The Heroes of Olympus, #1
The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XLIV JASON
Overview
With Piper and Leo’s help, Jason summons Zeus’s lightning, splitting the mountain and sending Enceladus to his death. The victory confirms giants can be defeated only by gods and demigods working in tandem. In the aftermath, Hedge revives, Tristan is freed but traumatized, and the group prepares to face approaching attention.
Summary
Jason lies paralyzed as Enceladus closes in, the ground urging Jason to sink. Leo hurls a broken hydraulic ax head that slams the giant into the pit, buying time. Piper hauls Jason up, and Enceladus self-heals, reclaiming his spear despite the massive wound.
Realizing giants require gods and demigods together to die, Jason commits to a desperate plan. He tackles Enceladus back into the crater while Piper’s charmspeak distracts the giant. Clinging to Enceladus’s shoulders, Jason prays to Zeus and orders his friends to get down.
Lightning surges through Jason and Enceladus, splitting the mountain. The chasm swallows the giant as Enceladus vows his stronger brothers are rising. Jason nearly falls in, but Leo and Piper haul him to safety as the rift closes and Gaea’s pull subsides.
Amid burning mountainside and melting Earthborn, Coach Hedge revives, boasting. Tristan McLean staggers from captivity, traumatized and disoriented. With a helicopter circling, Jason asks Leo to rig a bullhorn so Piper can charmspeak their way out.
Who Appears
- Jason GraceParalyzed then rallies; tackles Enceladus and summons Zeus’s lightning, splitting the mountain and surviving with friends’ help.
- Piper McLeanHauls Jason up, distracts Enceladus with charmspeak, frees Tristan, and prepares to charmspeak approaching authorities.
- Leo ValdezBlasts Enceladus with a hydraulic ax, curses the giant’s healing, saves Jason with a rope, and readies a bullhorn.
- EnceladusEarth giant who self-heals; vows his brothers are stronger; is blasted by Zeus’s lightning and falls into a chasm.
- Coach HedgeSatyr revived after battle; boasts and postures amid the wreckage.
- Tristan McLeanFreed captive; staggers out traumatized, barely recognizing Piper.