diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
index 01e3af36..8bb6284f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
@@ -591,6 +591,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	if err := ix.Reconcile(ctx); err != nil {
 		logger.Printf("dropping the modules the trunk does not hold at start: %v", err)
 	}
+	// Every contracts module's trunk definitions read before any manifest is judged and before the forge bridge's stream is
+	// followed (design 47, the indexer reads every definition before it judges): a definition merged while it was down, or
+	// one no event announced, is never missing from the judging below. Once the state is bound, so on its first binding too.
+	// Through the seat git (milestone 47/G W4.15, design 47 *A part that cannot read the forge keeps what it has*): a seat that
+	// does not answer is waited for at most index.GitWaitBound before the judging below runs on the kept definitions, said in
+	// indexer_first_views and as view-waits past five minutes, and read again on the next forge message heard.
+	defs := gitWaits(ctx, ix, findings, process.AwaitBucket(ctx, js, conn, firstViewsBucket, "indexer_first_views does not say the wait for the seat git", logger.Printf), logger.Printf)
+	seatDefs.Ready(func(jetstream.KeyValue) { defs.Start(ctx) })
 	// Every manifest judged at the start, so a judge that changed with this program judges every one again (ADR 0578
 	// §1), once the verdicts state is there; each merge judges them again (index.ApplyMessage).
 	verdicts.Ready(func(jetstream.KeyValue) {
@@ -603,13 +611,22 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		}()
 		// A pass that fails (a read the bus did not answer) is judged again at the next message or source revision the
 		// indexer hears (index.kickJudge): no timer.
-		j, err := ix.JudgeAtStart(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Printf("judging the manifests at start: %v; judged again at the next message heard", err)
+		judge := func(fromKept bool) {
+			j, err := ix.JudgeAtStart(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				logger.Printf("judging the manifests at start (from kept definitions: %v): %v; judged again at the next message heard", fromKept, err)
+				return
+			}
+			logger.Printf("judged %d manifests at start (from kept definitions: %v): %d verdicts written, %d with problems, of which outgrown and kept accepted: %v, waiting for a judge that knows their fields: %v",
+				j.Judged, fromKept, j.Written, len(j.Refused), j.Outgrown, j.Waiting)
+		}
+		if !defs.Waiting() {
+			judge(false)
 			return
 		}
-		logger.Printf("judged %d manifests at start: %d verdicts written, %d with problems, of which outgrown and kept accepted: %v, waiting for a judge that knows their fields: %v",
-			j.Judged, j.Written, len(j.Refused), j.Outgrown, j.Waiting)
+		// The seat git did not answer: the judging waits for it at most index.GitWaitBound, off the start, so nothing else of
+		// the start is held behind it.
+		go func() { judge(defs.Ready(ctx)) }()
 	})
 	// A build module says each time it wrote its toolchains key: its stream, and the indexer's durable consumer on it, are
 	// made by the controller as the forge's are. Where the stream is not there yet the indexer says so and is started again
@@ -736,6 +753,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		handle(ctx, m, ix, heard, logger)
 		ix.KickFill(ctx)
 		unreadAgain(ctx, ix, logger)
+		defs.Heard(ctx)
 	}, logger.Printf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/views.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/views.go
index 89d56bdf..a1afd067 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/views.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/views.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/git"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -180,3 +181,27 @@ func followAssignments(ctx context.Context, hub *process.EventHub, cred process.
 	}
 	return f
 }
+
+// gitWaits is the indexer's read of the trunk definitions at its start through the seat git (index.DefinitionsAtStart): its
+// wait said as a first view of the seat's (Owner git, State seat-definitions) in the indexer's first views, and its finding
+// view-waits written past views.WaitsBound and cleared once the seat answers.
+func gitWaits(ctx context.Context, ix *index.Indexer, findings, status *process.AwaitedBucket, logf func(string, ...any)) *index.DefinitionsAtStart {
+	finding := func(s views.Status, raised bool) {
+		w := sdkfindings.Writer(ctx, findings.KV)
+		f := views.ViewWaitsFinding(index.Module, s, time.Now())
+		var err error
+		if raised {
+			err = w.Put(f)
+		} else {
+			err = w.Delete(f)
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			logf("views: the finding view-waits of the seat git is not written: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+	f := &views.Follower{Owner: git.Seat, Tool: "seat:" + git.Seat + "." + git.VerbTrees, State: index.SeatDefinitionsState, Logf: logf,
+		RaiseWaits: func(s views.Status) { finding(s, true) }, ClearWaits: func(s views.Status) { finding(s, false) }}
+	status.Ready(func(kv jetstream.KeyValue) { f.Said = views.KeepStatus(ctx, kv, logf) })
+	return &index.DefinitionsAtStart{Read: ix.ReadTrunkDefinitions, Waits: f, Logf: logf,
+		Judge: func(ctx context.Context) error { _, err := ix.JudgeAtStart(ctx); return err }}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/control_records_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/control_records_test.go
index 66f7948c..337fb881 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/control_records_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/control_records_test.go
@@ -125,6 +125,36 @@ func TestTheControlRecords(t *testing.T) {
 	// and source, says seat-definition-changed only when a digest moved, keeps the trunk's entry over one that does not
 	// parse (its finding), removes a pull request's entries when it closes, keeps a verdict's out-of-step files, and
 	// raises generated-types-out-of-step from a trunk build end, cleared only by a clean one of the same module.
+	// Milestone 47/G W4.15, design 47 test 54: the seat git not answering at start holds the judging at most its bound, which
+	// then runs on the kept definitions with the wait said; the read once the forge is heard holds the view and judges again.
+	t.Run("W4.15 the start waits for the seat git, judges from kept definitions, and judges again once it answers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		answers := []error{fmt.Errorf("mesh-contracts: %w", errForgeRead), fmt.Errorf("again: %w", errForgeRead), nil}
+		var said []string
+		judged := 0
+		d := &DefinitionsAtStart{Bound: time.Millisecond, Waits: waitsFake{&said},
+			Read:  func(context.Context) (int, error) { err := answers[0]; answers = answers[1:]; return 1, err },
+			Judge: func(context.Context) error { judged++; return nil }}
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		d.Start(ctx)
+		if !d.Waiting() || len(said) != 1 || said[0] != "waits "+GitDefinitionsView {
+			t.Fatalf("waiting %v, said %q: want the wait for the seat git said once", d.Waiting(), said)
+		}
+		if !d.Ready(ctx) || judged != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("the start past its bound: want it judged from the kept definitions, judged again %d", judged)
+		}
+		d.Heard(ctx) // the forge heard, the seat still not answering: the wait stands, said once
+		if !d.Waiting() || len(said) != 1 || judged != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("a read still not answered: waiting %v, said %q, judged %d", d.Waiting(), said, judged)
+		}
+		d.Heard(ctx)
+		if d.Waiting() || len(said) != 2 || said[1] != "holds "+GitDefinitionsView || judged != 1 || d.Ready(ctx) {
+			t.Errorf("the seat answering: waiting %v, said %q, judged again %d: want the view held and every manifest judged again once", d.Waiting(), said, judged)
+		}
+		d.Heard(ctx) // nothing waits: no read, no judging
+		if judged != 1 || len(answers) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("a forge message with nothing waiting read or judged again")
+		}
+	})
 	t.Run("seat definitions", func(t *testing.T) {
 		const repo, m1, m2, m3, head = "novox/mesh-contracts", "m1", "m2", "m3", "h1"
 		manifest := `{"module":"mesh-contracts","version":"1.0","build":{"artifacts":[{"name":"go","kind":"package","language":"go","paths":["go"],"series":"0.1","generated-from":"."}]}}`
@@ -315,6 +345,29 @@ func TestTheControlRecords(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Errorf("said %+v: only a trunk's definition is said (ADR 0636 §4)", c)
 			}
 		}
+		// Design 47 (the indexer reads every definition before it judges): at its start the indexer reads every contracts
+		// module's trunk at its repository's head in the source revision, so a definition merged with no event heard is kept
+		// before any manifest is judged; a repository the source names no head of is read at the module's own commit.
+		kept, _ = meshcatalogclient.EncodeManifest(meshcatalog.ManifestsByDigestValue{Module: "mesh-contracts", Manifest: manifest})
+		mkey, _ = meshcatalogclient.ManifestsKey(meshcatalogclient.ManifestDigest([]byte(manifest)))
+		ix.Manifests.(*memStore).vals[mkey] = kept
+		mod, _ = meshcatalogclient.EncodeModule(meshcatalog.ModulesByModuleValue{Fp2: "src2:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64), Manifest: meshcatalogclient.ManifestDigest([]byte(manifest)), Repository: repo, Commit: m3, Path: meshcatalogclient.RootPath})
+		ix.Modules.(*memStore).vals["mesh-contracts"] = mod
+		files["h3"] = map[string]string{"seats/git/seat.json": strings.Replace(git, "ADR 0111", "ADR 0500", 1)}
+		ix.source = sourceNow{rev: 7, heads: map[string]string{repo: "h3"}}
+		if n, err := ix.ReadTrunkDefinitions(ctx); err != nil || n != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("read at start = %d, %v; want the one contracts module", n, err)
+		}
+		if e, _ := entry("git.trunk"); e.Commit != "h3" {
+			t.Errorf("git.trunk after the read at start = %+v, want the source's head h3", e)
+		}
+		ix.source = sourceNow{}
+		if _, err := ix.ReadTrunkDefinitions(ctx); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if e, _ := entry("git.trunk"); e.Commit != m3 {
+			t.Errorf("git.trunk read with no source head = %+v, want the module's own commit", e)
+		}
 
 		// ADR 0636 §5, D-I3, D-I5: a seat of the mesh's own contracts is taken only from its domain's contracts module; a
 		// move there is a handover in either order of the two trunks; a second definer is refused with a finding naming both.
@@ -636,3 +689,9 @@ func (m memSource) Keys() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (m memSource) Get(key string) (*views.Entry, bool, error) { e, ok := m[key]; return e, ok, nil }
+
+// waitsFake records what the indexer says it waits for and holds.
+type waitsFake struct{ said *[]string }
+
+func (w waitsFake) WaitFor(_ context.Context, view string) { *w.said = append(*w.said, "waits "+view) }
+func (w waitsFake) Holds(view string)                      { *w.said = append(*w.said, "holds "+view) }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/seatdefs.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/seatdefs.go
index 87d3125e..488bb37f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/seatdefs.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/seatdefs.go
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@ package index
 // contracts module.
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"maps"
 	"path"
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/builds"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/forgemsg"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/sdk/seatdefs"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/sdk/trunk"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/keys"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/seatdef"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/views"
@@ -278,6 +281,49 @@ func (ix *Indexer) SeatDefinitionsAgain(ctx context.Context, module string, pull
 	return out
 }
 
+// ReadTrunkDefinitions reads, at the start and before any manifest is judged, the seat definitions of every contracts
+// module the trunk holds, at its repository's head in the source revision (at the module's own commit where the source
+// names none), and keeps them as a merge does (design 47, *The indexer reads every definition before it judges*): a
+// definition merged while the indexer was down, or one no event announced, is kept before a manifest claiming its seat
+// is judged. It answers how many contracts modules were read; one the forge did not answer is in the error, and is read
+// again at its next merged message or by indexer_seat_definitions_again.
+func (ix *Indexer) ReadTrunkDefinitions(ctx context.Context) (int, error) {
+	if ix.SeatDefinitions == nil || ix.ReadFile == nil || ix.Modules == nil || ix.Manifests == nil {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	held, err := ix.heldModules(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	ix.mu.Lock()
+	heads := maps.Clone(ix.source.heads)
+	ix.mu.Unlock()
+	read := 0
+	var errs []error
+	for _, name := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(held)) {
+		m := held[name]
+		manifest, _, err := ix.manifestRaw(ctx, m.Manifest)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("%s's manifest: %w", name, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		dir := cmp.Or(m.Path, meshcatalogclient.RootPath)
+		commit := m.Commit
+		for r, head := range heads {
+			if trunk.SameRepository(r, m.Repository) && head != "" {
+				commit = head
+			}
+		}
+		for _, c := range contractsModules(map[string]string{dir: manifest}) {
+			read++
+			if err := ix.keepTrunk(ctx, m.Repository, commit, c); err != nil {
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("%s at %.12s: %w", name, commit, err))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return read, errors.Join(errs...)
+}
+
 // keepTrunk writes a contracts module's trunk definitions at a merge: each that parses where its digest moved (said),
 // each the module's index no longer names removed (said with no digest), and the module's unparsed finding written or
 // cleared. A definition that does not parse leaves the trunk's entry as it stands.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/startread.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/startread.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..feea611a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/startread.go
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+package index
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// GitWaitBound is how long the indexer waits, at its start, for the seat git to answer the read of every contracts module's
+// trunk definitions before it judges from the definitions it kept (design 47, *A part that cannot read the forge keeps
+// what it has, and says so*): longer than a forge's restart, short enough that a start is not held behind a forge down
+// for good.
+const GitWaitBound = 2 * time.Minute
+
+// GitDefinitionsView is what the indexer says it waits for in its first views while the seat git does not answer.
+const GitDefinitionsView = "trunk seat definitions"
+
+// ViewWaiter is where the indexer says it waits for the seat git and since when, and raises view-waits past its bound
+// (mesh-sdk views.Follower's WaitFor and Holds).
+type ViewWaiter interface {
+	WaitFor(ctx context.Context, view string)
+	Holds(view string)
+}
+
+// DefinitionsAtStart is the indexer's read of the trunk definitions at its start through the seat git: the first read,
+// a wait of at most Bound for the seat when it does not answer, the judging from the kept definitions after it, and the
+// read again once the seat answers, which judges again every manifest judged from kept definitions.
+type DefinitionsAtStart struct {
+	// Read reads every contracts module's trunk definitions (Indexer.ReadTrunkDefinitions).
+	Read func(ctx context.Context) (int, error)
+	// Judge judges every manifest again, as at the start (Indexer.JudgeAtStart).
+	Judge func(ctx context.Context) error
+	Waits ViewWaiter
+	Bound time.Duration
+	Logf  func(string, ...any)
+
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	answered chan struct{} // closed once a read is answered
+	waiting  bool          // a read was not answered and no read since was
+	fromKept bool          // the judging at start ran on kept definitions
+}
+
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) init() {
+	if d.answered == nil {
+		d.answered = make(chan struct{})
+	}
+}
+
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) logf(format string, args ...any) {
+	if d.Logf != nil {
+		d.Logf(format, args...)
+	}
+}
+
+// Start reads the trunk definitions once; a seat that does not answer is said as a wait (Waits.WaitFor) and read again on
+// the next sign that the forge runs (Heard). A read answered with other errors (a manifest it cannot read) is answered.
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) Start(ctx context.Context) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.init()
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	d.read(ctx, "at start")
+}
+
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) read(ctx context.Context, when string) bool {
+	n, err := d.Read(ctx)
+	if errors.Is(err, errForgeRead) {
+		d.mu.Lock()
+		first := !d.waiting
+		d.waiting = true
+		d.mu.Unlock()
+		if first {
+			d.logf("the seat git did not answer the read of %d contracts modules' trunk definitions %s: %v; the indexer judges from the definitions it kept after %s, and reads them again once the seat answers", n, when, err, d.bound())
+			if d.Waits != nil {
+				d.Waits.WaitFor(ctx, GitDefinitionsView)
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		d.logf("reading the seat definitions of %d contracts modules' trunks %s: %v; each is read again at its next merged message or by indexer_seat_definitions_again", n, when, err)
+	} else {
+		d.logf("read the seat definitions of %d contracts modules' trunks %s", n, when)
+	}
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	was := d.waiting
+	d.waiting = false
+	select {
+	case <-d.answered:
+	default:
+		close(d.answered)
+	}
+	again := d.fromKept
+	d.fromKept = false
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if was && d.Waits != nil {
+		d.Waits.Holds(GitDefinitionsView)
+	}
+	if again && d.Judge != nil {
+		if err := d.Judge(ctx); err != nil {
+			d.logf("judging again the manifests judged from kept definitions: %v; judged again at the next message heard", err)
+		} else {
+			d.logf("judged again every manifest judged from kept definitions, now that the seat git answers")
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) bound() time.Duration {
+	if d.Bound > 0 {
+		return d.Bound
+	}
+	return GitWaitBound
+}
+
+// Ready waits, while the seat git does not answer the read at start, until a read is answered, or Bound passed (no timer: a context's bound), and says whether the
+// judging that follows runs on the definitions the indexer kept; it marks it so, and the read that answers later judges
+// again (Read's answer).
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) Ready(ctx context.Context) (fromKept bool) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	d.init()
+	answered, waiting := d.answered, d.waiting
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if !waiting {
+		return false // read, or not read at all (the seat definitions' state not bound yet): nothing to wait for
+	}
+	wait, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, d.bound())
+	defer cancel()
+	select {
+	case <-answered:
+		return false
+	case <-wait.Done():
+	}
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	select {
+	case <-d.answered:
+		return false
+	default:
+	}
+	d.fromKept = true
+	d.logf("the seat git has not answered within %s: the indexer judges from the definitions it kept", d.bound())
+	return true
+}
+
+// Heard is a sign that the forge runs (a message the forge bridge relays): while the indexer waits for the seat git, it
+// reads the trunk definitions again.
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) Heard(ctx context.Context) {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	waiting := d.waiting
+	d.mu.Unlock()
+	if waiting {
+		d.read(ctx, "once the forge was heard")
+	}
+}
+
+// Waiting says the indexer waits for the seat git.
+func (d *DefinitionsAtStart) Waiting() bool {
+	d.mu.Lock()
+	defer d.mu.Unlock()
+	return d.waiting
+}