QUICK CROSSWORD

8,705

ACROSS

1 Helps (7) 5 Opposite of hard (4) 7 And not either (3) 8 Non-military person (8) 9 Indian monetary unit (5) 10 Requirement (4) 13 Food grain (4) 14 Chopping tools (4) 18 Heroic narrative (4) 19 Warehouse (5) 21 Pay close attention (4,4) 22 Fish eggs (3) 23 Observes (4) 24 Ties up (7)

DOWN

1 Unnatural and unusual (8) 2 Moral principles (8) 3 Hollow into which a part fits (6) 4 A sage (6) 5 Precious metal (6) 6 Anti-aircraft fire or artillery (4) 11 Scatter (8) 12 Fidgety (8) 15 People who put money away (6) 16 Richly seasoned stew (6) 17 Arrival or coming (6) 20 Sham (4)

MONDAY’S SOLUTION (No 8,704) — ACROSS: 1 Nightfall. 6 Ash. 8 Spring. 9 Sitar. 10 Greece. 11 Scalpel. 13 Autopsy. 16 Notion. 18 Mural. 19 Canvas. 21 New. 22 Single out. DOWN: 1 Nap. 2 Guide. 3 Tigress. 4 Alaska. 5 Laptop. 7 Hard lines. 8 Signalman. 12 Cynical. 14 Throws. 15 Pollen. 17 Tango. 20 Art.