Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Olympians
49
49
That is so cool ." I wasn ' t sure about that . I didn ' t want to be a human GPS unit . But before I could say anything , Tyson tapped my shoulder . " Other boat is coming ." I looked back . The coast guard vessel was definitely on our tail now . Its lights were flashing and it was gaining speed . " We can ' t let them catch us ," I said . " They ' ll ask too many questions ." " Keep going into Chesapeake Bay ," Annabeth said . " I know a place we can hide ." I didn ' t ask what she meant , or how she knew the area so well . I risked loosening the thermos cap a little more , and a fresh burst of wind sent us rocketing around the northern tip of Virginia Beach into Chesapeake Bay . The coast guard boat fell farther and farther behind . We didn ' t slow down until the shores of the bay narrowed on either side , and I realized we ' d entered the mouth of a river .
I could feel the change from salt water to fresh water . Suddenly I was tired and frazzled , like I was coming down off a sugar high . I didn ' t know where I was anymore , or which way to steer the boat . It was a good thing Annabeth was directing me . " There ," she said . " Past that sandbar ." We veered into a swampy area choked with marsh grass . I beached the lifeboat at the foot of a giant cypress . Vine-covered trees loomed above us . Insects chirred in the woods . The air was muggy and hot , and steam curled off the river . Basically , it wasn ' t Manhattan , and I didn ' t like it . " Come on ," Annabeth said . " It ' s just down the bank ." " What is ?" I asked . " Just follow ." She grabbed a duffel bag . " And we ' d better cover the boat . We don ' t want to draw attention ." After burying the lifeboat with branches , Tyson and I followed Annabeth along the shore , our feet sinking in red mud . A snake slithered past my shoe and disappeared into the grass . " Not a good place ," Tyson said . He swatted the mosquitoes that were forming a buffet line on his arm . After another few minutes , Annabeth said , " Here ." All I saw was a patch of brambles . Then Annabeth moved aside a woven circle of branches , like a door , and I realized I was looking into a camouflaged shelter .
The inside was big enough for three , even with Tyson being the third . The walls were woven from plant material , like a Native American hut , but they looked pretty waterproof . Stacked in the corner was everything you could want for a campout — sleeping bags , blankets , an ice chest , and a kerosene lamp . There were demigod provisions , too — bronze javelin tips , a quiver full of arrows , an extra sword , and a box of ambrosia . The place smelled musty , like it had been vacant for a long time . " A half-blood hideout ." I looked at Annabeth in awe . You made this place ?" " Thalia and I ," she said quietly . " And Luke ." That shouldn ' t have bothered me . I mean , I knew Thalia and Luke had taken care of Annabeth when she was little . I knew the three of them had been runaways together , hiding from monsters , surviving on their own before Grover found them and tried to get them to Half-Blood Hill . But whenever Annabeth talked about the time she ' d spent with them , I kind of felt ... I don ' t know . Uncomfortable ? No . That ' s not the word . The word was jealous . " So ..." I said . " You don ' t think Luke will look for us here ?" She shook her head . " We made a dozen safe houses like this . I doubt Luke even remembers where they are . Or cares ." She threw herself down on the blankets and started going through her duffel bag . Her body language made it pretty clear she didn ' t want to talk . " Um , Tyson ?" I said . " Would you mind scouting around outside ? Like , look for a wilderness convenience store or something ?" " Convenience store ?" " Yeah , for snacks . Powdered donuts or something . Just don ' t go too far ."