The agora was crowded when Brody and the others arrived.
Humans and gods gathered in small groups, most of them chattering about Alcides.
"Is he here yet?" Hermes called out.
His winged sandals fluttered, and he flew up and away, over the crowd. "Where's the mighty champion Alcides?"
"Hey!" Brody called. "Where are you going? Don't forget about us!"
"Never mind," Julia said. "We'll never catch up to him in this crowd."
She stood on tiptoes. "We'll never see anything either."
Markos pointed to the wooden roof of a nearby stall.
"Let's climb up there. Then we'll be able to see everything."
"Good idea." Brody jumped up and grabbed the edge of the roof, preparing to swing himself up.
But looking back at Julia, he hesitated.
She was shorter than he was; she'd probably never be able to reach the tall roof.
"Here," he said, letting go of the roof. "I'll give you a lift."
He made a step with his hands.
Julia hesitated for a second. "Thanks," she said at last.
She stepped onto Brody's cupped hands. He hoisted her up until she could grab the edge of the roof and pull herself onto it.
Then he scrambled up and pulled Markos up after him.
Markos was right. Brody could see the entire agora from the roof.
"Look, there's Hermes," Julia said, pointing. "Over there with Apollo and Artemis."
Markos shaded his eyes. "I see Aphrodite and Ares too.
I wonder if Hera is here. Maybe she decided to stay away—to annoy Zeus."
"Never mind them," Brody said. "I want to see Alcides."
He flexed his muscles. "I have to beat this guy."
At that moment a hush fell over the crowd.
Then Zeus stepped onto the dais at one end of the agora. Behind him were two teenage boys.
"Is that Alcides?" Brody peered at the taller and more muscular of the boys.
"Hey, he doesn't look much older than me."
"Who's the other kid?" Julia asked.
Brody glanced at the second youth. He was hanging back behind Zeus and the larger boy.
"He's kind of scrawny. I doubt he's an athlete."
"Greetings, visitors and citizens of Olympia!" Zeus' deep voice boomed out over the crowd.
"The moment you've awaited is here. I present to you my mortal champion—Alcides!"
The larger youth stepped forward. Most of the humans in the agora cheered, while the gods murmured or jeered.
Brody leaned forward, trying to get a good look at Alcides.
Zeus' champion was built like a football player.
But Brody knew that most of his teammates back home would probably make fun of Alcides' long, flowing brown hair.
"This is the mighty Alcides?" Apollo called out.
"He doesn't look very mighty to me!"
Zeus smiled. "Fear not, sun god.
Alcides might look mild-mannered, but he has the heart of a lion and the strength of an ox. Show them, my boy."
Alcides nodded and looked around. A large wooden wagon stacked high with logs was parked near the dais.
Hopping down gracefully, Alcides bent—and lifted the wagon over his head in one easy motion.
"Whoa!" Brody said. "How'd he do that?"
"So he's strong," Artemis called out. "Very impressive.
But strength won't help him win a footrace."
Zeus smirked. "Clear a path, and fetch me a fast horse. We're going to have a race."
Soon a sleek black horse was dancing beside Alcides at the starting line.
A nervous-looking young boy sat on the horse's back.
Zeus yelled, "Go!" and both the horse and Alcides took off.
The horse broke into a gallop, but Alcides stayed right beside it.
Just before the finish line, Alcides passed the animal.
The crowd cheered wildly. Even a few of the gods joined in this time.
Brody didn't make a sound, though. He could hardly believe what he'd just seen.
Zeus looked pleased. "Well?" he said. "Does anyone have any doubts about my hero now?"
A goddess stepped forward. She had brown hair and a motherly look.
In her hand was a sheaf of wheat.
"Who's that?" Brody blurted out.
"That's Demeter," Julia murmured. "The goddess of the harvest."
"I have a challenge for your champion," Demeter announced.
She pointed a sheaf of wheat at Alcides.
Vines sprouted out of the ground all around him.
They snaked around his body and head, completely hiding him from sight.
Demeter stepped back. "Let's see if your hero can free himself from the bounds of nature!"
Zeus looked slightly annoyed. "Fine," he said. "Alcides, go ahead."
For a moment nothing happened.
"Do you think he's okay?" Julia asked. "What if those vines are suffocating him?"
"Who cares!" Brody replied. "Then I won't have to run against him in the Olympics!"
Julia shot him a look. "He's the fastest and strongest person I've ever seen. Are you getting nervous?"
Trying to ignore his doubts, Brody swallowed hard.
"No way," he said quickly. "I . . . I can beat him."
Just then the first vine snapped. Then another. A few seconds later, Alcides wiggled one arm free.
Within a few more seconds, he'd squirmed free of the vines.
Zeus grabbed Alcides' arm and held it above the youth's head. "My champion!" he shouted.
The crowd cheered. Brody glanced at Hermes, wondering what the god was thinking now.
As he did, he saw movement nearby. Ares was pushing his way to the front of the crowd.
"Think fast, mortal," the war god said with a sneer.
Then he shot a flaming arrow directly at Alcides!
Brody barely had time to gasp.
Alcides reacted fast, clapping his hands together in front of him—and stopping the arrow just before it struck his chest.
The crowd cheered again.
"Uh-oh," Julia murmured.
Suddenly the cheering stopped. People in the crowd began whispering, staring off to one side of the dais.
"What's going on?" Julia asked.
Brody turned to look. The crowd parted beside the dais—and Hera stepped into view.