> > > Inventory:
> > >
> > > 2 Nanoxite Stones
> > > Leather Briefcase
> > > Employment Papers
> > > ISO Accident Report
> > > Scrap of Paper
> > > I.D. Card
> > > Passcard (CQ30021)
> > > Passcard (CQ60537)
> > > Supply Room Card
> > > Mine Access Card
> > > OSA Card
> > > Izacladia Access Card
> > > Business Card
> > > Gold Key
> > > Vault Key
> > > Dragon Key
> > > Crowbar
> > > Light Tube
> > > Radio Receiver
> > > Fire Extinguisher
> > > Crank
> > > Pickaxe
> > > Noise Filter Headset
> > > Knife
> > > ISO Energy Pulse Gun
> > > Tranquilizer Gun
> > > Military Uniform
> > > ISO Officer's Cap
> > > Pet Snacks
> > > Matches
> > > Washcloth
> > > Round Pot
> > > Small Mirror
> > > Sleeping Pills
> > > Rock
> > > Tranquilizer Spray
> > > Golden Necklace
> > >
> > > I've given the OSA laser thingy to the boy, but he now wants a Spiffy Cola, which I can't do since the vending machine is jammed. I've also let out a huge beetle from one of the rooms, but I don't see how that's changed things so far, and I can't find anything to use the gold key on. What should I look for next? Do I need to explore the mines more? Thanks for reading this.
> >
> > Exploring the mines more is one of two areas where you can make significant progress now (look and listen for clues after jumping from the mine cart and ending up in that location east of where you can slide down a pipe).
> >
> > Also, after handling the crisis in the arboretum, you should be able to get to an otherwise inaccessible location by a sneaky route. There you can find some important items for progress in another direction.
>
> Exactly how far can I proceed in the mines now? I've already found 3 peryolitium shards in there (got the last one after being more persistent with my digging), are there more? I've given all of these to Carson, got 4 more shards, given away the golden necklace, and got the metal briefcase in return. And there are now beetles in CQ6 (ewww).
>

You can do everything that's left in the mines on one more visit to Akumos. There's a whole new section of natural caverns that is difficult to even reach -- see if you can find the mine cart, after jumping from it, in time to see it emerge in another location with tracks (as long as you can still hear it rumbling along in the area description, it hasn't yet reached that location). You'll have to use as few turns as possible, so it might take a few tries to get it right.

> Is the area in the aboretum you were talking about the area by the trees? I still haven't been able to get there even though the director's gone now, and I've tried getting there from three possible ways already.

It's an area you've been to several times already, not actually in the arboretum, but this late in the game you can only get to it by going *through* the arboretum. The normal way of getting there is too well guarded.