Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3
The Titan's Curse
by Rick Riordan
Contents
5. I Place An Underwater Phone Call
Overview
Back at wintertime Camp Half-Blood, Percy learns that Chiron wants to help Annabeth but Mr. D refuses to risk a rescue, deepening Percy’s anger and helplessness. The chapter widens the danger by revealing Clarisse is missing, Poseidon is occupied by ancient sea powers, and Luke’s protected ship is moving toward the Panama Canal. Percy’s nightmare confirms Annabeth is alive but trapped because Luke manipulated and abandoned her.
Summary
Camp Half-Blood looks different in winter: snowy, sparsely populated, and decorated with magical firelights. Zoë leads the Hunters to Artemis’s cabin, while Bianca whispers to Nico before leaving with them. Apollo departs after warning Percy to watch out for prophecies, leaving Percy, Thalia, and Nico to meet Chiron and Mr. D.
At the Big House, Percy and Thalia report what happened at Westover Hall. Chiron wants to search for Annabeth immediately, but Mr. D refuses, treating Annabeth as probably dead and not worth risking more campers over. Percy angrily confronts Mr. D, nearly provoking divine retaliation, but Nico interrupts by enthusiastically recognizing Chiron as a centaur and Dionysus as a Mythomagic figure.
Chiron sends Percy and Thalia to announce a capture-the-flag game against the Hunters. Outside, Thalia and Percy discuss their guilt over Westover and Thalia’s fear during Apollo’s sun bus ride; Thalia reveals that her mother died in a drunk-driving accident in Los Angeles. Percy also learns from an Ares camper that Clarisse has been missing for a month on a secret quest for Chiron.
In the Poseidon cabin, Percy stores Annabeth’s cap and examines his badly damaged shield. He discovers a new saltwater fountain from Poseidon, uses it to send an Iris-message to Tyson, and learns that Poseidon is occupied by trouble from old sea powers such as Aigaios and Oceanus. Tyson says those spirits protect Luke’s ship, the Princess Andromeda, from Poseidon’s storms and that the ship is heading toward the Panama Canal.
At dinner, the campers and Hunters sit separately, with Percy alone at the Poseidon table and Nico housed temporarily with the Hermes cabin. The Hunters seem united and happy, and Bianca appears comfortable among them. Chiron welcomes the Hunters and announces the next night’s capture-the-flag game.
That night Percy dreams of Annabeth on a dark ruined hillside with Luke. Luke begs for help, and Annabeth saves him by holding up a crushing mass of black rock, but Luke abandons her, saying her help is coming and that it is part of the plan. Percy wakes certain that Annabeth is alive, in terrible danger, and that Luke is responsible.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonReturns to camp, defies Mr. D, contacts Tyson, and dreams Annabeth is in danger.
- Annabeth ChaseAbsent but central; Percy’s dream shows her trapped after saving Luke.
- Thalia GraceHelps report the mission, shares grief about her mother, and prepares for capture the flag.
- ChironReceives the report, wants to search for Annabeth, and announces the Hunters’ capture-the-flag match.
- Mr. DDismisses Annabeth’s rescue and nearly clashes with Percy before Nico interrupts.
- Nico di AngeloNew camper fascinated by camp, Chiron, Dionysus, and Mythomagic.
- Zoë NightshadeLeads the Hunters into camp and keeps a stiff distance from Percy and Grover.
- Bianca di AngeloSettles in with the Hunters and appears happy learning their ways.
- TysonSpeaks with Percy from Poseidon’s forges and explains threats from old sea spirits.
- Luke CastellanAppears in Percy’s dream manipulating Annabeth and abandoning her to danger.
- Grover UnderwoodGuides the Hunters despite Zoë’s resistance and takes Nico to the orientation film.
- ApolloDrops the group at camp and warns Percy vaguely about prophecies before leaving.
- Clarisse La RueDoes not appear; Percy learns she has been missing on a secret quest for a month.