ISBN 0-345-36161-X (Paperback, 240 Pages)

Anyone frustrated by the short length of the opening teaser of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will find solace in this full-length novel adapted from the movie's screenplay by Rob MacGregor. Whilst the sequence in which River appears in the movie lasts less than ten minutes for the theatre-going audience, this book's readers are treated to a thrilling opening which the author successfully stretches out to over three chapters and the result takes nearly an hour to read.

A rider with a thatch of straw-colored hair was the first one off his mount. He watched as a pudgy kid tottered away from his horse. He knew the kid's name was Herman but didn't know him well. He had heard a couple of other kids say that Herman had trouble at home. He wasn't sure what kind of trouble, but it was obvious that he was also having problems right here. He bent over, wobbled, and looked as if he was going to pitch forward onto his face. Finally, he stopped, braced his hands on his knees, gagged, and vomited. Everyone around him roared. They elbowed each other and pointed at the pathetic scout. "Herman's horsesick," one of them yelled. "Yeah, and he wet his saddle, too," another howled gleefully. The blond scout, whose uniform was dressed with a Hopi woven belt, walked up to Herman and asked if he was okay. There was a look of concern and understanding on his face and not a trace of ridicule. It was obvious that he was more mature than the others, and no one dared say a word as he led Herman away. Mr Havelock yelled for the boys to follow him. "Now, don't anybody wander off. Some of the passages in here run on for miles." As the troop fell into step behind their leader, the scouts mumbled under their breath. "This better be good," one said. "Yeah, the circus arrives today," another murmured. "We could be watching them pitch the tents."

Although the other two books featured in this site are both aimed squarely at a young audience, this version is aimed very much at older readers. The author is thus in no rush to complete the movie's storyline and, as a result, we're able to hear about a number of other incidents that befell the young Indiana on that Utah morning in 1912. These include his impromptu meeting with some of the circus's performers and a particularly perilous skirmish with a Bengal tiger.

Fedora's buddies leaned close. "Look at that! We're rich!" Roscoe shouted. "Pipe down. Not so loud," Half-breed chastised. Fedora turned the cross in his hand, silently appraising its beauty and value. Junior touched Herman on the shoulder, unable to contain his excitement and concern. "It's the Cross of Coronado!" he whispered. "Hernando Cortés gave it to him in 1520! It proves that Cortés sent Francisco Coronado in search of the Seven Cities of Gold." Herman looked baffled. "How do you know all this stuff anyhow, Junior?" Junior shifted his gaze toward the men and watched them a moment longer. "That cross is an important artefact. It belongs in a museum. And, do me a favor, don't call me Junior."

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