Bai and Daro met in the harbor archive reading room with the family copies and the side ledger. Yao and Jian came to hear the comparison. The old page listed named adults and a six-year term. The later amendment added descendants and removed the expiry date, with a seal from the storm council. The dates placed the original agreement before the first great storm and the amendment after it. The index referenced a review six years later, but neither the family copy nor the current ledger showed that meeting. The gap changed who owed the share and for how long. The dates placed the original agreement before the first great storm and the amendment after it. The index referenced a review six years later, but neither the family copy nor the current ledger showed that meeting. The gap was not a small spelling difference; it changed who owed the share and for how long.
Daro placed the two entries beside the family copy. “The records do not show whether every household accepted the extension.” Daro checked the archive index for a cross-reference to the clerk. It pointed to minutes that had gone missing during a relocation. The hall had not found them. He admitted that their absence could not be filled by assuming the extension was valid. Daro checked the archive index twice, hoping a cross-reference would identify the clerk. It pointed to a bundle of minutes that had gone missing during a relocation. The hall had not found them…
