3_Home Away from Home

The temple was high on a hill, and it was a clear day, so Brody could see far into the distance. And yet nothing he saw looked familiar. What had happened to the school and playing fields? Where were the houses and his favorite fast-food place? “ What’s going on?” he blurted out. “ Where are we? Where’s the gym?” “ The gymnasium? It’s right over there, of course. ” Hermes pointed to the left. But Brody still didn’t see anything that looked like the school gym. “ It can’t be, ” Julia murmured. “ Are we really in ancient Olympia?”

“ What?” Brody said. “ There’s no way we traveled through time. ” Julia was staring at the city below. “ What other explanation is there?” Brody rolled his eyes. People thought he was dumb, but he wasn’t dumb enough to believe what Hermes and Caerus were saying. Only a freak like Julia would believe such a ridiculous story. Ancient Greece? Yeah, right! Still, there was definitely something weird going on. How could Brody make Hermes and Caerus admit it?

“ I’ve got it! ” He pointed at Hermes. “ You’re lying, and I can prove it. ” Hermes raised one eyebrow. “ Is that so?” “ Yes. If we’re in Greece, how come you guys are speaking English?” Brody was proud of himself. He might not be a genius, but he could figure things out when he needed to. “ On the contrary, we’re speaking proper Greek, ” Caerus said. “ Hermes has powers over language and communication. He has enabled you two to speak and understand Greek as if you were natives. ” Hermes smirked. “ That’s very important. After all, speaking Greek is a prerequisite for entering the Games. ”

“ Huh?” Brody didn’t know what “ prerequisite” meant. Before he could ask, Caerus glanced at Hermes and pantomimed eating. “ Yes, this conversation is becoming dull, ” Hermes said to his friend. He turned to Brody and Julia. “ If you’re still confused, your mortal hosts can explain everything. ” “ You’ll be staying with the family that tends my temple. ” Caerus waved a hand to indicate the temple they had just exited.

“ Let’s go, ” Hermes ordered. Brody was more confused than ever. And being confused made him mad. “ I’m not going anywhere with you! ” He gave Hermes a shove. “ You’re not gods. You’re just jerks and fakers! ” Suddenly a loud, chilling cry seemed to rip the air in two. At the same moment, Hermes transformed into an enormous hawk and dived at Brody. The hawk’s giant talons stopped a hair’s breadth from Brody’s face. Brody fell back, gasping with fear. A second later Hermes looked normal again.

“ Learn this lesson well, mortal! ” Hermes said sternly. “ Do not defy me! I can be either your friend or your enemy. Trust me, you’d rather have me as a friend. ” “ Come. ” Caerus headed down the steps of his temple. “ Your hosts are waiting. ” Brody opened his mouth to argue again, but Hermes was still glaring at him. “ Fine, ” Brody muttered. Caerus led the way to a modest home halfway down the hill. A bearded man wearing a purple robe stood in front.