They didn't have to tell me. I mean, technically I'm not even a Jones. See, I'm the illegitimate child of a fling my parents had in college and I've never met my real father - he left my mom when he found out she was pregnant. But no, my mother had to give me a weird name, after my great- grandfather, who died three years ago. I kinda miss him, but most of all I miss his stories. We have loads of tapes with 'Great-Gramps and the Temple of Doom' and stuff like that written on them that Mom made for me before I was born 'to remember him by'. I used to love going to visit him, because even though we couldn't act out his adventures, he told the stories in a way that made you feel as though they were really happening and you were there watching it.

But anyway, back to my name, India Ana Jones. When I found out what Great-Gramps' first name was, I always gave Indiana Jones as my name. Eventually, when Mom realised I didn't like India, she gave in and changed all the formal stuff (except my birth certificate) to Indi-Ana. Since then everyone's called me Indy, although when Mom's mad at me she calls me India. Me and my crew (who are all still my best friends now) used to sit by the cassette recorder for hours listening to the tapes when we were smaller. I can even remember a phase when I couldn't sleep unless one of the tapes was playing, which cost a fortune in electricity bills. Even then I still couldn't sleep some nights, because it would get to a good bit and I would have to stay awake to listen.

On the last day of the summer holidays before ninth grade, I said, "Right, when we go back to school we'll officially be teenagers. So I think we should let go of all the bonds that bind us to childhood by playing all the games we played when we were kids."

"OK," said Thomas, who's one of my two closest friends. "Let's play a Great-Gramps Jones story." We had once had a storytelling session where he told us his three favourites of his stories - Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade - and it was a three-way split for those. In the end we ended up creating our own adventure, with a mixture of bits out of all of those and some stuff we made up there and then. After the others had gone home, I remained up in the attic, running my fingers over the inscriptions we'd all left: Indy, Lauren, Thomas, Michael, Hannah, Jamie-Lee. As I was trying to find my way back to the ladder down, I tripped over an old box. "OW!" I yelled, trying to get as few splinters as possible stuck in my skin. Then I realised what was written on the lid of the carton: NOT TO BE OPENED UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE INDY STARTS THE NINTH GRADE.

After several hours trying to get the crate down the steps, I eventually locked the door of my room and dumped the contents of the case on my bed. There wasn't much: a journal, a book of blank pages, a treasure map, an envelope, a hat and a crumpled photograph. I turned it over to reveal a posed shot of a guy who looked like Harrison Ford wearing the hat that was in the box. I opened the envelope, which had my name on it. The letter inside read as follows:

Dear Indy,

Before you read any further, you must know about me. I know you probably believe that my stories did not really happen to me. Well, they did, and it is because of them that you are reading this right now.

When your Great-Grams passed away, leaving me and your grandfather (who was about half the age you are now), I realised that I would have to leave an heir to the name of Jones. Your grandfather was never the type, nor was your mother. But when you were born, I looked into your eyes and I saw the fire that blazes in the eyes, heart and soul of a true Jones. That is why you are called for me, your Great-Gramps, because I asked your mother to. And you are the last of the line at present, so you must do as I command you.

Hidden around the world are seven amulets - one for each colour of the rainbow. Your mission, along with two or three of your friends (make sure they are trustworthy, honest and adventurous spirits), is to search the world for these amulets. Without them the world is in danger of being destroyed by a terrible thing, pure evil that no-one else can prevent except you. The map will help you, and the photo is to remember me by on your travels. My journal is to act as advice to you, and there is a book for your own journal of your adventures. As for the hat: I wore that hat every time I was on a mission. Use what you have well.

All my love,

Great-Gramps

I couldn't believe it. I have to go search the world for a bunch of dumb amulets? But I knew in my heart that these weren't any old amulets - they could be the objects that save the planet from an immanent devastation.

That night at dinner, I said, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't I tell you what?" Mom asked, half-listening.

"About Great-Gramps," I said. "I found this box with a whole bunch of stuff in it this afternoon: hats, photos, letters, maps, journals." My voice had more than a touch of anger in it. "I don't see why I have to do it - I'm not even a real Jones."

Mom reached out like she was going to hit me. "Listen to me, young lady!" she said sharply. "True, you are half your father, and maybe you don't look like a Jones, but your looks don't count - it's your personality. You have what your Great-Gramps had - that indomitable spirit, that perseverance, that determination, that fire that made him the greatest adventurer of all time. Now you will do what he told you to and go find those amulets!"