𐌙/𐌍 Ᏽ𐌵𐌀𐌋𐌄 & 𐌕𐋅𐌄 Ᏽ𐌐𐌄𐌀𐌕 𐌌𐌙𐌕𐋅𐌔 ¹

Chapter 11

Eleven
𖧷

CLARISSE BLOWS UP EVERYTHING

  "You are in so much trouble," Clarisse said.

  We’d just finished a ship tour we didn’t want, through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. We’d seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. We’d seen the pilothouse and the powder magazine and gunnery deck (Clarisse’s favorite) with two Dahlgren smoothbore cannons on the port and starboard sides and a Brooke nine-inch rifled gun fore and aft–all specially refitted to fire celestial bronze cannon balls.

  Everywhere we went, dead Confederate sailors stared at us, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering
over their skulls. They approved of Annabeth because she told them she was from Virginia. They seemed to like the fact that I had “blood tainted fingertips and eyes with sword blades” because I had red nail polish and sharp eyeliner, but everything went down when they heard my Brooklyn accent. They all hissed and muttered curses about Yankees.

  Tyson was terrified of them. All through the tour, he insisted Annabeth hold his hand, which she didn’t look too thrilled about.

  Finally, we were escorted to dinner. The CSS Birmingham captain’s quarters were about the size of a walk-in closet, but still much bigger than any other room on board. The table was set with white linen and china peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and Dr Peppers were served by skeletal crewmen. I didn’t want to eat anything served by ghosts, but my hunger and my love for peanut butter overruled my fear.

  "Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse told us smugly. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he’ll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

  "Did they give you this ship?" I asked.

  " ’Course not. My father did."

  "Ares?" Percy asked.

  Clarisse sneered. "You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That’s their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won’t you, Captain?"

  The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes fixed me with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma’am, peace at last, we’ll do anything. Destroy anyone."

  Clarisse smiled. "Destroy anyone. I like that."

  Tyson gulped.

  "Clarisse," Annabeth said, "Luke might be after the Fleece, too. We saw him. He’s got the woordinates and he’s heading south. He has a cruise ship full of monsters–"

  "Good! I’ll blow him out of the water."

  "You don’t understand," Annabeth said. "We have to combine forces. Let us help you–"

  "No!" Clarisse pounded the table. "This is my quest, smart girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you two will not steal my chance."

  "Where are your cabin mates?" I asked. "You were allowed to take two friends with you, weren’t you?"

  "They didn’t ... I let them stay behind. To protect the camp."