Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m
just making a general statement. Why does everyone
always think . . . agh! Forget it.

Interview with
GROVER UNDERWOOD,
Satyr
    What’s your favorite song to play on
the reed pipes?
    Grover: Oh, um—well, it’s a little embarrassing. I got this request once from a muskrat who
wanted to hear “Muskrat Love.” Well ... Ilearned
it, and I have to admit I enjoy playing it.
Honestly, it’s not just for muskrats anymore!
It’s a very sweet love story. I get misty-eyed
every time I play it. So does Percy, but I think
that’s because he’s laughing at me.
    Who would you least like to meet in a
dark alley—a Cyclops or an angry Mr. D?
    Grover: Blah-hah-hah! What kind of question is
that? Um—well... I’d much rather meet Mr. D,
obviously, because he’s so . . . er, nice. Yes,
kind and generous to all us satyrs. We all love
him. And I’m not just saying that because he’s
always listening, and he would blast me to pieces
if I said anything different.
    In your opinion, what’s the most beautiful spot in nature in all of America?
    Grover: It’s amazing there are any nice spots
left, but I like Lake Placid in upstate New York.
Very beautiful, especially on a winter day! And the
dryads up there—wow! Oh, wait, can you edit that
part out? Juniper will kill me.
    Are tin cans really that tasty?
    Grover: My old granny goat used to say, “Two
cans a day keep the monsters away.” Lots of
minerals, very filling, and the texture is wonderful. Really, what’s not to like? I can’t help
it if human teeth aren’t built for heavy-duty
dining.

Interview with
PERCY JACKSON,
Son of Poseidon
    What’s your favorite part about summers
at Camp Half-Blood?
    Percy: Seeing my friends, for sure. It’s so cool
to come back to camp after a year in school. It’s
like coming home. The first day of summer, I’ll
walk down to the cabins and Connor and Travis are
stealing stuff from the camp store, and Silena is
arguing with Annabeth trying to give her a
makeover, and Clarisse is still sticking the new
kids’ heads into the toilets. It’s nice that some
things never change.
    You’ve attended quite a few different
schools. What’s the hardest part
about being the new kid?
    Percy: Making your rep. I mean everybody wants
to fit you into a box, right? Either you’re a geek
or a jock or whatever. You’ve got to make it clear
right away that you’re not somebody they can pick
on, but you also can’t be a jerk about it. I’m
probably not the best person to give advice,
though. I can’t get through the year without getting
kicked out or blowing something up.
    If you had to trade Riptide for another
magic item, whose item would you choose?
    Percy: Hard one, because I’ve really gotten used
to Riptide. I can’t imagine not having that sword.
I guess it would be cool to have a set of armor
that melted into my regular clothes. Wearing armor
is a pain. It’s heavy. It’s hot. And it doesn’t
exactly make a fashion statement, you know? So
having clothes that morphed into armor would be
really useful. I’m still not sure I’d trade my
sword for that, though.
    You’ve had a lot of close calls, but
what’s been your scariest moment?
    Percy: I’m going to have to say my first fight
with the Minotaur, up on Half-Blood Hill, because
I didn’t know what the heck was going on. I didn’t
even know I was a demigod at that point. I
thought I’d lost my mom forever, and I was stuck
on a hill in a thunderstorm fighting this huge
bull dude while Grover was passed out wailing,
“Food!” It was terrifying, man.
    Any advice for kids who suspect they
may be demigods, too?
    Percy: Pray you are wrong. Seriously, this may
sound fun to read about, but it is bad news. If
you do think you’re a demigod, find a satyr fast.
You can usually spot them at any school. They
laugh weird, and they eat anything. They might
walk funny because they’re trying to hide their
hooves inside fake