Avalon searched for Taylor and found her in the dining hall, eating a panini.

Avalon grabbed a plate and goblet. A yogurt parfait appeared. Avalon picked up her spoon and dug into it. Percy entered, followed by Annabeth and Hazel. Avalon put her fork down. "I think I might have an idea on what to search for."

She told them about her dream, about the image of the dove and the Great Wall. "Are there doves in China?" Ivan asked. "To be honest, I have no idea," Taylor answered. "So, keep your eyes out for a dove."

When she finished, Avalon put her dishes in the dishwasher. Going above deck, Avalon looked over the edge of the ship. Vast hills spread below her. The Great Wall of China loomed ahead. It was huge. There was no other way to put it. Grey stone spread as far as Avalon could see. The wall ran into the distance until she couldn't see it anymore and then came back and spread across the landscape.

"We'll watch the ship," Annabeth promised.The Argo II landed right next to the wall. The landing gear lowered. Avalon filed off the plane and looked around. The Great Wall was taller than the Argo II, by a lot.

"So how do we get up there?" Aurora asked. Ivan responded by scooping her up and flying to the top. Taylor pulled out a handgun and shot a grappling hook to the top. She climbed up.

Avalon grippped the thin rope and put both her feet on the wall. The line seemed to be holding her weight. She made it to the top. Taylor reeled in the line and fit her handgun to her belt.

"Where to start?" she inquired. "When in doubt, go that way," Ivan said, pointing to the left. A shadow was cast over the section of the wall to the left, although there was nothing there to cast one.

They walked left. When they reached the first guard tower, they stopped. "Did you feel that?" Aurora asked. A tremor ran through their feet. Another one shook so hard that Aurora toppled over. A cooing noise sounded.

Looking up, Avalon saw a beautiful white bird descending. It looked just like the symbol in her dreams. The dove flew along and turned around once. 'Come,' it said. Then it turned and continued on.