invisible string | f. zhang

xlii. bob says hello

Leo shrugs. "Cool with me. But, uh, a few pesky logistical problems. We got what — two weeks until that Roman feast day when Gaea is supposed to rise?"

"The Feast of Spes," Jason says. "That's on the first of August. Today is —"

"July eighteenth," Frank offers. "So, yeah, from tomorrow, exactly fourteen days."

Hazel winces, "It took us eighteen days to get from Rome to here — a trip that should've only taken two or three days, max."

"So, given our usual luck," Leo says, "Maybe we have enough time to get the Argo II to Athens, find the giants, and stop them from waking Gaea. Maybe. But how is Reyna supposed to get this massive statue back to Camp Half-Blood before the Greeks and Romans put each other through the blender? She doesn't even have her pegasus anymore. Uh, sorry —"

"Fine," Reyna snaps, "Unfortunately, Leo is correct. I don't see how I can transport something so large. I was assuming — well, I was hoping you all would have an answer."

"The Labyrinth," Hazel offers. "I — I mean, if Pasiphaë really has reopened it, and I think she has . . . well, you said the Labyrinth could take you anywhere. So maybe—"

"No." Percy and Annabeth say in unison.

"Not to shoot you down, Hazel," Percy continues. "It's just . . . for one thing, the passages in the Labyrinth are way too small for the Athena Parthenos. There's no chance you could take it down there —"

"And even if the maze is reopening," Annabeth continues, "We don't know what it might be like now. It was dangerous enough before, under Daedalus's control, and he wasn't evil. If Pasiphaé has remade the Labyrinth the way she wanted . . ." She shakes her head, "Hazel, maybe your underground senses could guide Reyna through, but no one else would stand a chance. And we need you here. Besides, if you got lost down there —"

"You're right," Hazel says glumly, "Never mind."

"Other ideas?"

"I could go," Frank offers, not sounding very happy about it, "If I'm a praetor, I should go. Maybe we could rig some sort of sled, or —"

"No, Frank Zhang. I hope we will work side by side in the future, but for now your place is with the crew of this ship. You are one of the seven of the prophecy."

"I'm not," Nico says.

Everybody stopped eating.

"Nico—"

"I'll go with Reyna," He says. "I can transport the statue with shadow-travel."

"Uh . . ." Percy raises his hand. "I mean, I know you just got all eight of us to the surface, and that was awesome. But a year ago you said transporting just yourself was dangerous and unpredictable. A couple of times you ended up in China. Transporting a forty-foot statue and two people halfway across the world —"

"I've changed since I came back from Tartarus."

"Nico," Jason intervenes, "We're not questioning your power. We just want to make sure you don't kill yourself trying."

"I can do it," He insists. "I'll make short jumps — a few hundred miles each time. It's true, after each jump I won't be in any shape to fend off monsters. I'll need Reyna to defend me and the statue."

"Any objections?"

No one spoke.

"Very well. I see no better option. But there will be many monster attacks. I would feel better taking a third person. That's the optimal number for a quest."

"Coach Hedge," Frank blurts.

"Uh, what, Frank?" Maribelle asks.

"The coach is the best choice," Frank says. "The only choice. He's a good fighter. He's a certified protector. He'll get the job done."