Page 75 of The Games Gods Play
I carefully turn to Zai, who is holding a large, leatherbound book with thick, parchment-like pages. Where did he get that? It’s got to be one of his gifts from Hermes. He’s flipping pages and mumbling to himself.
Trying to solve the problem. I should be, too.
Think, Lyra.
My plank suddenly slides smoothly and soundlessly back one inch, forcing me to scoot with it. I’m not the only one who wobbles, clinging to the mountain for dear life.
Then my plank moves again, and my heart pounds in my chest.
Glancing right, I find Dex, Neve, and Dae-hyeon climbing off their planks to hold precariously onto the mountainside. I’m not sure if they’re planning to take us all out right now or if they’re just taking themselves out of the equation for Rima.
Thieves are taught climbing skills—something I was never good at, but for a split second I consider doing the same. Except they might have to hold on for the rest of the hour, and it hasn’t been very long yet. Their muscles will be jelly by the time they actually have to climb down.
But I can be more prepared than I am. Facing outward means if I lose enough plank, I tumble forward with nothing to grab except maybe a face-plant into the glass partition. But facing the mountain, I could try to grab on. Going up on my toes, I shuffle my feet in a careful circle and slowly pivot on my plank.
“Don’t fall. Don’t fall. Don’t—” My plank moves just as I’m facing the mountain, and I sway, stomach pitching.
With one hand on the rock and the other flailing for balance, I recover.
Blast and brimstone, that could have been bad.
I take a single second to press my forehead to the rock and close my eyes, letting out a breath of relief.
“Olympus, if this is your mountain…” I whisper the words to one of the Ourea. Different mountains have their own gods, and I think we’re still in Olympus, so it makes sense. “I pray that you give to us sanctuary from…” I almost say death, but a tiny part of me knows that would hurt Hades, to pray to be saved from him. I don’t know if it’s loyalty to him or something else that changes the words on my lips. “From peril.”
Tucking my elbows into my body, I rest my palms against the mountain at shoulder height, searching for any holds close in that might work. I find a better grip with my right but am still searching with my left.
That’s when my plank moves in again. Now my heels are right at the edge. Anyone with bigger feet has to be on their toes by now. The others had it right. Just get off the damned plank. I turn my head, pressing it against the rock, and gasp. Something around Dae-hyeon’s neck is glowing blue. A necklace, maybe. His plank is farther out, too. He asked one of his questions.
I turn my head to find Zai is also standing on more plank than me, so he also asked a question. If anyone asks one more, I’m in trouble.
I need more plank. Quickly. My mind gloms on to the first thing I can think of. “Clotho?” I ask, not that I can see her. “Is my name Lyra Keres?”
“Yes.” Her voice floats around inside my glass cage.
Immediately, my plank moves back out, and I adjust with it. As soon as I’m steady, the small breath of relief I take pinches off, because I immediately realize my mistake.
Sure, the question gained me six inches and extra time. There’s probably a dirty joke in there somewhere. But Clotho’s answer told me nothing. Or did it?
True would answer yes. And Random has a fifty-fifty chance of answering yes. But False would answer no, right? That must mean Clotho is either True or Random. A tiny thrill bubbles in my chest. I figured something out, at least. Maybe this riddle won’t be as hard as I expect.
Just then, my plank scoots in again, and I panic. I have no idea what to ask next. And there’s not enough time to think. Fuck.
I close my eyes and hold on and try to block everything else out. What would narrow it down? If I was in my tiny office in the den, working on a spreadsheet, trying to figure out which thief brought an item back, what questions would I ask?
Before I can think through a plan, my plank suddenly recedes again, and off to my left a scream rends the air. I whip my head around only to have to catch my balance as the horrible sound of a body scraping down rock comes from below me. It feels like they fall forever before there’s an awful thud.
Then…silence.
38
Riddle Me This
After a long, pounding silence, my plank suddenly starts moving again.
Fast.
Until I’m up on my tiptoes.
