Artie quickly sat up, "FUGIR!"

Unfortunately, he sat up too quickly and rolled out his hammock onto the hardwood floor.

He pushed himself up and looked around. So now I'm on a boat, either I'm really awake now or Cobbs and Eames are gonna show up, saying they need to go deeper.

Just about everything was made of old looking wood. The floorboards creaked under his bare feet as he walked past several hanging hammocks. He sniffed the air, in case something should pop out at him, and found the air was incredibly stale. It was like the windows hadn't been opened in a couple hundred years. He had a vague memory of escaping Circe's Isle with Annabeth and Percy on an old sailing ship, but he wasn't sure if that really happened or was just a dream. He heard voices overhead and carefully made his way to the stairs that led to the main deck overhead. He reached the main deck without incident and stood in the doorway. The sky was cloudless and beautiful with the calls of several seagulls flying overhead. He heard the sounds of waves gently rocking the ship as they crashed against the hull. He saw a soaked Annabeth wrapped in a blanket leaning against the mast, trying to dry off in the sun. He then saw Percy leaning against railing, staring off in the distance with Tobias perched just to his left.

"Who's ship is this?" Artie asked with a smile. "Cause if we need a name, I call dibs with the Black Pearl."

"Artie!" exclaimed Annabeth as ran to him and gave a tight hug.

Artie returned the hug and said with British accent, "Watch the goods love."

Annabeth let go and asked. "What's that from?"

"Well, we are on a pirate ship." he pointed out.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but still smiled. "Of course, Pirates of the Caribbean."

Percy walked and greeted Artie with a high five. "Glad you're up man."

"Me too." agreed Artie. "Now what going on? With our luck so far, I'm half expecting for Captain Barbarossa and his crew to be on our tail."

"Please don't joke like that." said Annabeth. "The last thing we need is zombie pirates."

"They weren't exactly zombies," remarked Artie. "But I get your point. I doubt we survive something liek that anyway. Well, Percy at any rate."

"And why not?" asked Percy, a little annoyed.

"Because I'd lose my voice reminding you to go for the head." Artie said cracking a smile.

An hour later, the Queen Anne's Revenge made port at Polyphemus island. They all stood in amazement at its beauty. It had white sand beaches with a clear blue ocean surrounding it. It had lush green fields decorated with delicate wildflowers of every shade and hue of a rainbow. They could see fresh tropical fruits hanging in countless bright green trees. The smell was intoxicating as Artie sniffed the air, the fresh air mixed with the fruit's aroma made his stomach growl in protest.

"Don't tell me your hungry." said Annabeth. "You nearly ate a whole sea serpent a few hours ago."

"And raw too." added Percy. "Talk about a craving for sushi."

Artie stared at the fruit trees and licked his lips, "Tell that to my stomach."

"We're not here to eat." Annabeth said.

"Yeah," agreed Percy. "We're here for Grover."

"And the fleece." she reminded.

"And the fleece." Percy amended.

Annabeth and Percy trudged along a path that seemed to lead to the base of a ravine. Though he could easily keep pace, Artie kept a few yards behind them. Though he was used to going without food for long periods of time, Artie found himself snatching all kinds of fruits off low hanging branches with a ravenous fever. He didn't bother seeing if they were ripe or not, he just snatched and inhaled nature's candy. He even ate the wild mushrooms that grew at the base of certain trees that added unique flavors to the makeshift fruit salad in his mouth. He still kept an ear and nose around him, but that didn't stop him from bumping into Percy as they reached the ravine's base.

Artie tossed the remains of a mango overhead. "Are those what I think they are?"

"Yeah." said Annabeth. "Sheep,"

"Really big sheep." added Percy.

Artie saw what he meant. They looked like your average run-of-the-mill flock of sheep, with thick bright white coats of wool and black skin where there wasn't wool, except they were the size of hippos. The wind blew toward them, making Artie curse his sensitive nose. Clearly, these sheep were not familiar with the invention of shampoo. Still despite the horrid odor, Artie licked his lips again.

"Lamb chops . . ." he whispered remembering a line Silence Of The Lambs. "Extra rare."

Annabeth did a double take, "How are you still hungry? You spent the entire walk here eating twice your weight in fruit and mushrooms!"

"She's got a point." said Percy. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I don't know," said Artie shaking his head as if trying to clear it. "I think that vitamin didn't clear up everything."

"We can take a break," suggested Annabeth. "If you want."

"We might not have the time." Artie shook his head. "Probably best I try to walk it off. I've — "

Artie was caught off by rustle in some nearby bushes. In a split second he opened his bow and drew an arrow, Percy and Annabeth drew their weapons a moment later. They all relaxed and sheathed their weapons as deer emerged and trotted up into the meadow, probably to find some grass to eat they guessed. Suddenly all the sheep bleated at once and rushed the deer. Their speed surprised it so much, the deer stumbled and was lost in a sea of wool and tramping hooves. Grass and tufts of fur were thrown into the air and as they fell, the sheep returned to their peaceful wanderings.

They all stared at the pile of clean white bones where the deer had been only a moment ago.

"They're like piranhas." said Percy.

"Piranhas with wool." said Annabeth.

"And oddly enough, I'm still dying to taste one." said Artie

Annabeth turned, no doubt so yell at Artie, when she pointed to the beach just below the sheep meadow. "Look!"

Percy and Artie turned and saw what she pointing at — the other boat from the CSS Birmingham.

In the end, they decided to return to the ship and take their chances scaling the side of the cliff. Annabeth suggested grabbing the fleece invisibly, Percy made it clearly if something happened, they would be too far to help. Artie opted to create a distraction and have the sheep chase him, but Annabeth said they might need his bow if they had to fight Polyphemus and the sheep might be able to match his speed. They took one of the ship's lifeboat and rowed to the base of the cliff. They all made their way to the top, very slowly. As he climbed, Artie's mind was a million miles away. He made sure to watch his footing and watch for handholds. He also kept an eye on his friends, should they fall or need his help. But for the most part he was trying to mentally sort himself.

He was starting to realize that the scene that played out while he was unconscious was, not in fact, just his mind playing with him. He felt different, and yet he didn't. He felt stronger. No, stronger was not the right word. Confident seemed closer to the right word or perhaps even arrogant. He felt he should have been scared of the herd of man-eating sheep the size of hippos, but he wasn't. He found it strange that he should be fearful of falling to his death several hundred feet below, but he wasn't. And he was absolutely certain that he should be terrified of fighting Polyphemus, and yet he wasn't. It was if he was at war with himself. Like his body knew he should be scared, but his mind was overriding it. As he gave it more thought, Leonidas's words were beginning to make some sort of sense.

Rather than have Vôo release you, Lutar is going to do that. he had said when Artie demanded Leonidas explain himself.

Artie was confused with the answer and he voiced his confusion, but all Leonidas had told was, I could explain it to you, but we're short on time. You'll figure it soon enough.

And just how soon is soon enough?, Artie asked himself.

Artie decided to leave the matter aside until a better time or if they lived, whichever came first. He reached the top and pulled his up his friends. The climb might have been fairly easy for all of them, but it was still exhausting. Annabeth laid on her back breathing deeply while Percy did the same. Artie was just as tired and found his fingers hurt when he straighten them and his arms shook with exhaustion. Though all of them had small cuts on thier hands from the cliff sharp edges, Artie was the only one with them on his chest and feet, the price for going barefoot and shirtless like a wannabe Tarzan.

"Garr!," bellowed a voice.

Instantly all three leaped to their feet. Percy and Annabeth looked around to see who had spoken while Artie sniffed the air. Artie held a finger to his lips, the universal sign to be quiet, and pointed to the opposite ledge from they came from. They all laid low to ground and carefully peaked their heads over the edge.

"Challenge me!" bellowed a voice that definitely belonged to Clarisse. "Give me back my sword and I'll fight you!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Artie suppressed a chuckle at Clarisse hanging upside over a pot of boiling water. And he nearly starting snickering when he spot Grover in a wedding dress, He then shook his head, forcing himself to get grip. He turned his gaze to Polyphemus. The first thing he and his friends noticed was the sheer size of the Cyclops. Artie guessed him to be roughly the height of three full grown men and as wide as five. Clearly, Polyphemus was not one who counted calories. The stench was beyond horrible. Percy would have described it as a dirty skunk that had been living off Mexican food. Percy could only wonder how it was for Artie or Grover with their much more sensitive sense of smell. And almost as bad as his stench, was his fashion sense. He wore a sky blue kilt that looked like it was made from the remain from dozens sky blue tuxedos, Artie shuddered at thought of what happened to the original owners.

"Hmm." Polyphemus pondered. "Eat loud mouth girl now or wait for wedding feast? What does my bride think?"

"Oh I'm not really hungry now dear," cried Grover in high falsetto. "Perhaps — "

"Did you say bride?" Clarisse demanded. "Who — Grover?"

No one is that dense, Artie thought to himself. Then again, it IS Clarisse.

Annabeth muttered to Percy, "Shut up, she has to shut up."

Polyphemus glowered, "What 'Grover'?"

"The satyr!" yelled Clarisse.

Did you have a brain tumor for breakfast?, thought Artie as he mentally quoted Heathers.

"Oh!" Grover yelped. "The poor thing's brain is boiling from the hot water. Pull her down dear."

Polyphemus ignored his wife-to-be and pulled Clarisse face to face. "What satyr? Satyrs are good eating. You bring me satyr?"

"No, you big idiot!" bellowed Clarisse. "That satyr! The one in the wedding dress."

Percy and Artie wanted to wring Clarisse's neck, but it was too late. All they could do was watch as Polyphemus turned to Grover and ripped off his wedding veil — revealing his curly hair, his scruffy goatee, and his tiny horns.

Polyphemus breathed heavily, trying to contain his anger. "I don't see very well. Not since other hero stabbed in eye. but YOU'RE — NO — LADY — CYCLOPS!

Polyphemus tore away Grover's dress. Underneath, the old Grover reappeared in his jeans and T-shirt. He yelped as he ducked away from the monster's massive hand. Artie was beginning to become angry. He opened his bow and slowly drew an arrow, intending to start and end the fight with a quick and deadly surprise attack. Percy seemed to be of the same mind and reached for Riptide, but Annabeth grabbed his hand.

"Wait!" she hissed at them.

Artie ignored her and nocked the arrow, the tip steaming green smoke from the deadly poison. He was also beginning to growl deep in his throat.

"Wait!" Annabeth hissed again. "Artie! Stop! We can't just rush in!"

Artie began to stand, calculating distance and wind strength. "Smile, you son of — "

Annabeth jumped over Percy and tackled Artie to the floor. The arrow disappeared as it soared over the edge of the cliff. Polyphemus didn't even notice, to angry at Grover. Annabeth clamped a her hand over Artie's mouth to muffle any noise he might make when he landed hard on solid rock. Artie seemed to come out of trance when his head collided with the ground and did not fight Annabeth, not even to throw her off from on top of him. He continued to watch and listen the scene below him.

"Grilled satyr with mango chutney," Polyphemus mused. He then turned to Clarisse. "You a satyr too?"

"No!, you pile of dung!" she yelled. "I'm a girl. A daughter of Ares. Now, untie me so I can rip your arms off."

"Rip my arms off." Polyphemus repeated.

"And stuff them down your throat!"

Polyphemus picked up Grover like a rag doll and plucked Clarisse like fruit. "Have to graze sheep now. Wedding postponed until tonight. Then we eat satyr for main course."

"You're still getting married?" asked Grover. "Who's the bride?"

Polyphemus motioned to Clarisse.

Clarisse made half choke half laugh in the back of her throat. "Oh no, You're not serious. I'm not about to — "

Polyphemus cut her off with a whistle and a herd of sheep, much smaller than the man eating ones, came out of them cave. He then tossed in Clarisse and Grover like toys. He then sealed off the cave with a giant boulder, abruptly ending the screams of the two new occupants.

"Mangoes," said Polyphemus. "What are mangoes?"

With that,Polyphemus walked down a path and disappeared into the forest of fruit trees. Annabeth let Artie up once Polyphemus was out of earshot. Both Annabeth and Percy looked concerned. Artie was not one act rashly

"What was that?" Artie demanded. "I had the drop on him!"

Annabeth looked annoyed. "You saw how big he was. One arrow, even tipped with celestial bronze, was not gonna be enough."

"It was coated in poison." Artie defended. "One minute and he would have been dust."

"And you think Grover and Clarisse would have had a minute?" she countered. "What about Percy and me? Do you think all of us would last that long?"

"You and Percy have been through worse. And Clarisse I'm sure would have been fine."

"And Grover?" demanded Percy. "What about him?"

Artie faced Percy and said coldly, "There's a reason goats aren't at the top of the food chain."

"You jerk!" Annabeth lost her cool and slapped Artie, "How could you say that? Grover is your friend!"

Artie snarled and struck like lightning with his claws.

Annabeth flinched and shut her eyes. After a moment she opened them and saw Artie's hand an inch from cheek. Artie looked like he just came out of trance, his eyes darting from his hand to Annabeth's face. He dropped to his knees and just stared at his hands, like he wasn't sure they were his. He gazed up at Annabeth and Percy with a desperate look on his face.

"Eu não. . . pelos deuses . . ." he whispered. "What is happening to me?"