Read Online The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - Free Book Online

sick?”
    Meg shook her head.
    “I have an excellent constitution,” I said. “No doubt that’s what saved me.”
    “And the fact thah I hosed the smoke off of you,” Percy said.
    “Well, yes.”
    Percy stared at me as if waiting for something. After an awkward moment, it occurred to me that if he was a god and I was a worshipper, he might expect gratitude.
    “Ah…thank you,” I said.
    He nodded. “No problem.”
    I relaxed a little. If he had demanded a sacrifice, like a white bull or a fatted calf, I’m not sure what I would’ve done.
    “Can we go now?” Meg asked.
    “An excellent idea,” I said. “Though I’m afraid Percy is in no condition—”
    “I can drive you the rest of the way,” he said. “If we can get my car out from between those trees…” He glanced in that direction and his expression turned even more miserable. “Aw, Hades no….”
    A police cruiser was pulling over on the side of the road. I imagined the officers’ eyes tracing the tire ruts in the mud, which led to the plowed-down fence and continued to the blue Toyota Prius wedged between two peach trees. The cruiser’s roof lights flashed on.
    “Great,” Percy muttered. “If they tow the Prius, I’m dead. My mom and Paul
need
thah car.”
    “Go talk to the officers,” I said. “You won’t be any use to us anyway in your current state.”
    “Yeah, we’ll be fine,” Meg said. “You said the camp is right over those hills?”
    “Right, but…” Percy scowled, probably trying to think straight through the effects of his cold. “Most people enter camp from the east, where Half-Blood Hill is. The western border is wilder—hills and woods, all heavily enchanted. If you’re not careful, you can get lost….” He sneezed again. “I’m still not even sure Apollo can get
in
if he’s fully mortal.”
    “I’ll get in.” I tried to exude confidence. I had no alternative. If I was unable to enter Camp Half-Blood…No. I’d already been attacked twice on my first day as a mortal. There was no plan B that would keep me alive.
    The police car’s doors opened.
    “Go,” I urged Percy. “We’ll find our way through the woods. You explain to the police that you’re sick and you lost control of the car. They’ll go easy on you.”
    Percy laughed. “Yeah. Cops love me almost as much as teachers do.” He glanced at Meg. “You sure you’re okay with the baby fruit demon?”
    Peaches growled.
    “All good,” Meg promised. “Go home. Rest. Get lots of fluids.”
    Percy’s mouth twitched. “You’re telling a son of Poseidon to get lots of fluids? Okay, just try to survive until the weekend, will you? I’ll come to camp and check on you guys if I can. Be careful and—
CHOOOO!
”
    Muttering unhappily, he touched the cap of his pen to his sword, turning it back into a simple ballpoint. A wise precaution before approaching law enforcement. He trudged down the hill, sneezing and sniffling.
    “Officer?” he called. “Sorry, I’m up here. Can you tell me where Manhattan is?”
    Meg turned to me. “Ready?”
    I was soaking wet and shivering. I was having the worst day in the history of days. I was stuck with a scary girl and an even scarier peach baby. I was by no means ready for anything. But I also desperately wanted to reach camp. I might find some friendly faces there—perhaps even jubilant worshippers who would bring me peeled grapes, Oreos, and other holy offerings.
    “Sure,” I said. “Let’s go.”
    Peaches the karpos grunted. He gestured for us to follow, then scampered toward the hills. Maybe he knew the way. Maybe he just wanted to lead us to a grisly death.
    Meg skipped after him, swinging from tree branches and cartwheeling through the mud as the mood took her. You might’ve thought we’d just finished a nice picnic rather than a battle with plague-ridden cadavers.
    I turned my face to the sky. “Are you sure, Zeus? It’s not too late to tell me this was an elaborate prank and recall me to