23
" Why, observe the thing; turn it over; hold it up to the window; count the beads, long, oval, like some seaweed bulbs, each an amulet. See the tint; it's very old; like clots of sunshine, aren't they? Now bring it near; see the carving, here corrugated, there faceted, now sculptured into hideous, tiny, heathen gods. You didn't notice that before! How difficult it must have been, when amber is so friable! Here's one with a chessboard on his back, and all his kings and queens and pawns slung round him. Here's another with a torch, a flaming torch, its fire pouring out inverted. They are grotesque enough; but this, this is matchless: such a miniature woman, one hand grasping the round rock behind, while she looks down into some gulf, perhaps, beneath, and will let herself fall. 0, you should see her with a magnifying-glass! You want to think of calm satisfying death, a mere exhalation, a voluntary slipping into another element? There it is for you. They are all gods and goddesses. They are all here but one; I've lost one, the knot of all, the love of the thing.
Well! Wasn't it queer for a Catholic girl to have at prayer? "
― Harriet Prescott Spofford , The Amber Gods and Other Stories
26
" ...as the slow sea sucked at the shore and then withdrew, leaving the strip of seaweed bare and the shingle churned, the sea birds raced and ran upon the beaches. Then that same impulse to flight seized upon them too. Crying, whistling, calling, they skimmed the placid sea and left the shore. Make haste, make speed, hurry and begone; yet where, and to what purpose? The restless urge of autumn, unsatisfying, sad, had put a spell upon them and they must flock, and wheel, and cry; they must spill themselves of motion before winter came. "
― Daphne du Maurier , The Birds and Other Stories
35
" You saved the world," annabeth said." We saved the world." " And Rachel is the new Oracle, which means she won't be dating anybody." " You don't sound disappointed," I noticed.Annabeth shrugged. " Oh, I don't care." " Uh-huh." She raised an eyebrow. " You got something to say to me, Seaweed Brain?" " You'd probably kick my butt." " You know I'd kick your butt." I brushed the cake off my hands. " When I was at the River Styx, turning invulnerable . . . Nico said I had to concentrate on one thing that kept me anchored to the world, that made me want to stay mortal." Annabeth kept her eyes on the horizon. " Yeah?" " Then up on Olympus," I said, " when they wanted to make me a god and stuff, I kept thinking—" " Oh, you so wanted to." " Well, maybe a little. But I didn't, because I thought—I didn't want things to stay the same for eternity, becausethings could always get better. And I was thinking . . ." My throat felt really dry." Anyone in particular?" Annabeth asked, her voice soft.I looked over and saw that she was trying not to smile." You're laughing at me," I complained." I am not!" " You are so not making this easy." Then she laughed for real, and she put her hands around my neck. " I am never, ever going to make things easy foryou, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it." When she kissed me, I had the feeling my brain was melting right through my body. I could've stayed that way forever, except a voice behind us growled, " Well, it's about time!" Suddenly the pavilion was filled with torchlight and campers. Clarisse led the way as the eavesdroppers charged and hoisted us both onto their shoulders." Oh, come on!" I complained. " Is there no privacy?" " The lovebirds need to cool off!" Clarisse said with glee." The canoe lake!" Connor Stoll shouted. and they dumped us in the water. "
38
" Then she laughed for real, and put her hands around my neck. 'I am never, ever going to make things easy for you Seaweed Brain. Get used to it.'
When she kissed me, I had the feeling my brain was melting right through my body.
I could've stayed that way forever, except a voice behind us growled, 'Well it's about time!'
Suddenly the pavilion was filled with torchlight and campers. Clarisse led the way as the eavesdroppers charged and hoisted us both onto their shoulders.
'Oh, come on!' I complained. 'Is there no privacy?'
'The lovebirds need to cool off!' Clarisse said with glee.
'The canoe lake!' Conner Stoll shouted.
With a huge cheer, they carried us down the hill, but they kept us close enough to hold hands. Annabeth was laughing, and I couldn't help laughing too, even though my face was completely red.
We held hands right up to the moment they dumped us in the water. "
― Rick Riordan , The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #5)