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i toyed with the X in EXE but not convinced by that or by the Xerxes theory.
i'll stick with the simple X in the middle of the big X. (it's the use of the phrase 'circle that square and it's contents' that niggles).

Thanks, Sudokulover & Rosalind.

Rather obvious now. Should have thought a bit more about those, but was distracted by the the X thing.

I tried using the letters EX as a pointer to something (?), then as a group & chains of them, but no luck.

The big problem seems to be that the location is a single square.
What can you put in there? One letter.

So, do we run through the alphabet to find a letter that represents "something valuable", according to the prologue?
Don't have the energy, or the time, but if somebody is game ... GK ?? (-;

Maybe we are all missing something, but I'll be really pissed if it's nothing more than the central X.
What a goose chase, eh, Trevor !?
Aristo ... do you have guns ? You're the closest.

Just kidding. What's the Smiley for that?

I can't imagine, Syzygy, that it's any other letter than X, since the others (I presume) are mostly there in several places, so how could you choose any particular position, even if you attribute some special value to that letter?
I'm sticking with my 2 attempts (central X + the one "extra" in Xerxes) and continue to assume it's just a bit too easy!

I think it's a brilliant crossword even though I also don't understand which square we're meant to circle. Imagine setting off to find all those words with x in the right place.
Hope someone comes up with a clever idea as it is niggling.......

I wish this would go away. I still think it has something to do with the "odd man out". Why would you create that elaborate scheme and then stick another X outside of the chorus line? Well, it could be a red herring, but that seems unlikely. As with EXE, I wondered about wordplay with Isle of Man (MAN X)...

Uh...odd MAN out? :)

Well, I'm tending towards Aristo's theory, though still wondering about the "something valuable".

Time to give it a rest. We'll find out next month.

I'm sure everyone nailed the Speccie, & the JE should be out shortly.

Cheers, all.

Something to take your minds off the puzzle:
http://www.wimp.com/kangarooboxes/

Who's back yard is that !?

ha ha
great link sysy.
love the little fella who wants to join in.
A lemur?

Definitely ! Always thought they were rather shy.

What are the B&W monkeys? Capuchins ?

Love the dog. After a while he says, "Enough of this jazz. I'm outta here."