Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
69
69
you're some kinda soap-opera star or something. I kill you, that makes me look bad with her. But
don't worry. I haven't forgotten my promise. Some day soon, kid—real soon—you're going to raise
your sword to fight, and you're going to remember the wrath of Ares."
I balled my fists. "Why wait? I beat you once. How's that ankle healing up?"
He grinned crookedly. "Not bad, punk. But you got nothing on the master of taunts. I'll start
the fight when I'm good and ready. Until then… Get lost."
He snapped his fingers and the world did a three-sixty, spinning in a cloud of red dust. I fell
to the ground.
When I stood up again, the limousine was gone. The road, the taco restaurant, the whole
town of Gila Claw was gone. My friends and I were standing in the middle of the junkyard,
mountains of scrap metal stretched out in every direction.
"What did she want with you?" Bianca asked, once I'd told them about Aphrodite.
"Oh, uh, not sure," I lied. "She said to be careful in her husband's junkyard. She said not to
pick anything up."
Zoe narrowed her eyes. "The goddess of love would not make a special trip to tell thee that.
Be careful, Percy. Aphrodite has led many heroes astray."
"For once I agree with Zoe," Thalia said. "You can't trust Aphrodite."
Grover was looking at me funny. Being empathic and all, he could usually read my emotions,
and I got the feeling he knew exactly what Aphrodite had talked to me about.
"So," I said, anxious to change the subject, "how do we get out of here?"
"That way," Zoe said. "That is west."
"How can you tell?"
In the light of the full moon, I was surprised how well I could see her roll her eyes at me.
"Ursa Major is in the north," she said, "which means that must be west."
She pointed west, then at the northern constellation, which was hard to make out because
there were so many other stars.
"Oh, yeah," I said. "The bear thing."
Zoe looked offended. "Show some respect. It was a fine bear. A worthy opponent."
"You act like it was real."
"Guys," Grover broke in. "Look!"
We'd reached the crest of a junk mountain. Piles of metal objects glinted in the moonlight:
broken heads of bronze horses, metal legs from human statues, smashed chariots, tons of shields
and swords and other weapons, along with more modern stuff, like cars that gleamed gold and
silver, refrigerators, washing machines, and computer monitors.
"Whoa," Bianca said. "That stuff… some of it looks like real gold."
"It is," Thalia said grimly. "Like Percy said, don't touch anything. This is the junkyard of the
gods."
"Junk?" Grover picked up a beautiful crown made of gold, silver, and jewels. It was broken
on one side, as if it had been split by an axe. "You call this junk?"
He bit off a point and began to chew. "It's delicious!"
Thalia swatted the crown out of his hands. "I'm serious!"
"Look!" Bianca said. She raced down the hill, tripping over bronze coils and golden plates.
She picked up a bow that glowed silver in moonlight. "A Hunter's bow!"
She yelped in surprise as the bow began to shrink, and became a hair clip shaped like a
crescent moon. "It's just like Percys sword!"
Zoe's face was grim. "Leave it, Bianca."
"But—"
"It is here for a reason. Anything thrown away in this junkyard must stay in this yard. It is
defective. Or cursed."
Bianca reluctantly set the hair clip down.
"I don't like this place," Thalia said. She gripped the shaft of her spear.
"You think we're going to get attacked by killer refrigerators?" I asked.
She gave me a hard look. "Zoe is right, Percy. Things get thrown away here for a reason.
Now come on, let's get across the yard."