“Run!” Piper said.“We are running!” Jason picked up the speed.“Run better!” Leo shouted.”

“Leo could run pretty fast when someone was trying to kill him. Sadly, he’d had a lot of practice.”

“While Leo fussed over his helm controls, Hazel and Frank relayed the story of the fish-centaurs and their training camp.'Incredible,' Jason said. 'These are really good brownies.''That's your only comment?' Piper demanded.He looked surprised. 'What? I heard the story. Fish-centaurs. Merpeople. Letter of intro to the Tiber River god. Got it. But these brownies--''I know,' Frank said, his mouth full. 'Try them with Ester's peach preserves.''That,' Hazel said, 'is incredibly disgusting.''Pass me the jar, man,' Jason said.Hazel and Piper exchanged a look of total exasperation. Boys.”

“Leo frowned at the giant's spire. "Can't we blow it up or something?""Without me, you do not have the power," Hera said. "You might as well try to destroy a mountain.""Done that once today," Jason said.”

“Jason turned to Leo. “Do you think you can fly this thing?”“Um…” Leo put his hand on the side of the helicopter, concentrating hard, as if listening to the machine.“Bell 412HP utility helicopter,” Leo said. “Composite four-blade main rotor, cruising speed twenty-two knots, service ceiling twenty-thousand feet. The tank is near full. Sure, I can fly it.”Piper smiled at the ranger again. “You din’t have a problem with an under-aged unlicensed kid borrowing your copter, do you? We’ll return it.”“I-“ The pilot nearly choked on the words, but she got them out: “I don’t have a problem with that.”Leo grinned. “Hop in kids, Uncle Leo’s gonna take you for a ride.”

“Beautiful,' Jason exclaimed. 'Piper, you... you're a knockout.”

“Shut up, me,” Leo said aloud.“What?” Piper asked.“Nothing,” he said. “Long night. I think I’m hallucinating. It’s cool.” Sitting in front, Leo couldn’t see their faces, but he assumed from their silence that his friends were not pleased to have a sleepless, hallucinating dragon driver.“Just joking.” Leo decided it might be good to change the subject.”