The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XX Hazel
Overview
Hazel, Percy, and Frank destroy the grain spirits and discover a massive monster host—Earthborn, horned centaurs, and Cyclopes—marching south under the giant Polybotes. A rainbow-shielded convenience store repels the army, while Ma Gasket vows vengeance on Leo, Jason, and Piper. Shaken and pursued, the trio decide to seek the store’s goddess for help.
Summary
Hazel is rescued when Frank and Percy arrive, destroying the karpoi by arrows and Riptide, then threatening to burn the field to keep them scattered. With the immediate danger ended, they climb a rock and spot an enormous army marching south through a ravine: six-armed Earthborn, horned centaurs, and Cyclopes hauling a siege tower.
Seeing the monsters triggers Percy’s distress and fragmented memories. Hazel urges retreat to the sea, but before they can move, a towering giant appears: Polybotes, armed with trident and net. As the army pauses to raid a nearby convenience store, a blinding rainbow barrier erupts around it, burning any who approach and throwing the horde into chaos.
Polybotes demands the “goddess” inside surrender; in reply, someone tosses him a Ding Dong, enraging him. Pressed for time to reach Camp Jupiter in four days per Alcyoneus’s orders, Polybotes restrains his troops. The Cyclops leader, Ma Gasket, vows vengeance on the “orange and purple” camp and calls out Leo, Jason, and Piper, hinting Jason may be alive. The army reforms to march south.
Before leaving, Polybotes sniffs the air, sensing a “sea god,” and nearly detects Percy. Ma Gasket urges him onward. Polybotes instead leaves three venomous snakes as sentries near the hill and moves the host away, causing the rainbow shield to fade and darkness to return.
With Percy shaking and the plains unsafe, Hazel weighs returning to the boat against seeking immediate aid. Deciding the goddess might help and fearing renewed attacks from the fields, Hazel leads Percy and Frank toward the convenience store despite the snake sentries.
Who Appears
- Hazel LevesqueNarrator; fights karpoi, spots the marching army, identifies Polybotes, and decides to seek the store’s goddess for help.
- Percy JacksonHelps destroy the karpoi, threatens to burn the field, is shaken by the army and Polybotes, and is nearly sensed as a sea god.
- Frank ZhangShoots Barley, scouts the ravine army, supports retreat plans, and agrees to approach the goddess’s store.
- PolybotesGiant leader marching south; confronts a rainbow-shielded store, senses Percy, and leaves snakes as sentries.
- Ma GasketCyclops matriarch; leads Cyclopes, demands snacks, vows vengeance on Leo, Jason, and Piper.
- Unknown goddess in the convenience storeRemains unseen; shields the store with a blinding rainbow and pelts Polybotes with a Ding Dong.