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.
"Welcome, Caerus," the man said, bowing. "We are honored by your presence. Yours as well, Hermes."
"Thank you," Hermes said. "Caerus tells me you've agreed to look after my champion until the Games."
"Of course." The man bowed to Brody. "My name is Nikolaos. My eldest son will take care of your needs."
A boy around Brody's age stepped outside.
Like the men he wore one of those strange-looking chitons. "Hi," he said shyly. "I'm Markos."
"Hey." Brody nodded. "I'm Brody." Julia stepped forward. "I'm Julia."
"Oh, right," Caerus said. "We'll also need you to look after the champion's . . . companion."
"A girl?" Nikolaos stared at Julia, and then shrugged.
"As you wish, Caerus. We can always use help in the kitchen."
Julia frowned, but she didn't say anything. Soon the two gods left.
"Take care of our guests, Markos," Nikolaos said.
"I have important work to do at the temple."
"Yes, Father," Markos said as Nikolaos left.
Brody quickly glanced at Julia. "I'm going back to the temple.
Caerus and Hermes said we could get home through that crack in the wall, so that's what I'm doing."
"What?" Markos looked alarmed. "You can't leave! Hermes will be angry."
Brody shrugged. "So what?"
Markos shook his head. "Hermes may seem good-natured, but he is still a god.
As you know, gods aren't like mortals, and they think nothing of punishing us at their whim."
"How would I know that?" Brody said. "Up until a few minutes ago, I didn't know gods really existed."
Markos looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"Listen, Markos." Julia jumped in. "What's all this talk about Brody being Hermes' champion?
And are the Olympic Games really starting soon?"
Her questions tumbled out. "Is Hermes really a god? I mean, for real?"
Markos stared at her. "You ask many questions for a girl."
Julia looked annoyed. Brody almost laughed, but he wanted to know the answer to her questions too. "Just answer her," he told Markos.
"Yes, the Olympic Games begin soon," Markos said.
"Every four years all the gods compete to see who can find the best mortal athlete."
He shook his head. "But you must already know that."
"No, we don't," Julia said. "We came from the future."
"The future? I don't understand."
"Wait . . ." Brody had just realized what Markos meant.
"So Hermes thinks I'm the best athlete around?"
Markos shrugged. "I suppose so."
"And he wants me to be in the Olympics?" Brody liked the sound of that. "Cool!"
But Julia was clearly worried. "We can't stay here," she told Brody. "We have to find a way home!"
"Why the big rush?" Brody grinned. "If I get to be an Olympic champion, maybe I'll stick around!"