Julia stood with Markos near the exit to the stadium.
She gasped along with everyone else when Hera tossed the pomegranates onto the track.
"Uh-oh," she murmured.
Then she saw Brody running to help guide Heracles around the rolling fruits, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"I guess that's one prank we didn't hear about," she said to Markos.
He looked relieved too. "Hera is more secretive than most of the gods," he said.
"It's lucky for Heracles that Brody thought quickly."
"It sure is," Julia agreed. "Lucky for us too."
Before today the idea of Brody's thinking quickly would have made her laugh.
But not anymore. She had learned that Brody wasn't dumb at all.
She glanced back at the track, checking to see if it was time for her to put the plan in motion.
Thanks to Brody, Heracles was off again, running slowly but steadily in his armor.
The other athletes were just about to reach the pomegranates—it was time for Julia to go.
"Thanks again for all your help," Julia said to Markos.
"I'll miss you when we go home. I know Brody will miss you too."
She was glad Markos had told her about Hermes' oath of protection.
Now she wouldn't have to worry about Markos or his family after she and Brody left ancient Greece.
Hermes had sworn to protect them, and Athena would make sure he kept that promise.
Markos looked a little embarrassed. "I'll miss both of you as well," he said shyly.
"I never expected to become friends with a girl." He shrugged.
"Then again, you're not like most girls, Julia."
Julia decided to take that as a compliment.
"Thanks," she said with a smile. "I'd better get moving now."
Markos nodded. "I'll distract Hermes if needed. But I'm guessing it won't be necessary.
Everyone will be focused on Heracles as soon as he wins this final event."
Julia smiled again, certain that Markos was right. "Good luck, Markos," she whispered.
"Same to you," Markos whispered back. "Good-bye, Julia."
Julia tightened her hold on a cloth bundle as she hurried outside the stadium.
Not far away Iphicles was waiting for her in a chariot.
The chariot was pulled by a pair of horses—just as they'd planned.
Iphicles waved her over. "Ready?" he asked.
"The hoplitodromos is a very short race, and it's probably nearly over.
I suppose my brother is about to triumph yet again?"
"Yes, but no thanks to Hera," Julia said.
"She played a nasty prank, which slowed everything down.
Just give me a second to change clothes, Iphicles, and I'll be ready."
She pulled her jeans out of the bundle she was carrying and slipped them on under her chiton.
Iphicles turned away politely as Julia finished changing.
Then she jumped aboard the chariot. "Let's get in the stadium and finish this, Iphicles. I'm ready to go home!"
Iphicles nodded and flicked the reins, and the horses trotted into the stadium.
Julia looked toward the finish line. Heracles was still on the track, running as fast as he could in the heavy armor.
Brody had picked up his armor, and was running again, many strides behind Heracles.
Julia still felt nervous, but so far everything was going according to her plan.
All they had to do was wait for Brody to finish the race.
While everyone mobbed Heracles, Iphicles would drive Julia and Brody out of the stadium and up to the Temple of Caerus.
Brody and Julia would be through the passage before anyone in Greece even noticed they were gone.
"This has to work," Julia thought, crossing her fingers. "It has to!"
Iphicles steered the chariot to a spot just past the finish line.
A second later Heracles raced past them. Brody came next.
He veered off the track and leaped into the chariot.
"Let's go!" he cried breathlessly.
Iphicles started to turn the chariot toward an exit.
Julia glanced back, hoping to catch a glimpse of Heracles' moment of glory.
That would definitely be something to remember once she was back in her own time.
How many kids could say they'd met—and helped—the mighty Heracles?
But when Julia saw what was happening on the track, she let out a loud gasp. "Oh no! What's Hera doing?"
The queen of the gods had approached Heracles, her face twisted with anger.
She pointed her lotus-tipped staff directly at the champion. "I've had enough of this nonsense!"
Suddenly a pit opened right beneath Heracles.
He fell in, but he managed to grab onto the edge, scrabbling at the dirt as smoke poured out from below.
The horses were galloping toward the exit. "No!" Julia yelled.
"Iphicles, turn back! We have to help Heracles!"
Iphicles seemed to hesitate for a second before whipping the horses into a sharp turn.
The chariot careened toward Heracles, who was still clinging to the edge of the pit.
"Hold on, dude!" Brody hollered at him. "Here we come!"
Julia held her breath as Brody leaned out and reached for Heracles.
Brody grabbed the other athlete and held him tightly.
Heracles hung off the edge of the chariot as it raced on.
Julia could see him gritting his teeth with pain as his legs dragged on the ground.
Brody grunted with effort. "Dude, you're heavy!" he exclaimed. "Especially with that armor on."
"Just hang on to Brody!" Julia urged Heracles.
She reached down to help, grabbing Heracles by the wrist.
Brody was right—Heracles was really heavy.
But together the two of them finally managed to pull Heracles onto the chariot.
"Thank you!" Heracles let out his breath. "I owe you two my life—yet again."
"Get us out of here," Julia told Iphicles. "Hurry!"
She glanced back at Hera. Zeus was storming toward the goddess. "How dare you, Hera!" he thundered.
"Never mind that, you idiot!" Hera gnashed her teeth and pointed at the chariot as it sped toward the exit. "Somebody stop them!"