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I am in the position of, after shifting it all in accordance with the first instruction, being left staring at the ambiguity. Do I need to change some letters on the basis of an historical pact or is that completely the wrong track?

Oh I see. You literally form a pact. Doh.

Though 'a pact' isn't strictly correct, unless I've got something wrong. 'A' is not formed in my solution. I better check for errors.

Hi, dryden,

I think that this is where the title of the puzzle is relevant. We are not forming “a pact”, but forming a “pact”.

I have a full grid and I think I know what needs to be done to the grid but so far I only have four, maybe five, of the items. I have four in the across clues. Could somebody confirm if the rest are in the down clues and if I am correct in assuming that some comprise more than one word?

planks - There are 6 'items' in the acrosses and 3 in the downs (all single 'items' - although 2 'items' give one word of the instruction).

Thanks drxx, I'll ponder on

Just worrying about the final grid. I have chosen the particular revision to 1a that gives what I assume is the shaded area elsewhere.

There is the extraordinary relationship between two rows, which must be deliberate. Either way there is a massive hint or a stupendous (double?) red herring.

What do you think?

After a bit of playschool cutting out and gluing I have a completed grid that makes sense to me. I'm not sure what is supposed to be shaded as the final item eludes me for the moment. Maybe it will come to me later. A very clever puzzle which I have enjoyed on a day too wet here for even the most determined gardener to venture out.

If you have solved the puzzle correctly you will be in no doubt, and as a corollary, if you are unsure then you have probably missed the ending, in which the ambiguity plays an integral part. A delightful puzzle