diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41ca4bf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input.go
@@ -0,0 +1,392 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/overlay"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// The controller's adapter from its stores to mesh-sdk's composition input (novox/hq ADR 0453 clause 3, design 47 R4b,
+// issues 1382 and 1383).
+//
+// **The adapter reads, and perform writes.** readComposeInput asks the stores once for everything the composition reads
+// and returns compose.Input, which the composition never changes; it makes, seals, allocates and records nothing. A
+// pair credential, a port, an own secret or a core box that the next send would make is not made here: the composition
+// names it foreseen, and compose_perform.go makes it for a send, then reads the stores again and composes again. A
+// question (status, facts, probes, the merge gate's reading) never performs.
+//
+// **The Input is built once per operation.** A verb that composes every node reads the stores once and hands the Input to
+// each node's composition of it.
+
+// composeInputBuilt is called once for each Input the adapter builds: the seam a test counts the reads of an operation by
+// (issue 1382, criterion 5).
+var composeInputBuilt = func() {}
+
+// readComposeInput reads the stores once and returns what the composition needs. ctx carries what a send keeps (the
+// recorded modules kept at the build their machine runs, recorded_kept.go): the same contexts every send composes under.
+func readComposeInput(ctx context.Context, open *stores) (*meshInput, error) {
+	in, shape, err := readMeshAndNodes(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// What each node resolves to, with no credential and no settings given: the modules whose settings are read, and the
+	// needs whose pair credentials are asked of the stores. Nothing is written by it.
+	plans := map[string]compose.Resolved{}
+	for _, n := range in.Nodes {
+		resolved, err := compose.Resolve(in, n.Name)
+		switch {
+		case compose.IsUnresolvable(err):
+			// Their set does not compose: nothing of theirs is read further, as the controller never read a thing for a
+			// node that did not resolve.
+			continue
+		case err != nil:
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		plans[n.Name] = resolved
+	}
+	if err := readSettings(ctx, open, &in, plans); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if err := readCredentialsAndBuilds(ctx, open, &in, plans, shape); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	composeInputBuilt()
+	return &meshInput{Input: in}, nil
+}
+
+// readCredentialsAndBuilds is the credential and build half of the Input, which issue 1383 fills.
+func readCredentialsAndBuilds(context.Context, *stores, *compose.Input, map[string]compose.Resolved, inputShape) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// meshInput is the Input an operation composes over.
+type meshInput struct {
+	compose.Input
+}
+
+// nodeOf is the node of that name in an Input.
+func nodeOf(in compose.Input, name string) (compose.Node, bool) {
+	for _, n := range in.Nodes {
+		if n.Name == name {
+			return n, true
+		}
+	}
+	return compose.Node{}, false
+}
+
+// inputShape is what the first half of the reading found that the second half needs.
+type inputShape struct {
+	sent    map[string]map[string]string // by node: module to the commit last sent
+	kept    map[string]map[string]string // by node: module to the commit kept
+	current map[string]inventory.CurrentBuild
+}
+
+// readMeshAndNodes is the mesh-wide and per-node half of the Input (issue 1382).
+func readMeshAndNodes(ctx context.Context, open *stores) (compose.Input, inputShape, error) {
+	inv := open.inventory
+	var in compose.Input
+	shape := inputShape{sent: map[string]map[string]string{}, kept: map[string]map[string]string{}}
+
+	shelf, err := inv.Catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	in.Catalogue = shelf
+	if in.Holdings, err = inv.Holdings(ctx); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	if in.Licences, err = readLicences(ctx, open); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+
+	nodes, err := inv.Nodes(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	places, err := inv.Overlays(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	placed := map[string]inventory.Overlay{}
+	for _, p := range places {
+		placed[p.Name] = p
+	}
+	if shape.current, err = inv.CurrentBuilds(ctx); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+
+	// The range the mesh allocates from and what its internal names end in, read from the environment here and nowhere else.
+	in.OverlayCIDR = strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv(OverlayCIDRVar))
+	in.InternalSuffix = overlay.Suffix()
+	if in.Tunnels, err = readTunnels(ctx, inv); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	if in.Adopted, err = readAdopted(ctx, inv); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	carried, err := inv.CarriedPeers(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+	for _, c := range carried {
+		in.CarriedPeers = append(in.CarriedPeers, compose.CarriedPeer{
+			PublicKey: c.PublicKey, Address: c.Address, EnrolledAs: c.EnrolledAs, Named: c.Named})
+	}
+	if in.Joining, err = inv.NodesWithALiveToken(ctx); err != nil {
+		return in, shape, err
+	}
+
+	keepsSecrets := false
+	for _, m := range shelf {
+		keepsSecrets = keepsSecrets || m.Keeps != ""
+	}
+
+	for _, n := range nodes {
+		node, err := readNode(ctx, open, n, placed[n.Name])
+		if err != nil {
+			return in, shape, err
+		}
+		shape.sent[n.Name], shape.kept[n.Name] = node.SentBuilds, node.KeptBuilds
+		in.Nodes = append(in.Nodes, node)
+	}
+	if keepsSecrets {
+		if in.OperatorExport, err = inv.OperatorExport(ctx); err != nil {
+			return in, shape, err
+		}
+	}
+	return in, shape, nil
+}
+
+// readNode is one node of the Input: everything the composition reads about it, in the order the controller read it.
+func readNode(ctx context.Context, open *stores, n inventory.Node, place inventory.Overlay) (compose.Node, error) {
+	inv := open.inventory
+	out := compose.Node{
+		Name: n.Name,
+		Place: compose.Place{Key: place.Key, Endpoint: place.Endpoint, Site: place.Site, Hub: place.Hub,
+			Address: place.Address},
+		Account: n.Account, AccountHome: n.AccountHome, AgentAccount: n.AgentAccount, AgentAccountHome: n.AgentAccountHome,
+		Adopted: n.Adopted,
+	}
+	var err error
+	if out.Assigned, err = inv.Assigned(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.Capabilities, err = inv.ProfileOf(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.PublicDomain, err = inv.PublicDomainOf(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.Pins, err = inv.PinsFor(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.Bound, err = inv.BindingsFor(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	given, err := inv.PortsFor(ctx, n.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	for _, a := range given {
+		if out.Ports == nil {
+			out.Ports = map[string]map[int]int{}
+		}
+		if out.Ports[a.Module] == nil {
+			out.Ports[a.Module] = map[int]int{}
+		}
+		out.Ports[a.Module][a.Wanted] = a.Machine
+	}
+	if out.SealingKey, err = inv.SealingKeyOf(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if n.Adopted {
+		if out.Taken, err = inv.Taken(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+			return out, err
+		}
+	}
+	if out.OutwardLinks, err = inv.OutwardLinksOf(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	account, had, err := inv.MachineOf(ctx, n.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if had && account.Machine != nil {
+		out.NetworksSaid = true
+		for _, a := range account.Machine.Networks {
+			out.Networks = append(out.Networks, catalogue.AttachedNetwork{Link: a.Link, Network: a.Network})
+		}
+	}
+	if out.Sequence, err = inv.Sequence(ctx, n.ID); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.Epoch, err = inv.SentEpoch(ctx, n.ID); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.Generation, err = inv.SentGeneration(ctx, n.ID); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.ReadsModules, err = inv.ReadsModules(ctx, n.ID); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if out.SentBuilds, out.SentKnown, err = inv.SentBuilds(ctx, n.Name); err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	runs, err := inv.AssignmentRuns(ctx, n.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if len(runs) > 0 {
+		out.Runs = make(map[string]compose.Run, len(runs))
+		for module, ref := range runs {
+			out.Runs[module] = compose.Run{Commit: ref.Commit, Build: ref.Build}
+		}
+	}
+	// A recorded module kept at the build this machine runs, in the context a send composes under (recorded_kept.go): its
+	// manifest and the commit, applied to this node's own resolution only.
+	kept, err := recordedKept(ctx, open, n.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	if len(kept) > 0 {
+		out.KeptBuilds = kept
+		if out.Kept, err = keptManifests(ctx, open, n.Name, kept); err != nil {
+			return out, err
+		}
+	}
+	stated, has, err := inv.HealthOf(ctx, n.Name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, err
+	}
+	out.Stated = has
+	if has {
+		out.Contract = stated.Contract
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// keptManifests is the manifest of each module kept at the build a machine runs: keepRecorded's reads, and its refusals in its
+// words, without putting any of it into a shelf (that is the node's own Kept, applied by the composition).
+func keptManifests(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, kept map[string]string) (map[string]catalogue.Manifest, error) {
+	// applyKept puts each manifest into the shelf it is given and refuses a build that cannot be read; the shelf here is a
+	// scratch one, whose entries are the kept manifests.
+	scratch := map[string]catalogue.Manifest{}
+	if err := applyKept(ctx, open, node, kept, scratch); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return scratch, nil
+}
+
+func readTunnels(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) (map[string]compose.FoundTunnel, error) {
+	found, err := inv.Tunnels(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if len(found) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	out := make(map[string]compose.FoundTunnel, len(found))
+	for name, t := range found {
+		out[name] = compose.FoundTunnel{Tunnel: tunnelOf(t.Tunnel), NodeAdopted: t.NodeAdopted}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func readAdopted(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) (*compose.AdoptedTunnel, error) {
+	tunnel, hub, adopted, err := inv.AdoptedTunnel(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if hub == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return &compose.AdoptedTunnel{Tunnel: tunnelOf(tunnel), Hub: hub, Adopted: adopted}, nil
+}
+
+func tunnelOf(t inventory.Tunnel) compose.Tunnel {
+	out := compose.Tunnel{Interface: t.Interface, Unit: t.Unit, Config: t.Config, Port: t.Port, MTU: t.MTU,
+		Address: t.Address, Range: t.Range, PublicKey: t.PublicKey}
+	for _, p := range t.Peers {
+		out.Peers = append(out.Peers, compose.TunnelPeer{PublicKey: p.PublicKey, Address: p.Address})
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// readLicences is every licence the mesh holds, with who uses it and the key sealed to each holder: given even where empty,
+// so a holder the mesh holds no key for composes as that, and not as a key that was not asked for.
+func readLicences(ctx context.Context, open *stores) ([]compose.Licence, error) {
+	held, err := open.Licences(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	all, err := held.All(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var out []compose.Licence
+	for _, one := range all {
+		l := compose.Licence{Name: one.Name, Serves: one.Serves, Keys: map[compose.Holder]string{}}
+		holders, err := held.HoldersOf(ctx, one.Name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		for _, h := range holders {
+			holder := compose.Holder{Node: h.Node, Module: h.Module}
+			l.Holders = append(l.Holders, holder)
+			key, err := held.KeyFor(ctx, one.Name, h.Node, h.Module)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			l.Keys[holder] = key
+		}
+		node, module, err := held.ManagerOf(ctx, one.Name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		l.Manager = compose.Holder{Node: node, Module: module}
+		out = append(out, l)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// readSettings is each node's settings layers for the modules it resolves to: the ones the composition reads for it and for
+// the rest of the mesh, and no module nothing resolves (a module's settings may fail to read where nothing runs it).
+func readSettings(ctx context.Context, open *stores, in *compose.Input, plans map[string]compose.Resolved) error {
+	modules := map[string]map[string]bool{}
+	for node, resolved := range plans {
+		modules[node] = map[string]bool{}
+		for _, m := range resolved.Plan.Modules {
+			modules[node][m.Module] = true
+		}
+	}
+	// The rest of the mesh reads the settings of the modules that offer something on another node (servedOnNode), which are
+	// among the modules that node resolves to.
+	for i := range in.Nodes {
+		n := &in.Nodes[i]
+		names := make([]string, 0, len(modules[n.Name]))
+		for m := range modules[n.Name] {
+			names = append(names, m)
+		}
+		sort.Strings(names)
+		for _, module := range names {
+			layers, err := open.inventory.SettingsFor(ctx, n.Name, module)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			if len(layers) == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			if n.Settings == nil {
+				n.Settings = map[string][]catalogue.Layer{}
+			}
+			n.Settings[module] = layers
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input_integration_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input_integration_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b19fd8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_input_integration_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+//go:build integration
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
+)
+
+// 1382: the adapter's Input names, for every node, what the inventory answers for it, each compared with the read named
+// beside the field in go/compose/input.go (novox/hq ADR 0453 clause 3).
+func TestTheAdaptersInputNamesWhatTheInventoryAnswersForEachNode(t *testing.T) {
+	open, _ := aMeshWithSecrets(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := open.inventory
+	if err := inv.SetPublicDomain(ctx, "anchor", "example.test"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := inv.PortFor(ctx, "laptop", "files", 8080, false); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	in, err := readComposeInput(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	shelf, err := inv.Catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(in.Catalogue, shelf) {
+		t.Error("the Input's Catalogue is not the shelf the inventory holds")
+	}
+	nodes, err := inv.Nodes(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(in.Nodes) != len(nodes) {
+		t.Fatalf("the Input names %d node(s), the inventory has %d", len(in.Nodes), len(nodes))
+	}
+	places, err := inv.Overlays(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, record := range nodes {
+		n, ok := nodeOf(in.Input, record.Name)
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatalf("%s is not in the Input", record.Name)
+		}
+		for _, p := range places {
+			if p.Name == record.Name {
+				if want := (compose.Place{Key: p.Key, Endpoint: p.Endpoint, Site: p.Site, Hub: p.Hub, Address: p.Address}); n.Place != want {
+					t.Errorf("%s: Place is %+v, the inventory's %+v", record.Name, n.Place, want)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		assigned, _ := inv.Assigned(ctx, record.Name)
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Assigned, assigned) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Assigned is %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, n.Assigned, assigned)
+		}
+		caps, _ := inv.ProfileOf(ctx, record.Name)
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Capabilities, caps) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Capabilities are %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, n.Capabilities, caps)
+		}
+		domain, _ := inv.PublicDomainOf(ctx, record.Name)
+		if n.PublicDomain != domain {
+			t.Errorf("%s: PublicDomain is %q, the inventory's %q", record.Name, n.PublicDomain, domain)
+		}
+		if n.Account != record.Account || n.AccountHome != record.AccountHome || n.AgentAccount != record.AgentAccount ||
+			n.AgentAccountHome != record.AgentAccountHome || n.Adopted != record.Adopted {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the accounts or the mode differ from the inventory's: %+v", record.Name, n)
+		}
+		pins, _ := inv.PinsFor(ctx, record.Name)
+		if len(pins) != len(n.Pins) || (len(pins) > 0 && !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Pins, pins)) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Pins are %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, n.Pins, pins)
+		}
+		bound, _ := inv.BindingsFor(ctx, record.Name)
+		if len(bound) != len(n.Bound) || (len(bound) > 0 && !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Bound, bound)) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Bound is %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, n.Bound, bound)
+		}
+		key, _ := inv.SealingKeyOf(ctx, record.Name)
+		if n.SealingKey != key {
+			t.Errorf("%s: SealingKey is %q, the inventory's %q", record.Name, n.SealingKey, key)
+		}
+		ports, _ := inv.PortsFor(ctx, record.Name)
+		want := map[string]map[int]int{}
+		for _, a := range ports {
+			if want[a.Module] == nil {
+				want[a.Module] = map[int]int{}
+			}
+			want[a.Module][a.Wanted] = a.Machine
+		}
+		if len(want) != len(n.Ports) || (len(want) > 0 && !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Ports, want)) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Ports are %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, n.Ports, want)
+		}
+		// The settings of every module it resolves to, layer for layer.
+		resolved, err := compose.Resolve(in.Input, record.Name)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, m := range resolved.Plan.Modules {
+			layers, err := inv.SettingsFor(ctx, record.Name, m.Module)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if len(layers) != len(n.Settings[m.Module]) || (len(layers) > 0 && !reflect.DeepEqual(n.Settings[m.Module], layers)) {
+				t.Errorf("%s: the settings of %s are %v, the inventory's %v", record.Name, m.Module, n.Settings[m.Module], layers)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if domain := nodeDomain(in.Input, "anchor"); domain != "example.test" {
+		t.Errorf("anchor's PublicDomain is %q", domain)
+	}
+	if got := nodePorts(in.Input, "laptop"); got["files"][8080] == 0 {
+		t.Errorf("laptop's port for files:8080 is not in the Input: %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func nodeDomain(in compose.Input, name string) string {
+	n, _ := nodeOf(in, name)
+	return n.PublicDomain
+}
+
+func nodePorts(in compose.Input, name string) map[string]map[int]int {
+	n, _ := nodeOf(in, name)
+	return n.Ports
+}
+
+// 1382/AC2: a node keeping a recorded module at the build it runs has that module in Kept and KeptBuilds, and the Input's
+// Catalogue is the current shelf, not the kept manifest (R4a review round 1, finding 1).
+func TestANodeKeepingARecordedBuildHasItInKeptAndTheCatalogueStaysCurrent(t *testing.T) {
+	open := aMesh(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := open.inventory
+	start := time.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
+	image := "registry.invalid:5000/postgres/server@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64)
+	for _, b := range []link.BuildResult{
+		aContainerBuild(t, "postgres", "c1111111", catalogue.PolicyRecord, start, map[string][2]string{"server": {image, ""}}),
+	} {
+		if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, inv, asTheOperator(t, inv, b)); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := inv.Assign(ctx, "anchor", "postgres"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := inv.RecordSent(ctx, nodeID(t, open, "anchor"), "d-anchor", map[string]string{"postgres": "c1111111"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, _, err := takeIn(ctx, inv, aContainerBuild(t, "postgres", "c2222222", catalogue.PolicyRecord, start.Add(time.Minute),
+		map[string][2]string{"server": {image, "runtime"}})); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// A send that is not a person's push keeps the build the machine runs.
+	in, err := readComposeInput(keepingRecorded(ctx), open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	anchor, _ := nodeOf(in.Input, "anchor")
+	if anchor.KeptBuilds["postgres"] != "c1111111" {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor keeps %v, want postgres at c1111111", anchor.KeptBuilds)
+	}
+	kept, found := anchor.Kept["postgres"]
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("the kept manifest of postgres is not in anchor's Kept: %v", anchor.Kept)
+	}
+	current, err := inv.Catalogue(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(in.Catalogue["postgres"], current["postgres"]) {
+		t.Error("the Input's Catalogue is not the current shelf")
+	}
+	if reflect.DeepEqual(kept, current["postgres"]) {
+		t.Error("the kept manifest is the current one: nothing is kept")
+	}
+	if laptop, _ := nodeOf(in.Input, "laptop"); len(laptop.Kept) != 0 || len(laptop.KeptBuilds) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("laptop keeps what only anchor runs: %v", laptop.KeptBuilds)
+	}
+
+	// A person's push keeps nothing.
+	pushed, err := readComposeInput(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if a, _ := nodeOf(pushed.Input, "anchor"); len(a.Kept) != 0 || len(a.KeptBuilds) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("a person's push keeps %v", a.KeptBuilds)
+	}
+}
+
+// 1382/AC3: the seats on record, the tunnels, the adopted tunnel, its carried peers and the nodes joining equal the
+// inventory's answers; the range and the suffix are read from the environment once, here.
+func TestTheAdaptersInputCarriesTheNetworkAsTheInventoryHoldsIt(t *testing.T) {
+	open, _ := aMeshWithSecrets(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := open.inventory
+	t.Setenv(OverlayCIDRVar, "10.99.0.0/16")
+	t.Setenv("MESH_INTERNAL_SUFFIX", "mesh.test")
+	in, err := readComposeInput(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	holdings, err := inv.Holdings(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(in.Holdings, holdings) {
+		t.Errorf("Holdings are %v, the inventory's %v", in.Holdings, holdings)
+	}
+	tunnels, err := inv.Tunnels(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(tunnels) != len(in.Tunnels) {
+		t.Errorf("Tunnels are %v, the inventory's %v", in.Tunnels, tunnels)
+	}
+	if _, hub, _, err := inv.AdoptedTunnel(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	} else if (hub == "") != (in.Adopted == nil) {
+		t.Errorf("Adopted is %v, the inventory's hub is %q", in.Adopted, hub)
+	}
+	carried, err := inv.CarriedPeers(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(carried) != len(in.CarriedPeers) {
+		t.Errorf("CarriedPeers are %v, the inventory's %v", in.CarriedPeers, carried)
+	}
+	joining, err := inv.NodesWithALiveToken(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(joining) != len(in.Joining) {
+		t.Errorf("Joining is %v, the inventory's %v", in.Joining, joining)
+	}
+	if in.OverlayCIDR != "10.99.0.0/16" || in.InternalSuffix != "mesh.test" {
+		t.Errorf("the range and the suffix are %q and %q", in.OverlayCIDR, in.InternalSuffix)
+	}
+	// Read once: what the environment says afterwards moves nothing already read.
+	t.Setenv(OverlayCIDRVar, "10.1.0.0/16")
+	if in.OverlayCIDR != "10.99.0.0/16" {
+		t.Error("the range moved with the environment")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_kept.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_kept.go
index 127e1a8b..1ecd9864 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_kept.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_kept.go
@@ -187,6 +187,13 @@ func keepRecorded(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, shelf map[stri
 	if err != nil || len(kept) == 0 {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	return kept, applyKept(ctx, open, node, kept, shelf)
+}
+
+// applyKept puts the manifest of each module kept at the build its machine runs into a shelf, and refuses, in the words of
+// keepRecorded, a build the records no longer hold. The adapter to the composition's input (compose_input.go) calls it with
+// a scratch shelf, to read the manifests it gives the node as its own Kept.
+func applyKept(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, kept map[string]string, shelf map[string]catalogue.Manifest) error {
 	names := make([]string, 0, len(kept))
 	for m := range kept {
 		names = append(names, m)
@@ -195,28 +202,28 @@ func keepRecorded(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, shelf map[stri
 	for _, m := range names {
 		ran, found, err := open.inventory.ManifestAt(ctx, m, kept[m])
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return err
 		}
 		if !found && settingsKeptOn(ctx, node) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s runs %s's build %s, which the build records no longer hold (novox/hq ADR 0344)",
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s runs %s's build %s, which the build records no longer hold (novox/hq ADR 0344)",
 				errSettingsCannotKeep, node, m, short(kept[m]))
 		}
 		if !found && everyBuildKept(ctx, node) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s runs %s's build %s, which the build records no longer hold: the bus's user "+
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s runs %s's build %s, which the build records no longer hold: the bus's user "+
 				"list cannot be sent there alone with it kept (novox/hq issue 490)", node, m, short(kept[m]))
 		}
 		if !found && guarded(coreComponent(m)) {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s was last sent %s's build %s, newer than the one the mesh holds, and the build records "+
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s was last sent %s's build %s, newer than the one the mesh holds, and the build records "+
 				"no longer hold it: this send cannot keep it and does not move it back — `push %s` sends the older build on "+
 				"a person's word, and a newer merge or `rebuild %s` moves the record forward (novox/hq issue 201)",
 				node, m, short(kept[m]), node, m)
 		}
 		if !found {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s records rather than rolls out, and %s runs its build %s, which the build "+
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s records rather than rolls out, and %s runs its build %s, which the build "+
 				"records no longer hold: this send cannot keep it and does not move it — `push %s` sends the new "+
 				"one on a person's word (novox/hq ADR 0245)", m, node, short(kept[m]), node)
 		}
 		shelf[m] = ran
 	}
-	return kept, nil
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/vendor/modules.txt b/vendor/modules.txt
index ce761ef2..2399e4fd 100644
--- a/vendor/modules.txt
+++ b/vendor/modules.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 ## explicit; go 1.26.0
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/asks
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/declaration
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/overlay
@@ -86,9 +87,7 @@ github.com/nats-io/nkeys
 github.com/nats-io/nuid
 # github.com/novox/mesh-host v0.0.0 => git.novox.be/novox/mesh-host v0.0.0-20261018171808-9d9e3a46c4f5
 ## explicit; go 1.26.0
-github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/declaration
 github.com/novox/mesh-host/rootsearch
-github.com/novox/mesh-host/validate
 # github.com/therootcompany/xz v1.0.1
 ## explicit; go 1.15
 github.com/therootcompany/xz