diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/call.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/call.go
index 9310a73..51fe90a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/call.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/call.go
@@ -91,6 +91,28 @@ func treesVia(ctx context.Context, call caller) bridge.Trees {
 	}
 }
 
+// listedVia asks the forge for the files directly under one directory of a commit through call: gitea_commit_trees with
+// listed (issue 1126), answer {listed: {directory: {name: blob id}}}.
+func listedVia(ctx context.Context, call caller) bridge.Listed {
+	return func(owner, repo, sha, dir string) (map[string]string, error) {
+		raw, err := call(ctx, commitTreesTool, map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo, "sha": sha, "listed": []string{dir}})
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		var a struct {
+			Listed map[string]map[string]string `json:"listed"`
+		}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &a); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the answer of %s is not {listed}: %w", commitTreesTool, err)
+		}
+		if a.Listed == nil {
+			// A forge module from before listed answers none: placement cannot be read, never read as empty.
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("the answer of %s lists no directory; the forge module does not list yet", commitTreesTool)
+		}
+		return a.Listed[dir], nil
+	}
+}
+
 // getFileTool is the forge's tool for one file at a ref (mesh-catalog modules/gitea tools/index.ts gitea_get_file):
 // arguments owner, repo, path and ref, answer {file: {path, ref, sha, size, content}}, the content decoded to text
 // (client.ts getFile). A path the forge does not have fails with `Gitea API <path>: 404 <body>` (client.ts request).
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
index e069a6c..dbdf411 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ type publisher interface {
 // handle turns one event into its message on FORGE and acknowledges it. An event it cannot read is terminated, never
 // redelivered, and the log names its subject and why. A message it could not write stays unacknowledged: the server
 // delivers it again (the server's ack wait is the only clock).
-func handle(ctx context.Context, m delivered, pub publisher, trees bridge.Trees, files bridge.Files, logger *log.Logger) {
-	msg, err := bridge.Convert(m.Subject(), m.Data(), trees, files)
+func handle(ctx context.Context, m delivered, pub publisher, trees bridge.Trees, files bridge.Files, list bridge.Listed, logger *log.Logger) {
+	msg, err := bridge.ConvertWith(m.Subject(), m.Data(), trees, files, list)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, bridge.ErrRetry):
 		logger.Printf("%v; heard again in %s", err, retryDelay)
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 			// Bounded: the turn is held, and no sync or other event goes on without it.
 			hctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, syncDeadline)
 			defer cancel()
-			handle(hctx, m, rec, treesVia(hctx, call), filesVia(hctx, call), logger)
+			handle(hctx, m, rec, treesVia(hctx, call), filesVia(hctx, call), listedVia(hctx, call), logger)
 		})
 	},
 		jetstream.ConsumeErrHandler(func(_ jetstream.ConsumeContext, err error) { logger.Printf("hearing the bus: %v", err) }))
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main_test.go
index 9a16a64..85df582 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestReadableEventIsWrittenOnForgeAndAcked(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC2 (unit
 	})
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
 	m, pub := &fakeMsg{subject: "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", data: body(nil)}, &fakePub{}
-	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
+	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, nil, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if len(pub.subjects) != 1 || pub.subjects[0] != "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-delivery.pull" {
 		t.Fatalf("published on %v", pub.subjects)
 	}
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestReadableEventIsWrittenOnForgeAndAcked(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC2 (unit
 func TestUnreadableEventIsTerminatedAndLogged(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC5
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
 	m, pub := &fakeMsg{subject: "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", data: body(map[string]any{"head_sha": "short"})}, &fakePub{}
-	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
+	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, nil, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if len(pub.subjects) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("a message was written: %v", pub.subjects)
 	}
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestUnreadableEventIsTerminatedAndLogged(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC5
 func TestUnwrittenMessageIsNotAcked(t *testing.T) { // 1235 (a failed write is redelivered by the server, not retried here)
 	var logs bytes.Buffer
 	m, pub := &fakeMsg{subject: "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", data: body(nil)}, &fakePub{err: errors.New("no stream")}
-	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
+	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, nil, someFiles, nil, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if m.acked != 0 || m.termd != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("acked %d terminated %d, want neither", m.acked, m.termd)
 	}
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func TestTreesRefusedLeavesTheEventForTenSecondsAndLogs(t *testing.T) { // 1236/
 	call := func(context.Context, string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("the tree listing of novox/mesh-delivery was cut")
 	}
-	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, treesVia(context.Background(), call), filesVia(context.Background(), call), log.New(&logs, "", 0))
+	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, treesVia(context.Background(), call), filesVia(context.Background(), call), nil, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if len(pub.subjects) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("a message was written: %v", pub.subjects)
 	}
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestMergeCallsTheToolOnceAndWritesTheMergedMessage(t *testing.T) { // 1236/
 		}
 		return json.RawMessage(`{"root":"r0","trees":{"":"t0","modules/a":"t1"}}`), nil
 	}
-	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, treesVia(context.Background(), call), filesVia(context.Background(), call), log.New(&logs, "", 0))
+	handle(context.Background(), m, pub, treesVia(context.Background(), call), filesVia(context.Background(), call), nil, log.New(&logs, "", 0))
 	if len(keys) == 0 || keys[0] != "gitea.gitea_commit_trees" || slices.Index(keys[1:], "gitea.gitea_commit_trees") >= 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("calls %v, want the trees once and first", keys)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
index 6f902ec..ed3098d 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-forge-bridge
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026171025-5db53e738f3a
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
index bdc8b83..010e0ee 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261022190740-104533e8c0c9 h1:Ufmd2cYE
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261022190740-104533e8c0c9/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585 h1:7QoFH5qjXRpx5M4uPdYsVJ5qKl2082gq8n0lFxhoNIg=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025211220-e0d1de047585/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026171025-5db53e738f3a h1:JjQUrojy2rfxVlkTDC8tkP8yPh+rZ57mpuiPWqPKy3o=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261026171025-5db53e738f3a/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
index a6cbc7d..e65f8fd 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"maps"
 	"path"
 	"regexp"
 	"slices"
@@ -88,6 +89,17 @@ func unreadable(subject, why string, args ...any) error {
 // the trunk asks trees once and becomes a merged message; a merge into any other branch is a closed pull message, as the
 // pull request left its group. A forge that cannot say is ErrRetry; a merge with no module.json is ErrNoModules.
 func Convert(subject string, data []byte, trees Trees, files Files) (Message, error) {
+	return ConvertWith(subject, data, trees, files, nil)
+}
+
+// Listed asks the forge for the files directly under one directory of a commit, by name to blob id (gitea_commit_trees
+// with listed); a directory the commit lacks lists none.
+type Listed func(owner, repo, sha, dir string) (map[string]string, error)
+
+// ConvertWith is Convert; with list, a merge of the catalogue repository (delivery.CatalogueRepository) also carries every
+// placement file of its merge commit (novox/hq ADR 0549 §2, issue 1126), read whole or not at all: a forge that cannot
+// say is ErrRetry, as for the manifests, so the indexer never takes a part of placement for all of it.
+func ConvertWith(subject string, data []byte, trees Trees, files Files, list Listed) (Message, error) {
 	var action string
 	switch subject {
 	case UpdatedSubject:
@@ -114,7 +126,7 @@ func Convert(subject string, data []byte, trees Trees, files Files) (Message, er
 		return Message{}, unreadable(subject, "no branch")
 	}
 	if subject == MergedSubject && p.Base == Trunk {
-		return merged(subject, p, trees, files)
+		return merged(subject, p, trees, files, list)
 	}
 	f := delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgePull, Repository: p.Owner + "/" + p.Repo, Branch: p.Head, Number: p.Number,
 		Head: p.HeadSHA, Action: action}
@@ -227,7 +239,7 @@ func inputsOf(owner, repo, ref string, dirs []string, files Files) (manifests ma
 }
 
 // merged is the merged message of a merge into the trunk: the trees of the merge commit, asked once.
-func merged(subject string, p pull, trees Trees, files Files) (Message, error) {
+func merged(subject string, p pull, trees Trees, files Files, list Listed) (Message, error) {
 	if !sha40.MatchString(p.MergeSHA) {
 		return Message{}, unreadable(subject, "the merge commit %q is not 40 hex digits", p.MergeSHA)
 	}
@@ -252,8 +264,15 @@ func merged(subject string, p pull, trees Trees, files Files) (Message, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return Message{}, unreadable(subject, "%v", err)
 	}
-	body, err := delivery.EncodeForge(delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeMerged, Repository: repository, Branch: p.Head, Number: p.Number,
-		Head: p.HeadSHA, Merge: p.MergeSHA, Root: root, Trees: dirs, Manifests: manifests, Locks: locks})
+	f := delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeMerged, Repository: repository, Branch: p.Head, Number: p.Number,
+		Head: p.HeadSHA, Merge: p.MergeSHA, Root: root, Trees: dirs, Manifests: manifests, Locks: locks}
+	if list != nil && delivery.SameRepository(repository, delivery.CatalogueRepository) {
+		if f.Placements, err = placementsOf(p.Owner, p.Repo, p.MergeSHA, list, files); err != nil {
+			return Message{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: %s: the placement files of %s at the merge commit %s: %v", ErrRetry, subject, repository, p.MergeSHA, err)
+		}
+		f.PlacementsRead = true
+	}
+	body, err := delivery.EncodeForge(f)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Message{}, unreadable(subject, "%v", err)
 	}
@@ -350,3 +369,30 @@ func OpenMessage(answer []byte) (Message, error) {
 	}
 	return Message{Event: delivery.OpenEvent(), Data: body}, nil
 }
+
+// placementsOf is every placement file of the catalogue at a commit, by node, its bytes exact: each `<node>.json` directly
+// under delivery.PlacementDir. A file whose name is no node is left out and the rest read; the catalogue's check refuses
+// such a file before it merges (ADR 0549 §1). Nil when there is none.
+func placementsOf(owner, repo, sha string, list Listed, files Files) (map[string]string, error) {
+	names, err := list(owner, repo, sha, delivery.PlacementDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var out map[string]string
+	for _, name := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(names)) {
+		file := delivery.PlacementDir + "/" + name
+		node, ok := delivery.PlacementFileNode(file)
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		raw, err := files(owner, repo, file, sha)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", file, err)
+		}
+		if out == nil {
+			out = map[string]string{}
+		}
+		out[node] = string(raw)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/files_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/files_test.go
index a5617ec..d4afe54 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/files_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/files_test.go
@@ -79,6 +79,47 @@ func TestMergedCarriesManifestsAndLocks(t *testing.T) { // 1448/AC1
 	if want := map[string]map[string]string{"modules/a": {"go.sum": hexSum(sum)}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(f.Locks, want) {
 		t.Errorf("locks = %v, want %v", f.Locks, want)
 	}
+	if f.Placements != nil || f.PlacementsRead {
+		t.Errorf("a merge of another repository than the catalogue carries placement: %v", f.Placements)
+	}
+
+	// Issue 1126 (ADR 0549 §2): a merge of the catalogue carries every placement file of its merge commit, by node; a file
+	// whose name is no node is left out; a listing or a file the forge cannot give is a retry, never a part.
+	catalogue := mergedBody(map[string]any{"repo": "mesh-catalog"})
+	forge.have["placement/ace.json"] = []byte(`{"v":1,"node":"ace","modules":[]}`)
+	forge.have["placement/g14.json"] = []byte(`{"v":1,"node":"g14","modules":[{"module":"zsh"}]}`)
+	listing := map[string]string{"ace.json": "b1", "g14.json": "b2", "README.md": "b3", "a.b.json": "b4"}
+	var listedAt []string
+	list := func(owner, repo, sha, dir string) (map[string]string, error) {
+		listedAt = append(listedAt, owner+"/"+repo+"@"+sha+":"+dir)
+		return listing, nil
+	}
+	msg, err = ConvertWith(mergedSubject, catalogue, treesOf(&calls, "r0", map[string]string{"modules/a": "t1"}, nil), forge.get, list)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f, err = delivery.DecodeForge(msg.Data); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	want := map[string]string{"ace": `{"v":1,"node":"ace","modules":[]}`, "g14": `{"v":1,"node":"g14","modules":[{"module":"zsh"}]}`}
+	if !f.PlacementsRead || !reflect.DeepEqual(f.Placements, want) || !reflect.DeepEqual(listedAt, []string{"novox/mesh-catalog@" + merge + ":placement"}) {
+		t.Errorf("placements = %v (read %v), listed at %v", f.Placements, f.PlacementsRead, listedAt)
+	}
+	listing = map[string]string{}
+	if msg, err = ConvertWith(mergedSubject, catalogue, treesOf(&calls, "r0", map[string]string{"modules/a": "t1"}, nil), forge.get, list); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if f, _ = delivery.DecodeForge(msg.Data); !f.PlacementsRead || f.Placements != nil {
+		t.Errorf("a catalogue with no placement file says it read none: %v, %v", f.Placements, f.PlacementsRead)
+	}
+	listing = map[string]string{"gone.json": "b5"}
+	if _, err := ConvertWith(mergedSubject, catalogue, treesOf(&calls, "r0", map[string]string{"modules/a": "t1"}, nil), forge.get, list); !errors.Is(err, ErrRetry) || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "placement/gone.json") {
+		t.Errorf("a placement file the forge cannot give: %v", err)
+	}
+	failing := func(_, _, _, _ string) (map[string]string, error) { return nil, errors.New("forge down") }
+	if _, err := ConvertWith(mergedSubject, catalogue, treesOf(&calls, "r0", map[string]string{"modules/a": "t1"}, nil), forge.get, failing); !errors.Is(err, ErrRetry) {
+		t.Errorf("a listing the forge cannot give: %v", err)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestPullWithKnownDirsCarriesTheSameAtTheHead(t *testing.T) { // 1448/AC2