diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/README.md b/modules/mesh-build-go/README.md
index 345c48e4..74d6519b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/README.md
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/README.md
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@ builder writes the older form beside it while a counted node-engine reads only t
 seat nothing holds, fails the step `not stored: <artifact>: <the holder's words>`. The packed bytes never stay on the node.
 A build the builder numbers later is published late: the module consumes the builder's `version.numbered` and, for a
 bundle or an archive with a digest, publishes that held digest under its version, naming its one part by digest and
-sending nothing (`latepublish.go`); a holder that no longer holds the digest fails the event, which is offered again.
+sending nothing (`latepublish.go`); a holder that no longer holds the digest fails the event, which is offered again. Every
+ask of a seat a build module makes (a publish, a late publish, an image's copy) is narrated by `buildstep/narrate.go`:
+asked, waiting on the seat every five minutes while it has not answered, stored or refused, each the ask's phase on its
+running step key (logged outside an ask).
 A contracts module (a package artifact naming `generated-from`) has its generated Go files regenerated with the seat
 generator this module is built with and compared (`buildstep/generated.go`): the unit level of `build_go_test` fails
 naming each file that differs, is missing or was not written by the generator (its `out-of-step`), and a build ask
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6e5cfbc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package buildstep
+
+// **A build narrates its asks of a seat** (CAT-NR1; design 51 *Publishing*): asked, waiting on the seat (said again every
+// NarrateEvery while it waits), stored, refused. Each line is the ask's phase (phase.go): logged with the ask's id and
+// written to its running step key, so the builder and the delivery view read from the bus where a publish or a copy
+// stands; outside an ask's run (a late publish, a tool called by hand) it is logged. One place for every build module:
+// PublishOne and PublishFiles narrate through it, and a step that waits on a seat's event (an image's copy) uses
+// NarrateSeat itself.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// NarrateEvery is how often a build says again that it still waits on a seat.
+var NarrateEvery = 5 * time.Minute
+
+// narrateTicks is the clock of the waiting lines; a test hands its own.
+var narrateTicks = func(every time.Duration) (<-chan time.Time, func()) {
+	t := time.NewTicker(every)
+	return t.C, t.Stop
+}
+
+// SeatNarration is one ask of a build on a seat, said as it moves.
+type SeatNarration struct {
+	ctx        context.Context
+	seat, what string
+	asked      time.Time
+	tick       <-chan time.Time
+	stop       func()
+}
+
+// NarrateSeat says that the build asked seat for what (a verb and its object, such as "publish of nats/server") and
+// starts the waiting lines; Stored or Refused ends it.
+func NarrateSeat(ctx context.Context, seat, what string) *SeatNarration {
+	n := &SeatNarration{ctx: ctx, seat: seat, what: what, asked: now()}
+	n.tick, n.stop = narrateTicks(NarrateEvery)
+	n.say("asked %s: %s", seat, what)
+	return n
+}
+
+// Waiting is the clock a waiting step selects on beside its outcome; on each tick it calls StillWaiting.
+func (n *SeatNarration) Waiting() <-chan time.Time { return n.tick }
+
+// StillWaiting says that the build still waits on the seat, and since when.
+func (n *SeatNarration) StillWaiting() {
+	n.say("waiting on %s: %s, %s since asked", n.seat, n.what, now().Sub(n.asked).Round(time.Second))
+}
+
+// Stored says that the seat holds what the build asked it to keep (how: where, or what travelled).
+func (n *SeatNarration) Stored(how string) {
+	n.stop()
+	if how != "" {
+		how = " (" + how + ")"
+	}
+	n.say("stored on %s: %s%s", n.seat, n.what, how)
+}
+
+// Refused says that the seat did not keep it, and why.
+func (n *SeatNarration) Refused(err error) {
+	n.stop()
+	n.say("refused by %s: %s: %v", n.seat, n.what, err)
+}
+
+func (n *SeatNarration) say(format string, a ...any) {
+	line := fmt.Sprintf(format, a...)
+	if r, ok := n.ctx.Value(phaseKey{}).(*phases); ok && r != nil {
+		r.enter(line)
+		return
+	}
+	log.Print(line)
+}
+
+// OnSeat runs call as one narrated ask of the build on seat: asked, waiting every NarrateEvery while call runs, then
+// stored (how(answer)) or refused (its error).
+func OnSeat[T any](ctx context.Context, seat, what string, call func() (T, error), how func(T) string) (T, error) {
+	n := NarrateSeat(ctx, seat, what)
+	type answer struct {
+		v   T
+		err error
+	}
+	done := make(chan answer, 1)
+	go func() {
+		v, err := call()
+		done <- answer{v, err}
+	}()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case a := <-done:
+			if a.err != nil {
+				n.Refused(a.err)
+			} else {
+				h := ""
+				if how != nil {
+					h = how(a.v)
+				}
+				n.Stored(h)
+			}
+			return a.v, a.err
+		case <-n.Waiting():
+			n.StillWaiting()
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate_test.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa0cf34b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/narrate_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+package buildstep
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	reg "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/go/seats/containerimageregistry"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// CAT-NR1: a build's publish on a seat says asked, waiting on the seat (on every tick of NarrateEvery while the holder
+// has not answered), and stored or refused, each as the ask's phase written to its running step key.
+func TestABuildNarratesItsPublishOnASeat(t *testing.T) {
+	digest := "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("c", 64)
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		answer error
+		ticks  int
+		want   []string
+	}{
+		"stored": {want: []string{
+			"asked go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest,
+			"stored on go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest + " (0 of its 1 parts sent, the rest held)"}},
+		"refused": {answer: errors.New("the holder is down"), want: []string{
+			"asked go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest,
+			"refused by go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest + ": go-package-registry's publish of mod: the holder is down"}},
+		"waiting twice, then stored": {ticks: 2, want: []string{
+			"asked go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest,
+			"waiting on go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest + ", 5m0s since asked",
+			"waiting on go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest + ", 10m0s since asked",
+			"stored on go-package-registry: publish of mod 1.2.3 at " + digest + " (0 of its 1 parts sent, the rest held)"}},
+	} {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			clock := time.Date(2026, 11, 4, 16, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+			var mu sync.Mutex
+			oldNow, oldTicks := now, narrateTicks
+			now = func() time.Time { mu.Lock(); defer mu.Unlock(); return clock }
+			tick := make(chan time.Time)
+			stopped := make(chan struct{})
+			narrateTicks = func(every time.Duration) (<-chan time.Time, func()) {
+				if every != 5*time.Minute {
+					t.Errorf("the waiting lines come every %s, want 5m", every)
+				}
+				return tick, func() { close(stopped) }
+			}
+			t.Cleanup(func() { now, narrateTicks = oldNow, oldTicks })
+
+			var said []string
+			wrote := make(chan struct{}, 16)
+			step := delivery.Step{ID: "a1", Tool: "build", Node: "ace", State: delivery.StepRunning, Started: clock}
+			ph := &phases{key: "ace.a1", step: step, put: func(key string, value any) (uint64, error) {
+				var s delivery.Step
+				_ = json.Unmarshal(value.(json.RawMessage), &s)
+				phasesMu.Lock()
+				said = append(said, s.Phase)
+				phasesMu.Unlock()
+				wrote <- struct{}{}
+				return 1, nil
+			}}
+			release := make(chan struct{})
+			call := func(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+				<-release
+				if c.answer != nil {
+					return nil, c.answer
+				}
+				return json.Marshal(reg.PublishAnswer{Held: true, Transfer: "t"})
+			}
+			ctx := context.WithValue(context.Background(), phaseKey{}, ph)
+			done := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() { done <- PublishOne(ctx, call, GoSeat, "mod", "package", "1.2.3", digest, "t", []byte("x")) }()
+			line := func() {
+				select {
+				case <-wrote:
+				case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+					t.Fatal("the publish said no line")
+				}
+			}
+			line() // asked, at the clock's start
+			for i := 0; i < c.ticks; i++ {
+				mu.Lock()
+				clock = clock.Add(5 * time.Minute)
+				mu.Unlock()
+				tick <- clock
+				line() // its waiting line
+			}
+			close(release)
+			err := <-done
+			if (err != nil) != (c.answer != nil) {
+				t.Fatalf("PublishOne = %v", err)
+			}
+			<-stopped
+			phasesMu.Lock()
+			defer phasesMu.Unlock()
+			// Each line is the step's phase, written to its key, in order.
+			if fmt.Sprint(said) != fmt.Sprint(c.want) {
+				t.Errorf("phases =\n%s\nwant\n%s", strings.Join(said, "\n"), strings.Join(c.want, "\n"))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+var phasesMu sync.Mutex
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/publish.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/publish.go
index 56bdb000..877e6edb 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/publish.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep/publish.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -42,11 +43,29 @@ func TransferName(name, qualifier, digest string) string {
 // PublishOne publishes body, of digest, as name (at version, when it has one) of kind on seat, in one part.
 func PublishOne(ctx context.Context, call SeatCall, seat, name, kind, version, digest, transfer string, body []byte) error {
 	in := reg.PublishInput{Name: name, Kind: kind, Version: version, Digest: digest, Transfer: transfer}
-	_, err := publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, []publish.Part{{Digest: digest, Size: int64(len(body)),
-		Open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body)), nil }}})
+	_, err := OnSeat(ctx, seat, publishWhat(in), func() (publish.Sent, error) {
+		return publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, []publish.Part{{Digest: digest, Size: int64(len(body)),
+			Open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body)), nil }}})
+	}, SentHow(1))
 	return err
 }
 
+// publishWhat names a publish in a narration: its name, its version when it has one, and its digest.
+func publishWhat(in reg.PublishInput) string {
+	what := "publish of " + in.Name
+	if in.Version != "" {
+		what += " " + in.Version
+	}
+	return what + " at " + in.Digest
+}
+
+// SentHow says what of a publish of parts travelled, for its stored line.
+func SentHow(parts int) func(publish.Sent) string {
+	return func(s publish.Sent) string {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%d of its %d parts sent, the rest held", len(s.Parts), parts)
+	}
+}
+
 // File is one part of a publish kept on disk: an image's config, layer or manifest, by its digest and size.
 type File struct {
 	Digest string
@@ -61,5 +80,7 @@ func PublishFiles(ctx context.Context, call SeatCall, seat string, in reg.Publis
 	for _, f := range files {
 		ps = append(ps, publish.Part{Digest: f.Digest, Size: f.Size, Open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return os.Open(f.Path) }})
 	}
-	return publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, ps)
+	return OnSeat(ctx, seat, publishWhat(in), func() (publish.Sent, error) {
+		return publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, ps)
+	}, SentHow(len(files)))
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/latepublish.go b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/latepublish.go
index b0104c5b..432de184 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/latepublish.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/latepublish.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-catalog/modules/mesh-build-go/buildstep"
 	"io"
 	"time"
 
@@ -48,8 +49,10 @@ func (m *Module) LatePublish(ctx context.Context, body []byte) (bool, error) {
 	}
 	in := registry.PublishInput{Name: n.Name, Kind: n.Kind, Version: n.Version, Tag: n.Tag, Digest: n.Digest,
 		Fingerprint: n.Fingerprint, Commit: n.Commit, Transfer: transferName(n.Name, "v"+n.Version, n.Digest)}
-	sent, err := publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, []publish.Part{{Digest: n.Digest,
-		Open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return nil, errNotHere }}})
+	sent, err := buildstep.OnSeat(ctx, seat, "late publish of "+n.Name+" "+n.Version+" at "+n.Digest, func() (publish.Sent, error) {
+		return publish.Publish(ctx, publish.Call(call), seat, in, []publish.Part{{Digest: n.Digest,
+			Open: func() (io.ReadCloser, error) { return nil, errNotHere }}})
+	}, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("the late publish of %s@%s (%s): %w", n.Name, n.Version, n.Digest, err)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/copy.go b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/copy.go
index 90525521..29866320 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/copy.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-build-image/cmd/mesh-build-image/copy.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
@@ -106,8 +107,10 @@ func (m *Module) copy(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) (any, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: keeping the copy's wait in %s: %v", delivery.NotStored, name, MirrorWaitsState, err)
 	}
 	defer m.Outcomes.drop(key, asked.Token)
+	said := buildstep.NarrateSeat(ctx, buildstep.ImageSeat, "mirror of "+from)
 	raw, err := m.call()("seat:"+buildstep.ImageSeat+"."+reg.VerbMirror, reg.MirrorInput{Name: module + "/" + name, Source: from, Digest: digest})
 	if err != nil {
+		said.Refused(err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: %s's mirror: %v", delivery.NotStored, name, buildstep.ImageSeat, err)
 	}
 	var answer reg.MirrorAnswer
@@ -121,13 +124,24 @@ func (m *Module) copy(ctx context.Context, args map[string]any) (any, error) {
 	for {
 		// The state first: an outcome written there while this copy did not hear it is this copy's.
 		if o, ok := m.Outcomes.kept(key); ok {
-			return copyEnd(name, o, answer.Reference)
+			res, err := copyEnd(name, o, answer.Reference)
+			if err != nil {
+				said.Refused(errors.New(o.Reason))
+			} else {
+				said.Stored(res.(CopyResult).Reference)
+			}
+			return res, err
 		}
 		select {
 		case <-heard:
+		case <-said.Waiting():
+			said.StillWaiting()
 		case <-bound:
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: %s said no outcome of the copy of %s in %s", delivery.NotStored, name, buildstep.ImageSeat, from, wait)
+			err := fmt.Errorf("%s said no outcome of the copy of %s in %s", buildstep.ImageSeat, from, wait)
+			said.Refused(err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: %w", delivery.NotStored, name, err)
 		case <-ctx.Done():
+			said.Refused(ctx.Err())
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s%s: stopped while waiting for the copy of %s: %w", delivery.NotStored, name, from, ctx.Err())
 		}
 	}