Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians
15
15 their spears bristling over the top like porcupine quills .
Unfortunately , Clarisse could only muster six campers . The other four were still running around with their helmets on fire . Annabeth ran toward them , trying to help . She taunted one of the bulls into chasing her , then turned invisible , completely confusing the monster . The other bull charged Clarisse ' s line . I was halfway up the hill — not close enough to help . Clarisse hadn ' t even seen me yet . The bull moved deadly fast for something so big . Its metal hide gleamed in the sun . It had fist-sized rubies for eyes , and horns of polished silver . When it opened its hinged mouth , a column of white-hot flame blasted out . " Hold the line !" Clarisse ordered her warriors . Whatever else you could say about Clarisse , she was brave . She was a big girl with cruel eyes like her father ' s . She looked like she was born to wear Greek battle armor , but I didn ' t see how even she could stand against that bull ' s charge .
Unfortunately , at that moment , the other bull lost interest in finding Annabeth . It turned , wheeling around behind Clarisse on her unprotected side . " Behind you !" I yelled . " Look out !" I shouldn ' t have said anything , because all I did was startle her . Bull Number One crashed into her shield , and the phalanx broke . Clarisse went flying backward and landed in a smoldering patch of grass . The bull charged past her , but not before blasting the other heroes with its fiery breath . Their shields melted right off their arms . They dropped their weapons and ran as Bull Number Two closed in on Clarisse for the kill .
I lunged forward and grabbed Clarisse by the straps of her armor . I dragged her out of the way just as Bull Number Two freight-trained past . I gave it a good swipe with Riptide and cut a huge gash in its flank , but the monster just creaked and groaned and kept on going .
It hadn ' t touched me , but I could feel the heat of its metal skin . Its body temperature could ' ve microwaved a frozen burrito . " Let me go !" Clarisse pummeled my hand . " Percy , curse you !" I dropped her in a heap next to the pine tree and turned to face the bulls . We were on the inside slope of the hill now , the valley of Camp Half-Blood directly below us — the cabins , the training facilities , the Big House — all of it at risk if these bulls got past us .
Annabeth shouted orders to the other heroes , telling them to spread out and keep the bulls distracted .
Bull Number One ran a wide arc , making its way back toward me . As it passed the middle of the hill , where the invisible boundary line should ' ve kept it out , it slowed down a little , as if it were struggling against a strong wind ; but then it broke through and kept coming . Bull Number Two turned to face me , fire sputtering from the gash I ' d cut in its side . I couldn ' t tell if it felt any pain , but its ruby eyes seemed to glare at me like I ' d just made things personal .
I couldn ' t fight both bulls at the same time . I ' d have to take down Bull Number Two first , cut its head off before Bull Number One charged back into range . My arms already felt tired . I realized how long it had been since I ' d worked out with Riptide , how out of practice I was .
I lunged but Bull Number Two blew flames at me . I rolled aside as the air turned to pure heat . All the oxygen was sucked out of my lungs . My foot caught on something — a tree root , maybe — and pain shot up my ankle . Still , I managed to slash with my sword and lop off part of the monster ' s snout . It galloped away , wild and disoriented . But before I could feel too good about that , I tried to stand , and my left leg buckled underneath me . My ankle was sprained , maybe broken . Bull Number One charged straight toward me . No way could I crawl out of its path . Annabeth shouted : " Tyson , help him !" Somewhere near , toward the crest of the hill , Tyson wailed , " Can ' t — get — through !" " I , Annabeth Chase , give you permission to enter camp !" Thunder shook the hillside . Suddenly Tyson was there , barreling toward me , yelling : " Percy needs help !" Before I could tell him no , he dove between me and the bull just as it unleashed a nuclear firestorm . " Tyson !" I yelled . The blast swirled around him like a red tornado . I could only see the black silhouette of his