diff --git a/internal/link/have_test.go b/internal/link/have_test.go
index 225cd5b..76cc969 100644
--- a/internal/link/have_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/have_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/busretry"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 )
@@ -40,9 +41,20 @@ type haveLink struct {
 	statedErr error
 	// readsSaid are the node seat's manifest-reads-changed events said on the link (ADR 0618 §4).
 	readsSaid []nodeengine.ManifestReadsChangedEvent
+	// sayFails fails that many of the node seat's says, as a publish past the bus's retry bound; said is every event said.
+	sayFails int
+	said     []string
 }
 
 func (l *haveLink) SayEngine(event string, body any) error {
+	l.hmu.Lock()
+	if l.sayFails > 0 {
+		l.sayFails--
+		l.hmu.Unlock()
+		return errors.New("nats: timeout")
+	}
+	l.said = append(l.said, event)
+	l.hmu.Unlock()
 	if e, ok := body.(nodeengine.ManifestReadsChangedEvent); ok && event == nodeengine.EventManifestReadsChanged {
 		l.hmu.Lock()
 		l.readsSaid = append(l.readsSaid, e)
@@ -372,6 +384,40 @@ func TestTheNodeKeyCarriesTheNodesFacts(t *testing.T) {
 	if got, _ = nodeengineclient.DecodeHaveNode(l.kv["n1.node"].value); !slices.Equal(got.Record.ManifestReads, catalogue.ManifestReads()) {
 		t.Errorf("the list back whole: the record states %v, want its contract's", got.Record.ManifestReads)
 	}
+
+	// Issue 1966 note 155, ADR 0668 §4: a seat list read while no link is open is said at the link's opening with what
+	// the engine states then; and an event whose publish failed past the bus's retry bound is kept and said there too,
+	// never only a line in the log.
+	q.Detach(l)
+	saidBefore = len(l.readsSaid)
+	catalogue.UseSeats(slices.DeleteFunc(slices.Clone(all), func(s catalogue.Seat) bool { return s.Name == "mesh-vault" }))
+	q.RestateReads(context.Background())
+	if len(l.readsSaid) != saidBefore {
+		t.Errorf("a statement made with no link open was said on none")
+	}
+	q.Attach(context.Background(), l)
+	l.sayFails = 1
+	q.SayEngine("running", map[string]string{"module": "m"})
+	q.SayReads()
+	if said := l.readsSaid[saidBefore:]; len(said) != 1 || slices.Contains(said[0].ManifestReads, "seat:mesh-vault") ||
+		!slices.Contains(said[0].ManifestReads, "seat:mesh-catalog") {
+		t.Errorf("at the link's opening said %+v, want the statement made while no link was open", said)
+	}
+	if !slices.Contains(l.said, "running") {
+		t.Errorf("an event whose publish failed was not said at the next link: said %v", l.said)
+	}
+	catalogue.UseSeats(all)
+	q.RestateReads(context.Background())
+
+	// And the publish itself (sayOnce): through no responders and a deadline it is published again under one message id,
+	// so the stream takes it once.
+	t.Cleanup(busretry.Waits(10*time.Second, time.Millisecond, 2*time.Millisecond))
+	var ids []string
+	faults := []error{nats.ErrNoResponders, context.DeadlineExceeded, nil}
+	if err := sayOnce(func(id string) error { ids = append(ids, id); return faults[len(ids)-1] }, "s", []byte("{}")); err != nil ||
+		len(ids) != 3 || ids[0] != ids[2] || ids[0] == "" {
+		t.Errorf("a publish through two faults: %v, ids %q", err, ids)
+	}
 }
 
 // 1132/AC7: a write the bucket refuses is said in the log, and the next apply writes again.
diff --git a/internal/link/session.go b/internal/link/session.go
index 7068db1..e4cdf90 100644
--- a/internal/link/session.go
+++ b/internal/link/session.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	sdkkeys "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/keys"
+	"maps"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -92,6 +94,9 @@ type Session struct {
 	reads struct {
 		sync.Mutex
 		linked bool
+		// unsaid is, per event, the last of the node seat's events that could not be said (no link open, or its
+		// publish failed past the bus's retry bound): said at the next link's SayReads (novox/hq ADR 0668; issue 1966).
+		unsaid map[string]any
 	}
 	// restating takes RestateReads one at a time.
 	restating sync.Mutex
@@ -446,22 +451,40 @@ func (q *Session) SayReads() {
 		why = ReadsReturned
 	}
 	q.reads.linked = true
+	unsaid := q.reads.unsaid
+	q.reads.unsaid = nil
 	q.reads.Unlock()
+	for _, event := range slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(unsaid)) {
+		if event != nodeengine.EventManifestReadsChanged { // said below with what the engine states now
+			q.SayEngine(event, unsaid[event])
+		}
+	}
 	q.SayEngine(nodeengine.EventManifestReadsChanged, nodeengine.ManifestReadsChangedEvent{V: sdkkeys.Version,
 		Node: q.Membership.Node, ManifestReads: manifestReads(), At: time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano), Why: why})
 }
 
-// SayEngine says one of the node seat's events over the link open now; with none open it is not said.
+// SayEngine says one of the node seat's events over the link open now. With none open, or a publish that failed past the
+// bus's retry bound, it is kept and said at the next link's opening (SayReads; novox/hq ADR 0668 §4, issue 1966): an
+// event a reader waits on is never only a line in this engine's log.
 func (q *Session) SayEngine(event string, body any) {
 	q.init()
 	q.mu.Lock()
 	bus := q.bus
 	q.mu.Unlock()
-	if sayer, ok := bus.(interface{ SayEngine(string, any) error }); ok {
-		if err := sayer.SayEngine(event, body); err != nil {
-			q.Say("could not say the node seat's " + event + ": " + err.Error())
+	sayer, ok := bus.(interface{ SayEngine(string, any) error })
+	var err error
+	if ok {
+		if err = sayer.SayEngine(event, body); err == nil {
+			return
 		}
+		q.Say("could not say the node seat's " + event + ", said again at the next link: " + err.Error())
 	}
+	q.reads.Lock()
+	if q.reads.unsaid == nil {
+		q.reads.unsaid = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	q.reads.unsaid[event] = body
+	q.reads.Unlock()
 }
 
 func (q *Session) operatorAsks() (OperatorAsks, error) {