The Son Of Asclepius, Demi-god Doctor

Too Dam Bad

"Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge." 

The five stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of concrete that loomed between the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam. They were so tiny they looked like fleas.The naiads had left with a lot of grumbling—not in words (Y/N) could understand, but it was obvious they hated this dam blocking up their nice river. The canoes floated back downstream, swirling in the wake from the dam's discharge vents.

"Seven hundred feet tall," Percy said. 

"Built in the 1930s."

"Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia said.

Grover sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States." 

"Still nowhere near as cool as the Parthenon," grumbled the son of Asclepius. 

Zoe stared at them. "How do you know all that?" 

"Annabeth," Percy said. "She liked architecture."

"She was nuts about monuments," Thalia said.

"Spouted facts all the time." Grover sniffled. "So annoying."

"I wish she were here," Percy said.

The others nodded. Zoe was still staring at them strangely, as if the concept of an education system were foreign to her. It seemed like a cruel fate that they'd come to Hoover Dam, one of Annabeth's personal favourites, and she wasn't here to see it. But fate had been cruel so far, so no point in complaining. 

"We should go up there," said Jackson. "For her sake. Just to say we've been."

"You are mad," Zoe decided. 

"But that's where the road is." She pointed to a huge parking garage next to the top of the dam. "And so, sightseeing it is." 

They had to walk for almost an hour before a path that led up to the road was found. It came up on the east side of the river. Then they straggled back toward the dam. It was cold and windy on top. On one side, a big lake spread out, ringed by barren desert mountains. On the other side, the dam dropped away like the world's most dangerous skateboard ramp, down to the river seven hundred feet below, and water that churned from the dam's vents.Thalia walked in the middle of the road, far away from the edges. Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't say anything, but anyone could tell he smelled monsters. 

"There's a snack bar in the visitor centre," Thalia said.

"You've been here before?" (Y/N) asked.

"Once. To see the guardians." 

She pointed to the far end of the dam. Carved into the side of the cliff was a little plaza with two big bronze statues. They looked like angels.

"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia said. "A gift from Athena."

Tourists were clustered all around them. They seemed to be doing something to the statues' feet. 

"What are they doing?" Percy asked.

"Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."

"Why?"She shook her head. "Mortals get crazy ideas. They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

"When you were here last, did they talk to you or anything?" 

Grace's face darkened as if someone just died in front of her. "No. They don't do anything. They're just big metal statues." 

"Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"