Percy was leaving camp. The camp store loaned Percy $100 in mortal money and 20 golden drachmas. Annabeth was bringing Yankee caps that she got on her 20th birthday. She had a long bronze knife in her sleeve. Grover has fake feet. Percy got ordinary disposable ballpoint, black ink, removable cap as a gift from his father. Percy was heading west with no adult supervision, no backup plan, not even a cellphone. Chiron said cellphones were traceable by monsters. The bus comes. Percy sees Mrs. Dodds who is getting older but same evil face. The bus pulled to the staion. Percy went through the streets of Manhattan. There was darkness ahead.
In chapter 10, as in most situations, Percy's response to conflict is to help his friends. In this scene, he, Annabeth, and Grover are on a bus. When three old ladies board the bus, they realize that the old ladies are not what they seem. In fact, they are the Furies, “the three worst monsters from the Underworld.”
