Read Online The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries by Rick Riordan - Free Book Online Page B

centuries. The idea is too horrible. I need this resolved quickly and quietly before I become the laughingstock of Olympus.”
    “So…you want us to find this giant, get back your caduceus, and return it to you. Quietly.”
    Hermes smiled. “What a fine offer! Thank you. And I’ll need it before five o’clock this evening so I can finish my deliveries. The caduceus serves as my signature pad, my GPS, my phone, my parking permit, my iPod Shuffle—really, I can’t do a thing without it.”
    “By five.” I didn’t have a watch, but I was pretty sure it was at least one o’clock already. “Can you be more specific about where Cacus is?”
    Hermes shrugged. “I’m sure you can figure that out. And just a warning: Cacus breathes fire.”
    “Naturally,” I said.
    “And do be mindful of the caduceus. The tip can turn people to stone. I had to do that once with this horrible tattletale named Battus…but I’m sure you’ll be careful. And of course you’ll keep this as our little secret.”
    He smiled winningly. Maybe I was imagining that he’d just threatened to petrify me if I told anyone about the theft.
    I swallowed the sawdust taste out of my mouth. “Of course.”
    “You’ll do it, then?”
    An idea occurred to me. Yes—I do get ideas occasionally.
    “How about we trade favors?” I suggested. “I help you with your embarrassing situation; you help me with mine.”
    Hermes raised an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”
    “You’re the god of travel, right?”
    “Of course.” I told him what I wanted for my reward.

    I was in better spirits when I rejoined Annabeth. I’d made arrangements to meet Hermes at Rockefeller Center no later than five, and his delivery truck had disappeared in a flash of light. Annabeth waited by our picnic site with her arms folded indignantly.
    “Well?” she demanded.
    “Good news.” I told her what we had to do.
    She didn’t slap me, but she looked like she wanted to. “Why is tracking down a fire-breathing giant good news? And why do I want to help out Hermes?”
    “He’s not so bad,” I said. “Besides, two innocent snakes are in trouble. George and Martha must be terrified—”
    “Is this an elaborate joke?” she asked. “Tell me you planned this with Hermes, and we’re actually going to a surprise party for our anniversary.”
    “Um…Well, no. But afterward, I promise—”
    Annabeth raised her hand. “You’re cute and you’re sweet, Percy. But please—no more promises. Let’s just find this giant.”
    She stowed our blanket in her backpack and put away the food. Sad…since I’d barely tasted any of the pizza. The only thing she kept out was her shield.
    Like a lot of magic items, it was designed to morph into a smaller item for easy carrying. The shield shrinks to plate size, which is what we’d been using it for. Great for cheese and crackers.
    Annabeth brushed off the crumbs and tossed the plate into the air. It expanded as it spun. When it landed in the grass it was a full-sized bronze shield, its highly polished surface reflecting the sky.
    The shield had come in handy during our war with the Titans, but I wasn’t sure how it could help us now.
    “That thing only shows aerial images, right?” I asked. “Cacus is supposed to be underground.”
    Annabeth shrugged. “Worth a try. Shield, I want to see Cacus.”
    Light rippled across the bronze surface.
    Instead of a reflection, we were looking down at a landscape of dilapidated warehouses and crumbling roads. A rusty water tower rose above the urban blight.
    Annabeth snorted. “This stupid shield has a sense of humor.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked.
    “That’s Secaucus , New Jersey. Read the sign on the water tower.” She rapped her knuckles on the bronze surface. “Okay, very funny, shield. Now I want to see—I mean, show me the location of the fire-breathing giant Cacus.”
    The image changed.
    This time I saw a familiar part of Manhattan: renovated warehouses,