The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan pg 188-282

Summary

After fighting with Medusa, Percy and his friends travel by train towars Denver. At the stop before Denver Annabeth wishes to go see the Gateway Arch. After reaching the observation deck the park ranger announsed that it would be closing in a few minutes. At the elevator Annabeth and Grover go down first because there is not enough space on the first ride down. While waiting for the next elevator, an old lady and a little chihuahua were waitng for the next elavator too. The chihuahua starts barking at Percy and the old lady starts talking to it and asking it if "this looked like a good time". (Riordan 207) After the lady agreed with the dog and called it Chimera the chihuahua kept barking, and with every bark it grew bigger and the bark turned into a roar. The chihuahua's head turned into a lion, its tail turned into a serpent, and it grew a diomondback out of its behind. Trying to protect the other civilians at the monument Percy starts to fight with the Chimera. After being bit in the leg by the serpent and his sword being knocked down the ledge, Percy finds himself standing at a ledge a view stories above the Mississippi River. The Chimera sends a column of flame toward Percy's face as he turns and jumps off the ledge with his clothes on fire and poison going through his body.
The impact of the Mississippi River did not hurt Percy. As he realized he was still alive, he noticed that his clothes were not wet, anything he touched would become dry, and he could breath under water. A woman appered to Percy who looked like his mother, and she told him that his father believes in him and that before going to the underworld, he must go to Santa Monica first. The media and local law enforcement reach the scene of the inncident Percy finds out that he his now wanted for the attack on the Gateway Arch.
Shorlty after Denver the three traveled to Las Vegas where they took a cab to head to Santa Monica. At the Santa Monica Peir, Percy starts to walk into the water and comes in contact with a mako shark. The shark i not violent and instead nuzzles at Percy. As Percy grabs the shark's fin and it swims off taking Percy to a woman. It is the same woman who Percy saw in the Mississippi Nereid a spirit of the Sea. Nereid tells Percy that Poseidon watches over Percy, and he is not able to see him in person because the Gods are forbidden to help their children directley. Nereid tells Percy that Poseidon will not have Percy die before his time, and that he must uses his skills when he enters the Underworld. She gives him three white pearls and tells him to break one at his feet whenever he is in need of help. After walking around LA, trying to find the entrance to the underworld, Percy and his friends are surrounded by a group of boys who looked as if they were going to mug them. After getting away, the three run into a store that sells beds. The store owner, Crusty, invites Grover to lay on one of the beds which he gladly does. After he offers Annabeth the same offer but she is hesitant at first. Hw guides her to the the bed and pushes her on it, then says a "Ergo" which makes ropes come out and constrains Annabeth and Groover the the beds. Then the giant man grabs Percy by the neck and inroduces himself as Procrustes "The Stretcher". Percy figures that he would not win a fight alone against Procrustes, so he copliments him on how well he crafts all the beds in the store. Procrustes is pleases with Percy and lets him goes to show him the axe he uses to cut off peoples limbs whenever they do not fit a bed perfectly. Percy then tricks Precrustes into showing him a demonstration of a bed that stabilizes wave motions. As Procrustes lays on the bed Percy says "Ergo" which contrains Procrustes to the bed. Percy than takes his sword and kills Procrustes, and then finds the adress to the underworld behind Procrustes's sales desk.

Quote

"CHIMERA - RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS - IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS - EXT. 954". (Riordan 207)

Reaction

I think it is very interesting how Riordan gives places real locations on earth in order to make the story line of Greek Mythology actualy being real seem more realistic. I also like how Riordan uses alot of humor in his writing. The quote above is from Chimera's collar, and if someone was to find a monster like Chimera, the last thing they would try to do is return it to its owner.