diff --git a/internal/link/asktool_nats_test.go b/internal/link/asktool_nats_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9caa58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/link/asktool_nats_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package link
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+)
+
+// A declared tool check asked over a real bus, through the queue, on the link the node-engine holds:
+// the tool's answer is read, and a tool nothing serves is said as such (novox/hq ADR 0240, to-be 48 §3).
+func TestNatsAToolCheckIsAskedOnTheLink(t *testing.T) {
+	conn, js := aBus(t)
+	const node = "toolcheck"
+	served, err := conn.Subscribe(ToolSubject("sensors", "sensors_health", node), func(m *nats.Msg) {
+		_ = m.Respond([]byte(`{"result":{"healthy":true}}`))
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { _ = served.Unsubscribe() })
+	if err := conn.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	q := &Queue{Membership: Membership{Node: node}}
+	q.attach(t.Context(), &natsLink{conn: conn, js: js, node: node})
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	healthy, why, err := q.AskTool(ctx, "sensors", "sensors_health")
+	if err != nil || !healthy {
+		t.Fatalf("a served healthy tool read as %v %q (%v)", healthy, why, err)
+	}
+	_, _, err = q.AskTool(ctx, "sensors", "nothing_serves_this")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "nothing on this machine answers") {
+		t.Fatalf("a tool nothing serves read as %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/link/health_test.go b/internal/link/health_test.go
index 3021e09..dd701ae 100644
--- a/internal/link/health_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/health_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package link
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -70,3 +71,33 @@ func TestAToolsAnswerIsHealthyOnlyWhenItSaysSo(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("asked on %s", ToolSubject("keycloak", "keycloak_admin_health", "anchor"))
 	}
 }
+
+// A declared tool check is asked on the link the node-engine actually holds — the NATS link — and not
+// refused as if none were open (2026-10-08: every tool check read "no link to the bus is open" while
+// the link was up, because the NATS link could not Ask). With no link open, and with a link that cannot
+// ask, the check fails and says which.
+func TestAToolCheckIsAskedOnTheLinkTheEngineHolds(t *testing.T) {
+	q := &Queue{Membership: Membership{Node: "anchor"}}
+	if _, _, err := q.AskTool(t.Context(), "sensors", "sensors_health"); err == nil || err.Error() != "no link to the bus is open" {
+		t.Fatalf("with no link open: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	quiet := newQuietLink()
+	q.attach(t.Context(), quiet)
+	if _, _, err := q.AskTool(t.Context(), "sensors", "sensors_health"); err == nil || err.Error() != "the link to the bus open now cannot ask a tool" {
+		t.Fatalf("on a link that cannot ask: %v", err)
+	}
+	q.detach(quiet)
+
+	// The link Open returns, with no connection under it: the question must reach its Ask (and fail
+	// there), never stop at the queue's assertion.
+	held := &natsLink{node: "anchor"}
+	q.attach(t.Context(), held)
+	_, _, err := q.AskTool(t.Context(), "sensors", "sensors_health")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("asked on no connection and was answered")
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no link") || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "cannot ask a tool") {
+		t.Fatalf("the NATS link was not asked: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/link/hearing_nats.go b/internal/link/hearing_nats.go
index 32e8623..cbc57e2 100644
--- a/internal/link/hearing_nats.go
+++ b/internal/link/hearing_nats.go
@@ -220,6 +220,38 @@ func (l *natsLink) Health(ctx context.Context, node string, body []byte) error {
 	return OverNATS{Conn: l.conn, JS: l.js}.Health(ctx, node, body)
 }
 
+// Ask asks a module's tool for a declared tool check (novox/hq ADR 0240, to-be 48 §3). The link the
+// node-engine holds is this one, not OverNATS: without it here the queue's ToolBus assertion failed on
+// every live link and each tool check read "no link to the bus is open" while the link was up.
+func (l *natsLink) Ask(ctx context.Context, subject string, body []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	before := l.conn.LastError()
+	reply, err := OverNATS{Conn: l.conn, JS: l.js}.Ask(ctx, subject, body)
+	switch {
+	case err == nil:
+		return reply, nil
+	case errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoResponders):
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("nothing on this machine answers %s", subject)
+	}
+	if refused := l.refusal(subject, before); refused != "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %v%s", subject, err, refused)
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) || errors.Is(err, nats.ErrTimeout) {
+		// Said as the deadline, which the caller words with the time it gave the question.
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no answer from %s: %w", subject, context.DeadlineExceeded)
+	}
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", subject, err)
+}
+
+// What the queue asks of a live link beside Bus, each by a type assertion that fails quietly: said here
+// so a link that drops one does not build.
+var (
+	_ Bus       = (*natsLink)(nil)
+	_ HealthBus = (*natsLink)(nil)
+	_ ToolBus   = (*natsLink)(nil)
+	_ Asker     = (*natsLink)(nil)
+	_ Asked     = (*natsLink)(nil)
+)
+
 // natsDeclaration is one declaration off the NODES stream.
 type natsDeclaration struct{ msg *nats.Msg }
 
diff --git a/internal/link/queue.go b/internal/link/queue.go
index 6021f5f..1ae5f5c 100644
--- a/internal/link/queue.go
+++ b/internal/link/queue.go
@@ -530,10 +530,13 @@ func (q *Queue) AskTool(ctx context.Context, module, tool string) (bool, string,
 	q.mu.Lock()
 	bus := q.bus
 	q.mu.Unlock()
-	asker, ok := bus.(ToolBus)
-	if bus == nil || !ok {
+	if bus == nil {
 		return false, "", errors.New("no link to the bus is open")
 	}
+	asker, ok := bus.(ToolBus)
+	if !ok {
+		return false, "", errors.New("the link to the bus open now cannot ask a tool")
+	}
 	reply, err := asker.Ask(ctx, ToolSubject(module, tool, q.Membership.Node), []byte("{}"))
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, "", err
diff --git a/internal/link/witnessing.go b/internal/link/witnessing.go
index 6b8c2e1..340eaec 100644
--- a/internal/link/witnessing.go
+++ b/internal/link/witnessing.go
@@ -60,12 +60,13 @@ func (q *Queue) Asker() Asker {
 
 func (l *natsLink) ReadKey(ctx context.Context, bucket, key string) ([]byte, bool, error) {
 	subject := DirectGetSubject(bucket, key)
+	before := l.conn.LastError()
 	msg, err := l.conn.RequestWithContext(ctx, subject, nil)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoResponders):
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: the bus has no bucket %s that answers a direct get", ErrCannotAsk, bucket)
 	case err != nil:
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: reading %s from %s: %v%s", ErrCannotAsk, key, bucket, err, l.refusal(subject))
+		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: reading %s from %s: %v%s", ErrCannotAsk, key, bucket, err, l.refusal(subject, before))
 	}
 	if msg.Header != nil {
 		switch status := msg.Header.Get("Status"); status {
@@ -89,13 +90,14 @@ func (l *natsLink) ReadKey(ctx context.Context, bucket, key string) ([]byte, boo
 
 func (l *natsLink) Ping(ctx context.Context, service, id string) error {
 	subject := PingSubject(service, id)
+	before := l.conn.LastError()
 	msg, err := l.conn.RequestWithContext(ctx, subject, nil)
 	switch {
 	case errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoResponders):
 		// The bus delivered the question and nothing subscribes to it: the runtime is not on the bus.
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: no %s on this machine is on the bus", ErrNoAnswer, service)
 	case err != nil:
-		if refused := l.refusal(subject); refused != "" {
+		if refused := l.refusal(subject, before); refused != "" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("%w: asking %s: %v%s", ErrCannotAsk, subject, err, refused)
 		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s did not answer: %v", ErrNoAnswer, subject, err)
@@ -110,11 +112,13 @@ func (l *natsLink) Ping(ctx context.Context, service, id string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// refusal is the bus's last word on this connection when it refused a publish to subject, said as
-// the end of an error; empty when it did not.
-func (l *natsLink) refusal(subject string) string {
+// refusal is the bus's word on this connection when it refused a publish to subject while this question
+// was asked, said as the end of an error; empty when it did not. before is the connection's last error
+// as it stood before asking: the client keeps its last error for the life of the connection, so a
+// refusal from an earlier question — under a grant since widened — is not said again as this one's.
+func (l *natsLink) refusal(subject string, before error) string {
 	last := l.conn.LastError()
-	if last == nil {
+	if last == nil || last == before {
 		return ""
 	}
 	words := strings.ToLower(last.Error())
diff --git a/internal/liveness/readiness.go b/internal/liveness/readiness.go
index 585c08e..a5e1c08 100644
--- a/internal/liveness/readiness.go
+++ b/internal/liveness/readiness.go
@@ -254,8 +254,10 @@ func (p *Probes) Look(ctx context.Context, module string, c *declaration.Health)
 		}
 		healthy, why, err := p.AskTool(ctx, module, c.Tool)
 		switch {
+		case errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+			return false, fmt.Sprintf("no answer within %s", timeout)
 		case err != nil:
-			return false, "asking it: " + firstLine(err.Error())
+			return false, firstLine(err.Error())
 		case !healthy:
 			return false, orSaid(why, "it answered not healthy, and not why")
 		}
diff --git a/internal/liveness/readiness_test.go b/internal/liveness/readiness_test.go
index 9203844..0c39419 100644
--- a/internal/liveness/readiness_test.go
+++ b/internal/liveness/readiness_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package liveness
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
@@ -191,6 +193,25 @@ func TestAToolCheckIsAskedOfTheNodeTools(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// A tool that does not answer in time is said as the time it was given, once, and an error from the link is
+// said as it is, without a second "asking" in front of what the link already says.
+func TestAToolCheckThatGetsNoAnswerSaysHowLongItWaited(t *testing.T) {
+	check := &declaration.Health{Kind: declaration.HealthTool, Tool: "sensors_health",
+		Interval: "30s", Timeout: "5s", Looks: 2, Grace: "0s"}
+	p := &Probes{AskTool: func(context.Context, string, string) (bool, string, error) {
+		return false, "", fmt.Errorf("no answer from mesh.mod.sensors.tool.sensors_health.anchor: %w", context.DeadlineExceeded)
+	}}
+	if ok, why := p.Look(t.Context(), "sensors", check); ok || why != "no answer within 5s" {
+		t.Fatalf("%v %q", ok, why)
+	}
+	p.AskTool = func(context.Context, string, string) (bool, string, error) {
+		return false, "", errors.New("no link to the bus is open")
+	}
+	if ok, why := p.Look(t.Context(), "sensors", check); ok || why != "no link to the bus is open" {
+		t.Fatalf("%v %q", ok, why)
+	}
+}
+
 // The runtime's state of a container's own check is read out of its whole state: a container that carries
 // none has no Health in it, and that is not an error (a template naming it would refuse every container).
 func TestTheRuntimesCheckIsReadOutOfTheContainersState(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/merge-check.sh b/merge-check.sh
index 4fc67c7..dabdee8 100755
--- a/merge-check.sh
+++ b/merge-check.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,36 @@ if [ -n "$unformatted" ]; then
 fi
 CGO_ENABLED=0 go vet ./...
 
+# **The tests that need a real bus** (MESH_TEST_NATS) run against a throwaway nats-server with JetStream when
+# the toolchain holds one, so the link the node-engine dials is tested as it is used (hq issue 331: every
+# unit test used fake links, and the real one could not ask a tool). Said when it cannot: a skipped test
+# is not a passed one. A caller that sets MESH_TEST_NATS keeps its own bus.
+if [ -z "${MESH_TEST_NATS:-}" ]; then
+	if command -v nats-server >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		bus_dir=$(mktemp -d)
+		bus_port=$((20000 + $$ % 20000))
+		nats-server -js -a 127.0.0.1 -p "$bus_port" -sd "$bus_dir" >"$bus_dir/log" 2>&1 &
+		bus_pid=$!
+		trap 'kill "$bus_pid" 2>/dev/null || true; rm -rf "$bus_dir"' EXIT
+		up=0
+		for _ in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10; do
+			if grep -q "Server is ready" "$bus_dir/log"; then
+				up=1
+				break
+			fi
+			sleep 0.5
+		done
+		if [ "$up" -ne 1 ]; then
+			echo "the throwaway nats-server did not start:"
+			cat "$bus_dir/log"
+			exit 1
+		fi
+		export MESH_TEST_NATS="nats://127.0.0.1:$bus_port"
+	else
+		echo "NOT RUN AGAINST A BUS: the toolchain holds no nats-server; the tests that need one are skipped"
+	fi
+fi
+
 if command -v gcc >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 	CGO_ENABLED=1 go test -race -count=1 ./...
 else