diff --git a/cmd/mesh-host/nodeagent.go b/cmd/mesh-host/nodeagent.go
index 63bb2f1..2a7f037 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-host/nodeagent.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-host/nodeagent.go
@@ -391,6 +391,14 @@ func nodeAgent(ctx context.Context, opts options, signer ed25519.PublicKey, sess
 		}
 		var ag *agent.Agent
 		kept := keptOnce(opts, signer)
+		// The bus's user list, written alone from the newest composition of the bus module (ADR 0547 §8): on every
+		// node, and a node whose compositions carry no list writes nothing.
+		users := userListFollower(opts, session, composedBucket, trustedKeys(opts, signer), say)
+		go func() {
+			if err := users.Run(linked); err != nil && linked.Err() == nil {
+				say("the bus's user list is not followed on this link: " + err.Error())
+			}
+		}()
 		env := agent.Env{
 			Node:     node,
 			Wants:    bucketWatch{session, delivery.AssignerWantsBucket},
@@ -418,6 +426,10 @@ func nodeAgent(ctx context.Context, opts options, signer ed25519.PublicKey, sess
 				actx, done := applyContext(session.WithLink(ctx))
 				res := applyComposition(actx, opts, c, others, sched, say)
 				done()
+				// An apply of the bus module may write an older list than the newest composition holds: looked at again.
+				if module, _ := users.State(); module != "" && module == c.Module {
+					users.Again()
+				}
 				afterApply()
 				sayFacts(ctx, ag)
 				return res
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-host/userlist.go b/cmd/mesh-host/userlist.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..370d1ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-host/userlist.go
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/ed25519"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/declaration"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/apply"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/link"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/store"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/system"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/userlist"
+)
+
+// The bridge of novox/hq ADR 0547 §8, wired: the bus node's engine writes the bus's user list alone from the newest
+// composition of the bus module, under the apply's two locks as a filled file is written (filling.go), and says what
+// it wrote in the bus module's have.
+
+// userListFollower is the follower of the bus's user list for one link: the node's composition bucket, the keys the
+// agent trusts, the write alone, and the have.
+func userListFollower(opts options, session *link.Session, composedBucket string, trusted func() []ed25519.PublicKey,
+	say link.Announce) *userlist.Follower {
+	return userlist.New(userlist.Env{
+		Node:     session.Membership.Node,
+		Composed: bucketWatch{session, composedBucket},
+		Trusted:  trusted,
+		Write: func(ctx context.Context, module string, raw json.RawMessage) (string, bool, error) {
+			return writeUserListAlone(session.WithLink(ctx), opts, raw, say)
+		},
+		Report: func(ctx context.Context, module string, w userlist.Written) {
+			session.NoteUserList(ctx, module, w)
+		},
+		Say: announceOr(say),
+	})
+}
+
+// writeUserListAlone writes one user-list resource alone (apply.WriteAlone): its content had by digest when it is
+// given so, the node's state read and saved under the apply's locks, and the digest of the file on the machine after.
+func writeUserListAlone(ctx context.Context, opts options, raw []byte, say link.Announce) (string, bool, error) {
+	r, err := declaration.ParseResource(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("the user list is not a resource: %w", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := r.(*declaration.File); !ok {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("the user list is a %s, not a file", r.Kind())
+	}
+	d := &declaration.Declaration{Version: declaration.Version, Resources: []declaration.Resource{r}}
+	if err := apply.ResolveFileReferences(ctx, d, link.FilesFrom(ctx)); err != nil {
+		return "", false, fmt.Errorf("the user list could not be had by its digest: %w", err)
+	}
+	file := d.Resources[0].(*declaration.File)
+
+	applying.Lock()
+	defer applying.Unlock()
+	unlock, err := store.Lock(opts.state, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+	defer unlock()
+	known, err := store.Load(opts.state)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+	built, err := system.For(builtFor)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+	out, updated, writeErr := apply.WriteAlone(ctx, built, file, known, apply.ExecRunner, announceOr(say))
+	// Saved whichever way it went, as an apply's: what was written is on the machine either way.
+	if err := store.Save(opts.state, updated); err != nil {
+		writeErr = errors.Join(writeErr, errors.New("written, and the node's state could not be saved: "+err.Error()))
+	}
+	digest := ""
+	if body, err := os.ReadFile(file.Path); err == nil {
+		digest = userlist.Digest(body)
+	}
+	return digest, writeErr == nil && out.Action != "unchanged", writeErr
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index f4302b0..c100297 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module github.com/novox/mesh-host
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024234636-10b6e202320f
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025204730-0be0ffd6159e
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index c03eccc..f843500 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024234636-10b6e202320f h1:lUEyNPPF3w4Q0LIgcUUD6ofkKVhCF0n7dVjMoixQmXo=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261024234636-10b6e202320f/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025204213-f63fa86c7456 h1:He2o9vSKjgKbWOCOgOJY0WlaDh1n8RcGhvGY/dwXsBQ=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025204213-f63fa86c7456/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025204730-0be0ffd6159e h1:k/1NjjW5HuuuHW2ldyWTvjp+1u3fN0RO18Q57Iup6Dk=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261025204730-0be0ffd6159e/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/internal/apply/alone.go b/internal/apply/alone.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4275dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/apply/alone.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package apply
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/declaration"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/store"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/system"
+)
+
+// WriteAlone writes one file a module's composition declares, through the apply's own file step, and records it as an
+// apply would; nothing else of the module is applied, and nothing that reads the file is moved (novox/hq ADR 0547 §8).
+//
+// **For a file whose reader takes the change itself.** The bus's user list is the one it is for: the bus module's
+// entrypoint watches the file and signals the server to reload in place, so the list is in force without a want of the
+// bus, which nobody writes (ADR 0539 §15), and without the container being touched. A file that a service or a container
+// must be moved to read is not written alone: it goes through the module's apply, which moves what reads it.
+//
+// The file is written only when its content differs from what is there (the file step's own rule), read back, and
+// recorded under the module whose resource it is, so the module's next apply finds it as its own and writes nothing.
+// The caller holds the apply's lock. log is said the path, the action and the digest, never the content.
+func WriteAlone(ctx context.Context, sys system.System, file *declaration.File, known store.State, run Runner,
+	log func(string)) (Outcome, store.State, error) {
+	if log == nil {
+		log = func(string) {}
+	}
+	if file.Into != "" || file.CreateOnce || file.Sealed != "" || file.VaultSealed != nil || len(file.Secrets) > 0 {
+		return Outcome{}, known, &Error{Resource: file.ID, Err: fmt.Errorf("%s is not a whole file of plain content, "+
+			"and only such a file is written alone; nothing was written", file.Path)}
+	}
+	if file.IsReference() {
+		return Outcome{}, known, &Error{Resource: file.ID, Err: fmt.Errorf("%s is given by digest %s and was not "+
+			"resolved to its content; it is not written empty", file.Path, file.Digest)}
+	}
+	if held, isHeld := known.HeldAt(file.ID); isHeld {
+		return Outcome{}, known, &Error{Resource: file.ID, Err: fmt.Errorf("%s is held as found for a module not "+
+			"yet taken (%s), so nothing was written", file.Path, held.Why)}
+	}
+	was, _ := known.Find(file.ID)
+	if was.ID == "" {
+		// Only over a file the mesh wrote: a file this node holds no record of is the module's apply's to take, with
+		// the original kept, never this write's. A record of the path under another id (the declaration before the
+		// switch named it so) is the one written to, so no second record of the file is left for an apply to remove.
+		rec, ok := known.At(string(declaration.TypeFile), file.Path)
+		if !ok {
+			return Outcome{}, known, &Error{Resource: file.ID, Err: fmt.Errorf("this node holds no record of %s; it "+
+				"is written by the module's apply first, never alone", file.Path)}
+		}
+		renamed := *file
+		renamed.ID = rec.ID
+		file, was = &renamed, rec
+	}
+	in := inputs{declares: map[string]string{file.Identity(): declaredDigest(file)}, known: &known,
+		groups: groupsWanted([]declaration.Resource{file}), handed: Handed{}, dirsBefore: map[string]bool{},
+		files: map[string]bool{file.Path: true}}
+	outcome, err := applyOne(ctx, sys, file, run, map[string]bool{}, in, was, nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		log(fmt.Sprintf("  failed %s (%s), alone: %v", file.ID, file.Path, err))
+		return outcome, known, &Error{Resource: file.ID, Err: err}
+	}
+	recordKeeping(&known, file, outcome, was)
+	if moved(outcome) {
+		log(fmt.Sprintf("  %s %s (%s), alone: %s", outcome.Action, file.ID, file.Path, outcome.wrote))
+	}
+	return outcome, known, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/apply/alone_test.go b/internal/apply/alone_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2a3815
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/apply/alone_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package apply
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/declaration"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/store"
+)
+
+// Defends novox/hq ADR 0547 §8: the bus node writes the bus's user list alone, with no want, through the apply's own
+// file step: only when it differs, mode 0600, read back and recorded as the module's, and nothing else moves.
+func TestAFileWrittenAloneMovesNothingElse(t *testing.T) {
+	const was, now = "user a\n", "user a\nuser b\n"
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name, fields, before string
+		recorded             bool
+		recordedAs           string // the id the record has, when not the composition's
+		action, refused      string
+		after                string
+	}{
+		{name: "no record of it", fields: `"content":%q,"mode":"0600"`, before: was, refused: "holds no record", after: was},
+		{name: "changed", fields: `"content":%q,"mode":"0600"`, before: was, recorded: true, action: "updated", after: now},
+		{name: "the same", fields: `"content":%q,"mode":"0600"`, before: now, recorded: true, action: "unchanged", after: now},
+		{name: "recorded under the id from before the switch", fields: `"content":%q,"mode":"0600"`, before: was,
+			recorded: true, recordedAs: "bus-users", action: "updated", after: now},
+		{name: "absent with a record", fields: `"content":%q,"mode":"0600"`, recorded: true, action: "created", after: now},
+		{name: "written into", fields: `"content":%q,"into":"block","owner-at-runtime":"managed"`, before: was,
+			recorded: true, refused: "only such a file", after: was},
+		{name: "sealed", fields: `"sealed":"c2VhbGVk"`, before: was, recorded: true,
+			refused: "only such a file", after: was},
+	} {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "accounts.conf")
+			if c.before != "" {
+				if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(c.before), 0o600); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+			fields := strings.Replace(c.fields, "%q", fmt.Sprintf("%q", now), 1)
+			d := parseTrusted(t, fmt.Sprintf(`{"declaration":1,"resources":[{"id":"nats.bus-users","module":"nats",
+			  "type":"file","path":%q,`+fields+`}]}`, path))
+			file := d.Resources[0].(*declaration.File)
+			known := store.State{}
+			id := file.ID
+			if c.recordedAs != "" {
+				id = c.recordedAs
+			}
+			if c.recorded {
+				known.Record(store.Applied{ID: id, Type: string(declaration.TypeFile), Module: "nats", Target: path,
+					Origin: store.OriginDeclared, Wrote: digestOf(c.before)})
+			}
+			calls := 0
+			counting := func(context.Context, string, ...string) (string, error) { calls++; return "", nil }
+			out, after, err := WriteAlone(context.Background(), archHost(t), file, known, counting, nil)
+			if c.refused != "" {
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.refused) {
+					t.Fatalf("not refused with %q: %v", c.refused, err)
+				}
+			} else if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			} else if out.Action != c.action {
+				t.Errorf("action %q, want %q", out.Action, c.action)
+			}
+			if got := readText(t, path); got != c.after {
+				t.Errorf("file holds %q, want %q", got, c.after)
+			}
+			if calls != 0 {
+				t.Errorf("%d commands were run: a file written alone moves nothing", calls)
+			}
+			if c.refused != "" {
+				return
+			}
+			if m := modeAt(t, path); m != 0o600 {
+				t.Errorf("mode %o", m)
+			}
+			rec, ok := after.Find(id)
+			if !ok || rec.Wrote != digestOf(now) || rec.Target != path {
+				t.Errorf("record %+v (found %v), want it to say %s was written", rec, ok, digestOf(now))
+			}
+			if n := len(after.Resources); n != 1 {
+				t.Errorf("%d records of one file", n)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/apply/filled_test.go b/internal/apply/filled_test.go
index 3d5fbd3..ebaecad 100644
--- a/internal/apply/filled_test.go
+++ b/internal/apply/filled_test.go
@@ -52,6 +52,24 @@ func TestAWriteOfAPathNotFilledIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := os.Stat(other); err == nil {
 		t.Errorf("%s was written", other)
 	}
+	t.Run("a filled path two resources declare", func(t *testing.T) {
+		path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "hosts")
+		if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(workstationHosts), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		d := parseTrusted(t, fmt.Sprintf(`{"declaration":1,"filled_files":[%q],"resources":[
+		  {"id":"a.hosts","type":"file","path":%q,"into":"block","content":"10.42.0.1 ace\n","owner-at-runtime":"managed"},
+		  {"id":"b.hosts","type":"file","path":%q,"into":"block","content":"10.42.0.2 g14\n","owner-at-runtime":"managed"}
+		]}`, path, path, path))
+		_, state, err := WriteFilled(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, path, []byte("6.6.6.6 evil\n"),
+			noServices, nil, nil, nil)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "2 resources declare") {
+			t.Fatalf("a path two resources declare was not refused: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got := readText(t, path); got != workstationHosts || len(state.Resources) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("something was written or recorded: %q %+v", got, state.Resources)
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 // Each ownership is written by the write verb exactly as an apply of the declared file with the same content: the
@@ -112,6 +130,17 @@ func TestAFilledFileIsWrittenAsItsOwnershipSays(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		})
 	}
+	t.Run("a filled file that carried a secret is not world-readable", func(t *testing.T) {
+		path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "token.env")
+		d := filledDecl(t, path, `"content":"TOKEN=${secret:token}\n","secrets":{"token":"c2VhbGVk"},"owner-at-runtime":"owned"`, "")
+		if _, _, err := WriteFilled(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, path, []byte("TOKEN=abc\n"),
+			noServices, nil, nil, nil); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if m := modeAt(t, path); m != 0o600 {
+			t.Errorf("a filled file that carried a secret is mode %o", m)
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 func contentOf(t *testing.T, fields string) string {
@@ -136,17 +165,6 @@ func modeAt(t *testing.T, path string) os.FileMode {
 
 // A file that carried a secret keeps the mode a secret is written with: the client filled the value, and the file
 // is no more readable for it.
-func TestAFilledFileThatCarriedASecretIsNotWorldReadable(t *testing.T) {
-	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "token.env")
-	d := filledDecl(t, path, `"content":"TOKEN=${secret:token}\n","secrets":{"token":"c2VhbGVk"},"owner-at-runtime":"owned"`, "")
-	if _, _, err := WriteFilled(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, path, []byte("TOKEN=abc\n"),
-		noServices, nil, nil, nil); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if m := modeAt(t, path); m != 0o600 {
-		t.Errorf("a filled file that carried a secret is mode %o", m)
-	}
-}
 
 func TestAWriteUnderReloadOnReloadsItsProgramOnce(t *testing.T) {
 	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "daemon.conf")
@@ -251,21 +269,3 @@ func count(lines []string, prefix string) int {
 
 // Two resources declaring one filled path — two modules' blocks in one file — are refused: the request carries the
 // content only, so it cannot say whose block it is, and nothing is written.
-func TestAFilledPathTwoResourcesDeclareIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
-	path := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "hosts")
-	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(workstationHosts), 0o644); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	d := parseTrusted(t, fmt.Sprintf(`{"declaration":1,"filled_files":[%q],"resources":[
-	  {"id":"a.hosts","type":"file","path":%q,"into":"block","content":"10.42.0.1 ace\n","owner-at-runtime":"managed"},
-	  {"id":"b.hosts","type":"file","path":%q,"into":"block","content":"10.42.0.2 g14\n","owner-at-runtime":"managed"}
-	]}`, path, path, path))
-	_, state, err := WriteFilled(context.Background(), archHost(t), d, store.State{}, path, []byte("6.6.6.6 evil\n"),
-		noServices, nil, nil, nil)
-	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "2 resources declare") {
-		t.Fatalf("a path two resources declare was not refused: %v", err)
-	}
-	if got := readText(t, path); got != workstationHosts || len(state.Resources) != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("something was written or recorded: %q %+v", got, state.Resources)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/link/have.go b/internal/link/have.go
index d47fdb9..e7d0df2 100644
--- a/internal/link/have.go
+++ b/internal/link/have.go
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ type haveState struct {
 	// said, until the key is written once with the phase removed (issue 1369, novox/hq ADR 0408 §4: never deleted).
 	written map[string]string
 	removed map[string]string
+	// userList is what the bus node's engine last wrote of the bus's user list, by the module whose have says it (novox/hq
+	// ADR 0547 §8); kept apart from the module's fact, which every apply replaces.
+	userList map[string]delivery.UserListWritten
 	// unjudged is each module whose composition moved (an apply began, or the fact names another build) and that no look
 	// has judged since it stopped moving: its health is not yet judged, never the last look's of what ran before.
 	unjudged map[string]bool
@@ -308,6 +311,9 @@ func (q *Session) writeHaves(ctx context.Context, bus Bus) {
 			h.Phase = delivery.PhaseFailed
 		}
 		h.Health = s.healthOf(module, f)
+		if w, ok := s.userList[module]; ok {
+			h.UserList = &w
+		}
 		key, err := delivery.HaveKey(node, module)
 		if err != nil {
 			q.sayHave(fmt.Sprintf("module %q has no key in the have bucket: %v", module, err))
@@ -466,6 +472,24 @@ func (q *Session) NoteModule(ctx context.Context, f ModuleFact) {
 	q.writeHaves(ctx, bus)
 }
 
+// NoteUserList takes what the bus node's engine wrote of the bus's user list, and writes it in the bus module's have
+// where it differs from the bucket's (novox/hq ADR 0547 §8). A module this engine has said no have of yet carries it
+// from its first have on.
+func (q *Session) NoteUserList(ctx context.Context, module string, w delivery.UserListWritten) {
+	q.init()
+	s := &q.haves
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	if s.userList == nil {
+		s.userList = map[string]delivery.UserListWritten{}
+	}
+	s.userList[module] = w
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+	q.mu.Lock()
+	bus := q.bus
+	q.mu.Unlock()
+	q.writeHaves(ctx, bus)
+}
+
 // NoteRemoved takes that a module's own resources were removed, and writes its have with the phase removed once (issue
 // 1369): the key is never deleted.
 func (q *Session) NoteRemoved(ctx context.Context, module, build string) {
diff --git a/internal/link/have_test.go b/internal/link/have_test.go
index 3a87c64..d5fdb47 100644
--- a/internal/link/have_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/have_test.go
@@ -484,6 +484,18 @@ func TestAnAppliedModulesHaveNamesTheFingerprintAndTheDigestAndFollowsItsHealth(
 		t.Fatalf("a failing check after the start window: %+v", got)
 	}
 
+	// The bus's user list written alone rides on the module's have, and an apply after it keeps it (ADR 0547 §8).
+	w := delivery.UserListWritten{Source: "n1.web." + fp, Revision: 4, Wanted: dig, Digest: dig, Users: 3,
+		At: time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 21, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)}
+	q.NoteUserList(context.Background(), "web", w)
+	if got := l.have(t, "n1.web"); got.UserList == nil || got.UserList.Revision != 4 || got.FP != fp {
+		t.Fatalf("the user list is not in the have: %+v", got)
+	}
+	q.NoteModule(context.Background(), ModuleFact{Module: "web", FP: fp, Composed: dig})
+	if got := l.have(t, "n1.web"); got.UserList == nil || got.UserList.Users != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("an apply lost the user list: %+v", got)
+	}
+
 	// A module held for a failed backup says so and what it keeps running; removed is written once, over its key.
 	q.NoteModule(context.Background(), ModuleFact{Module: "web", FP: fp, Composed: dig, Phase: string(delivery.PhaseHeld), Detail: "the repository is locked"})
 	if got := l.have(t, "n1.web"); got.Phase != delivery.PhaseHeld || got.Detail == "" {
diff --git a/internal/userlist/userlist.go b/internal/userlist/userlist.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91c505a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/userlist/userlist.go
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+// Package userlist is the bridge of novox/hq ADR 0547 §8: the node agent of the node holding mesh-broker applies the
+// bus's user list from the newest composition of the bus module the controller writes for its node, alone and with no
+// want, so a new account is in force on the bus without anybody's hand.
+//
+// **Why it exists.** The list reached the bus only through a want of the bus module, and ADR 0539 §15 bars the assigner
+// from writing one: on 2026-10-25 it stood from 11:23 to 20:50 and every new account was refused until the operator put
+// it back by hand (issue 1945). The bus module's entrypoint already reloads the server in place when the file changes;
+// what was missing is a writer of the file that does not wait on a want.
+//
+// **It watches, it never polls.** It follows the node's composition bucket. Each composition is verified as the agent
+// verifies it (signed by the controller's or the operator's key) before anything of it is read. Of those that carry the
+// bus's user list (a file resource `bus-users`), the newest by revision is the source; its list is written alone
+// (apply.WriteAlone) when it differs from the file on the machine, and what was written is reported in the bus
+// module's have. It looks again after every apply of the bus module, since an apply of an older composition writes an
+// older list, and when asked (Again).
+//
+// It reads no want and writes none, moves no fingerprint, and touches nothing of the bus module but its user list.
+package userlist
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/ed25519"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/agent"
+)
+
+// ResourceID is the id the composer gives the bus's user list (mesh-sdk catalogue.BusUsersID); in a composition it may
+// carry its module before it, `<module>.bus-users`.
+const ResourceID = "bus-users"
+
+// Written is what the follower last did: the source it took the list from, the list's digest there, the file's digest
+// on the machine after the write, how many users the list holds, when, and why a write failed.
+type Written = delivery.UserListWritten
+
+// Env is everything the follower needs of the node.
+type Env struct {
+	Node     string
+	Composed agent.Watcher
+	// Trusted is the keys a composition may be signed by, as the agent trusts them.
+	Trusted func() []ed25519.PublicKey
+	// Write writes the user list's file resource of a module's composition alone, when it differs from the file on
+	// the machine, and answers the digest of the file there after it (`sha256:<hex>`) and whether it changed.
+	Write func(ctx context.Context, module string, resource json.RawMessage) (digest string, changed bool, err error)
+	// Report says what was written, in the module's have.
+	Report func(ctx context.Context, module string, w Written)
+	Now    func() time.Time
+	Say    func(string)
+}
+
+type source struct {
+	key      string
+	module   string
+	rev      uint64
+	resource json.RawMessage
+	wanted   string
+	users    int
+}
+
+// Follower follows the node's compositions for the bus's user list.
+type Follower struct {
+	env  Env
+	kick chan struct{}
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	srcs map[string]source // by composition key
+	// cur is the source last taken, and written whether its write went through.
+	cur     source
+	written bool
+	state   Written
+	mod     string
+	said    map[string]bool
+}
+
+// New is a follower for a node.
+func New(env Env) *Follower {
+	if env.Now == nil {
+		env.Now = time.Now
+	}
+	if env.Say == nil {
+		env.Say = func(string) {}
+	}
+	return &Follower{env: env, kick: make(chan struct{}, 1), srcs: map[string]source{}, said: map[string]bool{}}
+}
+
+// Again asks the follower to look at the file again, though no composition changed: after an apply of the bus module,
+// and when a person asks. It never blocks.
+func (f *Follower) Again() {
+	select {
+	case f.kick <- struct{}{}:
+	default:
+	}
+}
+
+// State is the module whose list the follower writes ("" when no composition of this node carries one) and what it
+// last did.
+func (f *Follower) State() (string, Written) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	return f.mod, f.state
+}
+
+// Run follows the compositions until ctx ends.
+func (f *Follower) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
+	updates, err := f.env.Composed.Watch(ctx, f.env.Node+".>")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the user list cannot be followed: %w", err)
+	}
+	caught := false
+	for {
+		again := false
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil
+		case <-f.kick:
+			again = true
+		case u, ok := <-updates:
+			if !ok {
+				return fmt.Errorf("the watch of the compositions ended")
+			}
+			if u.Caught {
+				caught = true
+			} else {
+				f.take(u)
+			}
+		}
+		if caught {
+			f.settle(ctx, again)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// take keeps a composition key's change when it carries the bus's user list, and forgets a key deleted.
+func (f *Follower) take(u agent.Update) {
+	node, module, _, isNode, err := delivery.ParseComposedKey(u.Key)
+	if err != nil || node != f.env.Node || isNode {
+		return
+	}
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	if u.Deleted {
+		delete(f.srcs, u.Key)
+		return
+	}
+	c, err := delivery.DecodeComposed(u.Value)
+	if err != nil {
+		delete(f.srcs, u.Key)
+		return
+	}
+	var trusted []ed25519.PublicKey
+	if f.env.Trusted != nil {
+		trusted = f.env.Trusted()
+	}
+	if _, err := delivery.VerifyComposed(c, trusted); err != nil {
+		// The agent says it is refused; a refused composition is never a source of the list.
+		delete(f.srcs, u.Key)
+		return
+	}
+	raw, content, digest, ok := userList(c.Resources)
+	if !ok {
+		delete(f.srcs, u.Key)
+		return
+	}
+	wanted := digest
+	if wanted == "" {
+		wanted = Digest([]byte(content))
+	}
+	f.srcs[u.Key] = source{key: u.Key, module: module, rev: u.Revision, resource: raw, wanted: wanted,
+		users: Users([]byte(content))}
+}
+
+// settle writes the newest source's list when it is newer than the one written, or the one written again when asked.
+// A source never goes back: a key deleted, or a newer one refused, leaves the list written as it is, since an older
+// list would take away accounts a newer one gave.
+func (f *Follower) settle(ctx context.Context, again bool) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	newest := f.cur
+	for _, s := range f.srcs {
+		if s.rev > newest.rev {
+			newest = s
+		}
+	}
+	if newest.key == "" || (newest.rev == f.cur.rev && f.written && !again) {
+		f.mu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	f.cur = newest
+	at := fmt.Sprintf("%s@%d", newest.key, newest.rev)
+	f.mu.Unlock()
+
+	digest, changed, err := f.env.Write(ctx, newest.module, newest.resource)
+	w := Written{Source: newest.key, Revision: newest.rev, Wanted: newest.wanted, Digest: digest, Users: newest.users,
+		At: f.env.Now().UTC()}
+	if err != nil {
+		w.Error = err.Error()
+	}
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	prev := f.state
+	f.mod, f.state = newest.module, w
+	f.written = err == nil
+	f.mu.Unlock()
+	if err != nil {
+		f.sayOnce(fmt.Sprintf("the bus's user list of %s could not be written: %v", at, err))
+	} else if changed {
+		f.env.Say(fmt.Sprintf("the bus's user list from %s is written alone (%d users, %s); the bus reloads it itself",
+			at, w.Users, short(digest)))
+	}
+	// Reported when what it says changed: a look again that found the file as it was says nothing new.
+	if f.env.Report != nil && (changed || prev.Source != w.Source || prev.Revision != w.Revision ||
+		prev.Digest != w.Digest || prev.Error != w.Error) {
+		f.env.Report(ctx, newest.module, w)
+	}
+}
+
+func (f *Follower) sayOnce(line string) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	said := f.said[line]
+	f.said[line] = true
+	f.mu.Unlock()
+	if !said {
+		f.env.Say(line)
+	}
+}
+
+// userList is the bus's user list among a composition's resources: the resource, its content, and its digest when it
+// is given by digest rather than content.
+func userList(resources []json.RawMessage) (json.RawMessage, string, string, bool) {
+	for _, raw := range resources {
+		var head struct {
+			ID      string `json:"id"`
+			Type    string `json:"type"`
+			Content string `json:"content"`
+			Digest  string `json:"digest"`
+		}
+		if json.Unmarshal(raw, &head) != nil || head.Type != "file" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if head.ID == ResourceID || strings.HasSuffix(head.ID, "."+ResourceID) {
+			return raw, head.Content, head.Digest, true
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, "", "", false
+}
+
+// Digest is content's digest as the have says it, `sha256:<hex>`.
+func Digest(content []byte) string {
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(content)
+	return "sha256:" + hex.EncodeToString(sum[:])
+}
+
+// userEntry is one user of the list as the composer writes it (and the bus module's own tools read it).
+var userEntry = regexp.MustCompile(`\{\s*user:\s*"([^"]+)"`)
+
+// Users is how many users a list holds.
+func Users(content []byte) int { return len(userEntry.FindAllIndex(content, -1)) }
+
+func short(d string) string {
+	d = strings.TrimPrefix(d, "sha256:")
+	if len(d) > 12 {
+		d = d[:12]
+	}
+	return d
+}
diff --git a/internal/userlist/userlist_test.go b/internal/userlist/userlist_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad2c155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/userlist/userlist_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+package userlist
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/ed25519"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-host/internal/agent"
+)
+
+const node = "novox"
+
+func key() (ed25519.PublicKey, ed25519.PrivateKey) {
+	pub, k, err := ed25519.GenerateKey(nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return pub, k
+}
+
+var controllerPub, controllerKey = key()
+var _, strangerKey = key()
+
+func fpOf(c string) string { return delivery.SourcePrefix2 + strings.Repeat(c, 64) }
+
+// feed is a watch the test writes to: the keys there before the watch, Caught, then each put.
+type feed struct {
+	ch    chan agent.Update
+	rev   uint64
+	first []agent.Update
+}
+
+func (f *feed) Watch(context.Context, string) (<-chan agent.Update, error) {
+	for _, u := range f.first {
+		f.ch <- u
+	}
+	f.ch <- agent.Update{Caught: true}
+	return f.ch, nil
+}
+
+func list(users ...string) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.WriteString("authorization {\n  users = [\n")
+	for _, u := range users {
+		b.WriteString(`    {user: "` + u + `", password: "$2a$11$x"}` + "\n")
+	}
+	b.WriteString("  ]\n}\n")
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// comp is a composition of module at fp holding the user list content (none when empty), signed by signer.
+func comp(t *testing.T, module, fp, content string, signer ed25519.PrivateKey) (string, []byte) {
+	t.Helper()
+	server, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"id": module + ".server-conf", "type": "file", "module": module,
+		"path": "/var/lib/nats-module/conf/nats.conf", "content": "include accounts.conf\n"})
+	rs := []json.RawMessage{server}
+	if content != "" {
+		users, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"id": module + ".bus-users", "type": "file", "module": module,
+			"path": "/var/lib/nats-module/conf/accounts.conf", "content": content, "mode": "0600"})
+		rs = append(rs, users)
+	}
+	c := delivery.Composed{Node: node, Module: module, FP: fp, Resources: rs}
+	k, err := delivery.ComposedKey(node, module, fp)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	signed, err := delivery.SignComposed(c, signer)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	raw, err := delivery.EncodeComposed(signed)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return k, raw
+}
+
+type put struct {
+	module, fp, content string
+	stranger, deleted   bool
+}
+
+// Defends novox/hq ADR 0547 §8: the bus node writes the newest signed list alone, only when it changed, and reports it.
+func TestTheBusNodeWritesTheNewestSignedUserListAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	one, two, three := list("a"), list("a", "b"), list("a", "b", "c")
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		name          string
+		before, after []put
+		again         bool
+		failWrite     bool
+		wantWrites    []string // contents written, in order
+		wantUsers     int
+		wantErr       string
+	}{
+		{name: "the list there is written once", before: []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), two, false, false}},
+			wantWrites: []string{two}, wantUsers: 2},
+		{name: "a newer revision is written, the older fingerprint is not",
+			before:     []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), one, false, false}, {"nats", fpOf("b"), two, false, false}},
+			after:      []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), three, false, false}},
+			wantWrites: []string{two, three}, wantUsers: 3},
+		{name: "a composition signed by a stranger is no source",
+			before:     []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), one, false, false}},
+			after:      []put{{"nats", fpOf("b"), three, true, false}},
+			wantWrites: []string{one}, wantUsers: 1},
+		{name: "a composition without the list is ignored", before: []put{{"web", fpOf("a"), "", false, false}}},
+		{name: "a deleted key is no source",
+			before:     []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), one, false, false}, {"nats", fpOf("b"), two, false, false}},
+			after:      []put{{"nats", fpOf("b"), "", false, true}, {"nats", fpOf("a"), three, false, false}},
+			wantWrites: []string{two, three}, wantUsers: 3},
+		{name: "asked again, the same source is written again", before: []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), two, false, false}},
+			again: true, wantWrites: []string{two, two}, wantUsers: 2},
+		{name: "a failed write is said and kept", before: []put{{"nats", fpOf("a"), two, false, false}}, failWrite: true,
+			wantWrites: []string{two}, wantUsers: 2, wantErr: "disk full"},
+	} {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			f := &feed{ch: make(chan agent.Update, 64)}
+			var mu sync.Mutex
+			var writes []string
+			var reports []Written
+			reported := make(chan struct{}, 64)
+			fl := New(Env{Node: node, Composed: f,
+				Trusted: func() []ed25519.PublicKey { return []ed25519.PublicKey{controllerPub} },
+				Write: func(_ context.Context, module string, r json.RawMessage) (string, bool, error) {
+					var res struct{ Content string }
+					_ = json.Unmarshal(r, &res)
+					mu.Lock()
+					writes = append(writes, res.Content)
+					mu.Unlock()
+					if c.failWrite {
+						return "", false, errors.New("disk full")
+					}
+					return Digest([]byte(res.Content)), true, nil
+				},
+				Report: func(_ context.Context, module string, w Written) {
+					mu.Lock()
+					reports = append(reports, w)
+					mu.Unlock()
+					reported <- struct{}{}
+				},
+				Now: func() time.Time { return time.Date(2026, 10, 25, 21, 50, 0, 0, time.UTC) },
+			})
+			update := func(p put) agent.Update {
+				f.rev++
+				signer := controllerKey
+				if p.stranger {
+					signer = strangerKey
+				}
+				k, raw := comp(t, p.module, p.fp, p.content, signer)
+				if p.deleted {
+					return agent.Update{Key: k, Revision: f.rev, Deleted: true}
+				}
+				return agent.Update{Key: k, Value: raw, Revision: f.rev}
+			}
+			for _, p := range c.before {
+				f.first = append(f.first, update(p))
+			}
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+			done := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() { done <- fl.Run(ctx) }()
+			for _, p := range c.after {
+				f.ch <- update(p)
+			}
+			if c.again {
+				// After the first write is reported, so the look again is not folded into it.
+				select {
+				case <-reported:
+				case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+				}
+				fl.Again()
+			}
+			deadline := time.After(5 * time.Second)
+			for {
+				mu.Lock()
+				n := len(writes)
+				mu.Unlock()
+				if n >= len(c.wantWrites) {
+					break
+				}
+				select {
+				case <-deadline:
+					t.Fatalf("writes %d, want %d", n, len(c.wantWrites))
+				case <-time.After(5 * time.Millisecond):
+				}
+			}
+			time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) // nothing more is written
+			cancel()
+			<-done
+			mu.Lock()
+			defer mu.Unlock()
+			if strings.Join(writes, "|") != strings.Join(c.wantWrites, "|") {
+				t.Fatalf("written %q, want %q", writes, c.wantWrites)
+			}
+			module, st := fl.State()
+			if len(c.wantWrites) == 0 {
+				if module != "" || len(reports) != 0 {
+					t.Fatalf("a node with no list wrote or said something: %q %+v", module, reports)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if module != "nats" || st.Users != c.wantUsers || st.Wanted != Digest([]byte(c.wantWrites[len(c.wantWrites)-1])) {
+				t.Errorf("state %q %+v", module, st)
+			}
+			if c.wantErr != "" {
+				if !strings.Contains(st.Error, c.wantErr) || st.Digest != "" {
+					t.Errorf("a failed write is not kept: %+v", st)
+				}
+			} else if st.Digest != st.Wanted || st.Error != "" {
+				t.Errorf("written %+v", st)
+			}
+			if len(reports) == 0 || reports[len(reports)-1] != st {
+				t.Errorf("reports %+v, last state %+v", reports, st)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}