diff --git a/internal/inventory/order.go b/internal/inventory/order.go
index b7178943..9e15fa27 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/order.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/order.go
@@ -142,22 +142,6 @@ func scanEpochs(rows pgx.Rows) ([]Epoch, error) {
 	return out, rows.Err()
 }
 
-// ReadsEpoch says a machine's node-engine said it reads an epoch in a declaration, by its id.
-func (i *Inventory) ReadsEpoch(ctx context.Context, id string) (bool, error) {
-	var reads bool
-	if err := i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx, `select reads_epoch from node where id = $1`, id).Scan(&reads); err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("reading whether %s reads an epoch: %w", id, err)
-	}
-	return reads, nil
-}
-
-// RecordReadsEpoch keeps what a machine's latest report said of reading an epoch. Every report of a
-// node-engine that orders its reports says it, so a node-engine rolled back says it no longer does.
-func (i *Inventory) RecordReadsEpoch(ctx context.Context, id string, reads bool) error {
-	_, err := i.store.Pool().Exec(ctx, `update node set reads_epoch = $2 where id = $1`, id, reads)
-	return err
-}
-
 // ReportOrder is the order of an account: the declaration's epoch and sequence it is about, and the
 // node-engine's own report sequence. Zero in any claims none.
 type ReportOrder struct {
diff --git a/internal/link/heard_order_integration_test.go b/internal/link/heard_order_integration_test.go
index b57ed561..35ba28e5 100644
--- a/internal/link/heard_order_integration_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/heard_order_integration_test.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func TestAnOlderReportOfTheSameDeclarationIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAnOrderedAccountIsNotJudgedByTheDigestSent(t *testing.T) {
-	inv, heard, id := anOrderedMachine(t)
+	inv, heard, _ := anOrderedMachine(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	if _, err := heard.Heard(ctx, ordered("d12", 57, 12, 41, "a")); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -78,13 +78,9 @@ func TestAnOrderedAccountIsNotJudgedByTheDigestSent(t *testing.T) {
 	if doing, said, _ := inv.DoingOf(ctx, "home-server"); !said || doing.Declared != "d12" {
 		t.Fatalf("the newest account the machine gave was set aside by the digest: %+v", doing)
 	}
-	// And the machine reads an epoch: it orders its reports.
-	if reads, err := inv.ReadsEpoch(ctx, id); err != nil || !reads {
-		t.Fatalf("a machine whose reports carry a report sequence is not recorded as reading an epoch: %v", err)
-	}
 }
 
-func TestAnUnorderedAccountClearsTheOrderAndTheEpoch(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAnUnorderedAccountClearsTheOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	inv, heard, id := anOrderedMachine(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	if _, err := heard.Heard(ctx, ordered("d12", 57, 12, 41, "a")); err != nil {
@@ -99,9 +95,6 @@ func TestAnUnorderedAccountClearsTheOrderAndTheEpoch(t *testing.T) {
 	if kept, _ := inv.KeptOrder(ctx, id); kept != (inventory.ReportOrder{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("an unordered account left the order kept: %+v", kept)
 	}
-	if reads, _ := inv.ReadsEpoch(ctx, id); reads {
-		t.Fatal("a node-engine that orders nothing is still sent an epoch")
-	}
 	// The next ordered account, whatever its numbers, has nothing to be older than.
 	if _, err := heard.Heard(ctx, ordered("d14", 58, 14, 1, "a")); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)