ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

62

THE STUPID BOOK didn't help much with snakes and mosquitoes.

"If this is a magic island," Piper grumbled, "why couldn't it be a nice magic island?"

"Preach it!" Kat whooped, debating on falling to the ground and staying there for eternity.

They tromped up a hill and down into a heavily wooded valley, careful to avoid the black-and-red-striped snakes sunning themselves on the rocks. Mosquitoes swarmed over stagnant ponds in the lowest areas. The trees were mostly stunted olives, cypress, and pines. The chirring of the cicadas and the oppressive heat reminded Kat of the times she'd venture through layover cities in the Midwest during the summers. Ew.

So far they hadn't found any river.

"We could fly," Jason suggested again.

"We might miss something," Piper said. "Besides, I'm not sure I want to drop in on an unfriendly god. What was his name? Etch-a-Sketch?"

"That would be sick," added Kat helpfully.

"Achelous." Jason ( the fucking nerd ) was trying to read the guidebook while they walked, so he kept running into trees and stumbling over rocks. "Says here he's a potamus."

"He's a hippopotamus?" asked Piper, excitement in her voice.

"No. Potamus. A river god. According to this, he's the spirit of some river in Greece."

Kat pouted. "This would've been infinitely more entertaining if he was a hippo."

"Since we're not in Greece, let's assume he's moved," Piper said. "Doesn't bode well for how useful that book is going to be. Anything else?"

"Says Hercules fought him one time," Jason offered.

"Hercules fought ninety-nine percent of everything in Ancient Greece." Kat rolled her eyes. "I know. Mama made me study him, 'cause he was friends with Michael. Sorta wish he wasn't, but I can't turn back time."

"Yeah. Let's see. Pillars of Hercules . . ." Jason flipped a page. "Says here this island has no hotels, no restaurants, no transportation. Attractions: Hercules and two pillars. Huh, this is interesting. Supposedly the dollar sign — you know, the S with the two lines through it? — that came from the Spanish coat of arms, which showed the Pillars of Hercules with a banner curling between them."

Kat leaned a little bit of her body weight against Piper, yawning dramatically. "Nerd alert!" she said, her voice a touch louder than usual.

"Wee woo, wee woo," Piper agreed. "Anything helpful?"

"Wait. Here's a tiny reference to Achelous: This river god fought Hercules for the hand of the beautiful Deianira. During the struggle, Hercules broke off one of the river god's horns, which became the first cornucopia."

Kat frowned. "Corn-a-what?"

"It's that Thanksgiving decoration," Jason said. "The horn with all the goodies spilling out? We have some in the mess hall at Camp Jupiter. I didn't know the original one was actually some guy's horn."

"And we're supposed to take his other one," Piper said. "I'm guessing that won't be so easy. Who was Deianira?"

"Hercules married her," Jason said. "I think . . . doesn't say here. But I think something bad happened to her."

Kat remembered what Hercules had told them: his first family dead, his second wife dead after being tricked into poisoning him. She was liking this challenge less and less.

They trudged across a ridge between two hills, trying to stay in the shade; but Kat was already soaked with sweat, thanks to her Apollo genes. The mosquitoes left welts on her ankles, arms, and neck, so she probably looked like a smallpox victim.