Spiral

The completed puzzle is made up of two long chains of words – one reading inwards from box 1 to 100; the other outwards from 100 to 1. Only one letter is allowed in each box. Once you’ve completed the puzzle, the letters in the blue boxes can be rearranged to spell out the prize word, which this week means ‘idle chatter’. Boxes INWARD 1-5 Excited exclamation 6-11 Armed military skirmish 12-19 Soccer 20-23 Creative activities 24-28 Maltreat 29-32 Informers, informally 33-35 It’s breathed to stay alive 36-40 Strike together, as teeth 41-43 Feline 44-47 Upper hand 48-53 Ian Mckellen, for example 54-56 Quarrel 57-60 Presentation of capabilities 61-65 Snide, critical comments 66-71 Horse chestnut seed 72-77 Angry mood 78-85 Rehearse 86-89 Firm up a muscle 90-96 Hand over 97-100 Periods of time before events Boxes OUTWARD 100-95 Harsh 94-91 Really disgusting 90-85 Indicate 84-82 Occupy a position 81-79 Train carriage 78-75 Pre-secondary private school 74-70 Unit of length 69-65 Bump 64-57 Held hostage for money 56-52 Value 51-49 Clear alcoholic spirit 48-46 Beer cask 45-40 Disengage 39-33 Spanish punch 32-28 Gaze fixedly 27-25 Underwater boat 24-19 Stellar 18-16 Testing place? 15-13 Moreover 12-9 Soft cloth 8-4 Banned 3-1 Animal food