> > So I just spent the last hour (really? an hour? [checks] Yeah, more than that actually) mapping the entire desert (yep, the whole thing, click the link for a very low-res image! I'll get a higher-res one so you can all laugh at me) and I achieved no result. I now know, having clearly misread Ekaterin's hint, the destination Y of any route taken from origin X. Of course, I do not know where the hideout is. I must therefore do something in a special order, it cannot be done starting from anywhere. I really didn't want to have to post for help in this game, but this one thing just has me stumped. So, please help?
>
> Hmmm . . . I took seriously the people who said not to map the desert, and just went in one direction until I got a cue of some sort. Didn't take me long to find the hideout. I think all you need to do is read the descriptions and let them determine your route for you.

Hmm, so either the desert is more complex than I imagined and I hit on the correct move sequence by pure chance while mapping, or you didn't notice that one particular location has an extra non-movement option, and you should investigate this location thoroughly.
Ekaterin.