diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/build_source.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/build_source.go
index 85f105c6..1339df15 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/build_source.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/build_source.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
@@ -107,7 +108,10 @@ func sourceFormsRead(ctx context.Context, now func() time.Time,
 	f := &sourceForms{bases: map[string]string{}}
 	var failedAt time.Time // when the last read failed; zero when it did not
 	var failure error
+	var mu sync.Mutex // the forms are shared by take-ins side by side (sharedSourceForms): one read at a time
 	f.read = func(ctx context.Context, seat string, again bool) (string, error) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
 		if b, known := f.bases[seat]; known {
 			return b, nil
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/key_takein.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/key_takein.go
index 3f00bbc2..ddfac56e 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/key_takein.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/key_takein.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ var predefinedAtTrunk = func(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) (pre
 }
 
 // formsOfSources reads how the sources are spelled on this mesh; a variable so a test names the forge's address.
-var formsOfSources = newSourceForms
+var formsOfSources = sharedSourceForms
 
 // errNoCatalogueRepository says no module of the mesh is built from the catalogue's repository on the forge: not a wait,
 // since no read of the forge makes one appear (issue 1902); the plan fails with these words.
@@ -632,3 +633,40 @@ func handCoversEvery(m catalogue.Manifest, k builderkeys.Key, hand map[string]st
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// sharedSourceForms is the one reading of how the sources are spelled (the forge's address above all) that every take-in
+// of the inventory shares, made again once it is older than sourceFormsKept, so a forge that moved is read within that
+// bound. A fresh reading per take-in read the whole mesh once each, about 120 at once at 16:08 on 2026-10-25, each with
+// pools of its own (issues 1945 and 1277). A base that could not be read is not kept: the reading reads it again.
+func sharedSourceForms(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory) *sourceForms {
+	sharedFormsMu.Lock()
+	defer sharedFormsMu.Unlock()
+	now := sourceFormsNow()
+	if kept, ok := sharedForms.Load(inv); ok {
+		if k := kept.(keptForms); now.Sub(k.at) < sourceFormsKept {
+			return k.forms
+		}
+	}
+	// Read with no caller's deadline: the reading outlives the take-in that made it.
+	forms := sourceFormsFor(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), inv)
+	sharedForms.Store(inv, keptForms{forms: forms, at: now})
+	return forms
+}
+
+// keptForms is a shared reading of the sources and when it was made.
+type keptForms struct {
+	forms *sourceForms
+	at    time.Time
+}
+
+// sourceFormsFor makes a fresh reading of the sources; a variable so a test counts them.
+var sourceFormsFor = newSourceForms
+
+var (
+	sharedForms    sync.Map // *inventory.Inventory -> keptForms
+	sharedFormsMu  sync.Mutex
+	sourceFormsNow = time.Now
+)
+
+// sourceFormsKept is how long the take-ins share one reading of the sources before it is made again.
+const sourceFormsKept = time.Minute
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/shared_forms_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/shared_forms_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5afb5558
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/shared_forms_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
+)
+
+// The take-ins share one reading of how the sources are spelled (the forge's address): a burst of 120 take-ins reads the
+// mesh once, not once each (issues 1945 and 1277: each take-in's fresh read opened pools of its own at 16:08 on
+// 2026-10-25). A reading older than sourceFormsKept is made again, so a moved forge is read.
+func TestTakeInsShareOneReadingOfTheSources(t *testing.T) {
+	was, wasNow := sourceFormsFor, sourceFormsNow
+	t.Cleanup(func() { sourceFormsFor, sourceFormsNow = was, wasNow; sharedForms = sync.Map{} })
+	var made, worldReads atomic.Int64
+	sourceFormsFor = func(ctx context.Context, _ *inventory.Inventory) *sourceForms {
+		made.Add(1)
+		return sourceFormsRead(ctx, time.Now, func(context.Context) (catalogue.World, error) {
+			worldReads.Add(1)
+			return catalogue.World{}, nil
+		})
+	}
+	clock := time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 16, 8, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	var clockMu sync.Mutex
+	sourceFormsNow = func() time.Time { clockMu.Lock(); defer clockMu.Unlock(); return clock }
+	inv := &inventory.Inventory{}
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for range 120 {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			f := formsOfSources(context.Background(), inv)
+			_, _ = f.read(context.Background(), gitSeat, true)
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+	if n := made.Load(); n != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("made %d readings of the sources for 120 take-ins, want one", n)
+	}
+	clockMu.Lock()
+	clock = clock.Add(sourceFormsKept + time.Second)
+	clockMu.Unlock()
+	formsOfSources(context.Background(), inv)
+	if n := made.Load(); n != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("a reading older than %s was kept (%d made)", sourceFormsKept, n)
+	}
+}