ALAN LEE’S CRYPTIC CROSSWORD NO. 422

Across

1 Vehicle goes swiftly with Shell. (8) 5 Commerce ring rejects approaching fabric dealer. (6) 9 An associate has papers from NASA and NATO. (8) 10 Nerve cell in old town bathed in light. (6) 12 Accolade swamps a director’s opening resolution. (7) 13 Behaving like Villenueve having a sip. (7) 14 and 15 Story angled to suit

Reynold’s movie. (7,4) 19 and 20 Sad wagers covered on

last run at this track. (4,7) 24 Muscles are short at back and in

decline. (7) 25 Missile launchers decapitated

infantrymen. (7) 26 Seasonal workers are pleasant

guys but leaderless. (6) 27 Doctors trace one source of

Vitamin A. (8) 28 Gee! Holding one left

shoe. (6) 29 Contrails on the city

horizon. (8)

Down

1 Irascible and disheartened career columnist. (6) 2 Double check dearer alternative. (6) 3 and 21. Pen name is on ID. It exposed deception in Vietnam. (8,6) 4 Area of agreement is ordinary, like coffee. (6,6) 6 In Ottawa annexe, M.P. tears free from restraint. (6) 7 Card to Wigan: “Pull out warm clothing.” (8) 8 Separatist kept oath with turncoat. (8) 11 Sadly, we hear of a young girl with a deficiency. (4,3,5) 16 Wearing a support with a racket hung on the bottom. (8) 17 Concise summary is no fool’s paradise. (8) 18 Where one learns to play with hot coals? (2,6) 21 See 3 down. 22 Put-down from boss made me angry. (6) 23 Property used as sound stages. (6)