Zeus left, leaving behind a Golden Bough obtained through "perfectly legitimate means," as well as a beaming Perseus.
Perseus did not like being known as Zeus's son; it could even be said that he rejected the identity. But he liked his big brother. Learning that he and Russell really were biological brothers swept away all his previous gloom.
The silly kid had never considered that this was no different from admitting he was Zeus's son.
"Big Brother!"
"I'm not!"
On the ferry across the River Styx, Perseus tried to get close to Russell, only to be slapped away and step into thin air, falling into the cabin.
The gleaming golden cabin was piled high with gold, silver, and coins, like a mountain of treasure.
There were many rivers in the Underworld, impossible for the living to cross. For example, the rushing black river beneath their feet was called the Krone River, leading to the vast gray plains of the Fields of Truth.
There, the souls of the dead would be judged by the Three Judges of the Underworld, and their next destination determined according to their sins.
Russell and the others did not need to enter the Fields of Truth. With the Golden Bough from Hades' Garden, they only needed Charon to give them a ride before disembarking.
Fortunately, they had this Golden Bough. Otherwise, mortals truly would not have been able to board the ferry of the River Styx. It was both a token and a pass.
Even ordinary dead souls did not find it easy to board the boat. Charon the Ferryman charged a fare—not much, just one coin.
But without that one coin, Charon would sternly refuse them passage, and they could only ride for free a year later.
Human money was worthless in the Underworld. After