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{ 🔮 } · magic is cool . ݁ ٬٬ ࣪
MRS. O'LEARY WAS THE ONLY ONE happy about the sleeping city. They found her pigging out at an overturned hot dog stand while the owner was curled up on the sidewalk, sucking his thumb. Argus was waiting for them with his hundred eyes wide open. He didn't say anything. He never does. But his face made it clear he was freaking out.
Percy told him what they'd learned in Olympus, and how the gods would not be riding to the rescue. Argus rolled his eyes in disgust, which looked pretty psychedelic since it made his whole body swirl.
"You'd better get back to camp," the boy told him. "Guard it as best you can."
He pointed at Percy and raised his eyebrow quizzically.
"I'm staying," Percy said.
Argus nodded, like this answer satisfied him. He looked at Endora and Annabeth and drew a circle in the air withhis finger.
"Yes," Annabeth agreed. "I think it's time."
"For what?" Percy asked.
Argus rummaged around in the back of his van. He brought out a bronze shield and passed it to Annabeth. It looked pretty much standard issue ─ the same kind of round shield they always used in capture the flag. But when the blonde set it on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal changed from sky and buildings to the Statue of Liberty ─ which wasn't anywhere close to us.
"Whoa," Percy said. "A video shield."
"One of Daedalus's ideas," Annabeth said. "Dora and I had Beckendorf make this before ─ " she glanced at Silena. "Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create are flection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."
Everyone crowded around as Annabeth concentrated. The image spun and then zoomed to the Central Park Zoo, then zooming down East 60th, past Bloomingdale's, then turning on Third Avenue.
"Whoa," Connor Stoll said. "Back up. Zoom in right there."
"What?" Annabeth said nervously. "You see invaders?"
