The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XL Percy
Overview
Percy, Hazel, and Frank trek overnight toward Seward, reflecting on leadership, fear, and the looming deadline of the Feast of Fortuna. Helped at dawn by a local and an Inuit driver, they push on after the truck breaks down. Near Seward, Percy shortcuts across muskeg despite Hazel’s warning, and the earth swallows him.
Summary
Moving south along the tracks under starlight and northern lights, Percy, Hazel, and Frank avoid gryphons and bears while pushing through the Alaskan wilderness. Frank admits insecurity about leading and dwindling gear; Percy counters with concrete examples of Frank’s courage and vows not to lose Frank or Hazel. They mark the deadline: less than a day until the Feast of Fortuna and freeing Thanatos.
Exhausted, Hazel and Frank fall asleep at a closed roadside store in Moose Pass. At dawn, the sympathetic owner feeds them and arranges a ride with an Inuit friend toward Seward. Percy rides up front as the driver shares tales of Bear and Raven, which only heighten Percy’s sense of being far from Olympian influence.
When the old pickup breaks down a few miles short of Seward, they continue on foot. From a rise they spot the bay, docks, and a cruise ship. Anxious about time, Percy leads them off the road to cut across soggy meadows toward town.
Hazel shouts a warning too late. Percy steps into treacherous ground; the earth gives way beneath him. He plunges under as the soil closes over his head, leaving Hazel and Frank above with their deadline looming.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonEncourages Frank, vows to protect friends, hastens toward Seward, and is swallowed by the earth near town.
- Frank ZhangDoubts his leadership and resources; admits fear; accepts Percy’s support; rides toward Seward and witnesses Percy vanish.
- Hazel LevesqueGuides through wilderness, reassures about bears, sleeps from exhaustion, warns Percy about the ground moments before he sinks.
- Store owner at Moose PassFinds the trio sleeping, feeds them breakfast, and arranges a ride toward Seward.
- Inuit driverGives the trio a lift toward Seward, shares local lore, then his truck breaks down.