I can't locate the hotspot at the army post. I went up there to talk to the man and then when I walked to the right, I see the top of the mushroom but no way to get back down the spiral stairway. The only thing I can do is to walk towards the big conch. I need to go down and back to the crystal cave to get the bellows. I am following MaG's WT and have heard the army man tell me about fixing the broken conch.

The place to descend is the trap door that is open, it's not the opening in the wall you can see.

I found the hotspot and it is by the trap door. I guess that I didn't look hard enough. I have made it to Askiam and am wandering around. Talked to the prescription lady and she asked if I had a prescription and I didn't. How do I get that and what will I do with it afterwards?

Grandpa, try talking to Adam at the Pet Store. That will give you a better idea what to do next.
Kay

Well, I finally got thru that area and am now at the entrance to the Mines. Reading over the Wt is very confusing to me here. Which way should I start??

Grandpa -- you can walk boldly into the mines here, but the guard there won't let you in. Or you can go to the mine cart on the tracks in front of the mine and hide there to sneak past the guard.

Whatever you do though, be sure to talk to the sub captain first.

Well, here is where I am now. I managed to get to the laboratory and see the Ball Puzzle. What am I looking for here? The lightest ball or the heaviest ball? I thought that I had figured it out and got a white ball but when I went to the geyser elevator, the ball wouldn't go down the tube.

Grandpa,

This is one of the hardest to explain how to do.
The object of the puzzle is to find a 'unique ball' - it could be the heavier or the lighter of all the balls.
You are only given 3 chances-weighings to find it.
Best to save the game since if you start a new set - it will start a new set of balls.

As shown in the wt - I grouped my weighings into 3 sets of 4 balls.


1. First weighing ----I weigh 2 sets - one set of 4 balls in each pan. The third set is left untouched yet.

If the sets on the pan are equal, the third set has the unique ball.
If they are uneven, the unique ball is in the 2 sets of balls weigh.
Remember which pan is the heavier or lighter.

2. Second weighing --- I then work on the uneven sets of balls for my next 2 weighings.
Take off 2 balls from one pan of the scale and place it on the table - remember if it is from a heavier or lighter pan.
Then, take one ball from one pan and place it on the other pan to even the number of balls to 3 each pan.
Weigh the pans.

If they are even, the unique ball is found on the 2 original balls taken off that is now on the table.
If they are still uneven and the pan that was heavy stays heavy - work with balls on the heavy pan for the third weighing.
If they are still uneven and the pans changed weight (this means that if it was heavier before and now became lighter or vice versa)- work on the balls of the changed pan.

3. Third weighing - Weigh the pan the third time with only a ball each. Since there are only 3 balls on this weighing - one ball on the pan and place one on the table.

From here you can deduce which ball is unique.

<whew>

OK, now how many times do I push the lever? I put 4 balls each on the pans and pushed the lever once. The red arrow went to the left and then I pushed the lever again and it showed even?????What am I doing wrong?

Just push the lever once after you have placed the balls - it will weigh them.
The second press will tare the scale for you to add the next set of balls.
You can see how many more chances of weighing you have by the number.

Good luck!