““The cord,” a familiar voice said. “Remember your lifeline, dummy.” Suddenly there was a tug in my lower back. The current pulled at me, but it wasn’t carrying me away anymore. I imagined the string in my back keeping me tied to the shore. “Hold on, seaweed brain.” It was Annabeth’s voice, much clearer now. “You’re not getting away from me that easily. The cord strengthened. I could see Annabeth now - standing barefoot above me on the canoe-lake pier. I’d fallen out of my canoe. That was it. She was reaching out her hand to hold me up, and she was trying not to laugh. She wore her orange camp t-shirt and jeans. Her hair was tucked up in her Yankees cap, which was strange, because that should have made her invisible. “You’re such an idiot sometimes,” she smiled. “Come on, take my hand.” Memories came flooding back to me - sharper and more colourful. I stopped dissolving. My name was Percy Jackson. I reached up and took Annabeth’s hand.””
