diff --git a/src/frames.rs b/src/frames.rs
index 78288ed..32d73de 100644
--- a/src/frames.rs
+++ b/src/frames.rs
@@ -924,6 +924,11 @@ fn open_send_stream(
 /// Serve one store's turn: from where its stream stands, up to
 /// `CHUNKS_PER_TURN`. Returns how many chunks went on the wire.
 fn ship_turn(w: &mut impl Write, s: &mut Stream, opts: &SendOpts) -> anyhow::Result<u64> {
+    // An idle store is the common case on every poll: a header and one
+    // record say so, where serving reads the whole index to find nothing.
+    if crate::serve::nothing_from(&s.path, s.resume) {
+        return Ok(0);
+    }
     let mut body = Vec::new();
     let served = crate::serve::serve(
         &s.path,
diff --git a/src/grain.rs b/src/grain.rs
index 5fc0d2f..33b3577 100644
--- a/src/grain.rs
+++ b/src/grain.rs
@@ -320,6 +320,47 @@ impl Grain {
     }
 }
 
+/// The filters of records `from..from + count`, read by walking the length
+/// prefixes with a bounded buffer: memory is the pages asked for, not the
+/// grain. Shorter than `count` where the grain does not reach, which is
+/// "missing means scan" for the rest.
+pub fn read_pages(path: &Path, from: usize, count: usize) -> Vec<Vec<u8>> {
+    let mut pages = Vec::new();
+    let Ok(f) = File::open(path) else {
+        return pages;
+    };
+    let Ok(Some(s)) = stamp(&f) else {
+        return pages;
+    };
+    let mut r = BufReader::with_capacity(WALK_BUF, &f);
+    if r.seek(SeekFrom::Start(s.first)).is_err() {
+        return pages;
+    }
+    let (mut off, mut idx) = (s.first, 0usize);
+    while idx < from.saturating_add(count) && off + 4 <= s.len {
+        let mut p = [0u8; 4];
+        if r.read_exact(&mut p).is_err() {
+            break;
+        }
+        let len = u32::from_le_bytes(p) as u64;
+        if off + 4 + len > s.len {
+            break;
+        }
+        if idx >= from {
+            let mut page = vec![0u8; len as usize];
+            if r.read_exact(&mut page).is_err() {
+                break;
+            }
+            pages.push(page);
+        } else if r.seek_relative(len as i64).is_err() {
+            break;
+        }
+        off += 4 + len;
+        idx += 1;
+    }
+    pages
+}
+
 /// The grain's size and how many chunks it covers, without loading it:
 /// the commit when it still describes the file, otherwise one walk. Opens
 /// nothing for writing, so a caller that may only read the store can use it.
@@ -1159,4 +1200,34 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap();
         assert_eq!(coverage(d.path(), "a.log"), None);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn pages_read_by_range_are_the_loaded_ones() {
+        let d = TempDir::new();
+        write_grain(d.path(), "a.log", 9);
+        let path = format::grain_path(d.path(), "a.log");
+        let loaded = load(&path).unwrap();
+        for (from, count) in [(0, 9), (0, 3), (2, 4), (7, 2), (8, 50), (0, 0)] {
+            let got = read_pages(&path, from, count);
+            let want: Vec<Vec<u8>> = (from..(from + count).min(9))
+                .map(|i| loaded.page(i).unwrap().to_vec())
+                .collect();
+            assert_eq!(got, want, "pages {from}..{}", from + count);
+        }
+        assert!(read_pages(&path, 40, 3).is_empty(), "past the end");
+        assert!(read_pages(&d.path().join("none"), 0, 3).is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn pages_stop_at_a_torn_tail() {
+        let d = TempDir::new();
+        write_grain(d.path(), "a.log", 4);
+        let path = format::grain_path(d.path(), "a.log");
+        let g = OpenOptions::new().append(true).open(&path).unwrap();
+        (&g).write_all(&90u32.to_le_bytes()).unwrap();
+        (&g).write_all(&[7u8; 5]).unwrap();
+        drop(g);
+        assert_eq!(read_pages(&path, 0, 10).len(), 4);
+        assert_eq!(read_pages(&path, 3, 10).len(), 1);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/serve.rs b/src/serve.rs
index 4be8af3..4eb1a39 100644
--- a/src/serve.rs
+++ b/src/serve.rs
@@ -115,6 +115,22 @@ pub fn push_seq(out: &mut Vec<Run>, s: u64) {
     }
 }
 
+/// True when `input` provably holds no chunk at or after `first_seq`: its
+/// last record is older, or it has none. Answers false for anything it
+/// cannot read, so the request is served and says why.
+pub fn nothing_from(input: &Path, first_seq: u64) -> bool {
+    if crate::query::is_bundle(input) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    let Ok((dir, name)) = crate::query::resolve_backing(input) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    matches!(
+        crate::format::read_index_last(&crate::format::rings_path(&dir, &name)),
+        Ok((_, last)) if last.is_none_or(|c| c.seq < first_seq)
+    )
+}
+
 /// Write `input`'s answer to `req` as frames.
 pub fn serve(input: &Path, req: &Request, out: &mut impl Write) -> anyhow::Result<Served> {
     let mut handle = crate::query::open_source(input)?;
@@ -137,23 +153,12 @@ pub fn serve(input: &Path, req: &Request, out: &mut impl Write) -> anyhow::Resul
 
     // Which chunks the request selects. Done before stream-open so its
     // declared range is what is actually coming, not what was asked for.
-    let selected: Vec<crate::format::ChunkRecord> = handle
-        .records
-        .iter()
-        .filter(|c| {
-            c.seq >= req.first_seq && (req.last_seq == frame::OPEN_ENDED || c.seq <= req.last_seq)
-        })
-        .copied()
-        .collect();
-    let positions: Vec<usize> = handle
-        .records
-        .iter()
-        .enumerate()
-        .filter(|(_, c)| {
-            c.seq >= req.first_seq && (req.last_seq == frame::OPEN_ENDED || c.seq <= req.last_seq)
-        })
-        .map(|(i, _)| i)
-        .collect();
+    // By position, not copied out: a store is far larger than a turn.
+    let wanted = |c: &crate::format::ChunkRecord| {
+        c.seq >= req.first_seq && (req.last_seq == frame::OPEN_ENDED || c.seq <= req.last_seq)
+    };
+    let first = handle.records.iter().position(wanted);
+    let last = handle.records.iter().rposition(wanted);
 
     let mut buf = Vec::new();
     frame::encode(
@@ -162,8 +167,12 @@ pub fn serve(input: &Path, req: &Request, out: &mut impl Write) -> anyhow::Resul
             frame: Frame::StreamOpen {
                 origin_id: origin_of(&bark),
                 sender_id: id_of(&bark),
-                first_seq: selected.first().map(|c| c.seq).unwrap_or(req.first_seq),
-                last_seq: selected.last().map(|c| c.seq).unwrap_or(frame::OPEN_ENDED),
+                first_seq: first
+                    .map(|i| handle.records[i].seq)
+                    .unwrap_or(req.first_seq),
+                last_seq: last
+                    .map(|i| handle.records[i].seq)
+                    .unwrap_or(frame::OPEN_ENDED),
                 mode: req.mode,
                 provenance: serde_json::to_vec(&travels(&bark, input))
                     .context("serializing what the store is")?,
@@ -181,7 +190,7 @@ pub fn serve(input: &Path, req: &Request, out: &mut impl Write) -> anyhow::Resul
             &Framed {
                 stream: req.stream,
                 frame: Frame::Coverage {
-                    runs: runs_of(selected.iter().map(|c| c.seq)),
+                    runs: runs_of(handle.records.iter().filter(|c| wanted(c)).map(|c| c.seq)),
                 },
             },
             &mut buf,
@@ -191,22 +200,33 @@ pub fn serve(input: &Path, req: &Request, out: &mut impl Write) -> anyhow::Resul
         return Ok(stats);
     }
 
-    let grain = if req.sidecars {
-        grain_path(input).and_then(|p| crate::grain::load(&p).ok())
-    } else {
-        None
+    let Some((first, last)) = first.zip(last) else {
+        return Ok(stats);
+    };
+    // Only the pages this request can send: a grain is read by position,
+    // and the chunks it ships are the ones from `first` on.
+    let span = req
+        .max_chunks
+        .map_or(last - first + 1, |n| (n as usize).min(last - first + 1));
+    let pages = match req.sidecars.then(|| grain_path(input)).flatten() {
+        Some(p) => crate::grain::read_pages(&p, first, span),
+        None => Vec::new(),
     };
 
-    for (c, pos) in selected.into_iter().zip(positions) {
+    for pos in first..=last {
+        let c = handle.records[pos];
+        if !wanted(&c) {
+            continue;
+        }
         if req.max_chunks.is_some_and(|n| stats.chunks >= n) {
             break;
         }
         stats.last_examined = Some(c.seq);
         let mut sidecars = Vec::new();
-        if let Some(page) = grain.as_ref().and_then(|g| g.page(pos)) {
+        if let Some(page) = pos.checked_sub(first).and_then(|i| pages.get(i)) {
             sidecars.push(Sidecar {
                 kind: Sidecar::tag(GRAIN_TAG),
-                bytes: page.to_vec(),
+                bytes: page.clone(),
             });
         }
         let comp = if req.mode == Mode::Frames {
@@ -664,4 +684,45 @@ mod tests {
         std::fs::write(&gpath, &bytes[..15]).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(grain_header(&store), None, "shorter than a header");
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_resume_mid_store_sends_the_pages_of_its_own_chunks() {
+        let d = TempDir::new();
+        let p = a_store(d.path(), "mid", 6);
+        let (dir, name) = crate::query::resolve_backing(&p).unwrap();
+        crate::grain::extend_grain(&dir, &name).unwrap();
+        let g = crate::grain::load(&crate::format::grain_path(&dir, &name)).unwrap();
+
+        let mut req = Request::everything(Mode::Index);
+        req.first_seq = 2;
+        req.max_chunks = Some(3);
+        let mut buf = Vec::new();
+        let served = serve(&p, &req, &mut buf).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(served.chunks, 3);
+        let got: Vec<(u64, Vec<u8>)> = frames(&buf)
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|f| match &f.frame {
+                Frame::Chunk { seq, sidecars, .. } => Some((*seq, sidecars[0].bytes.clone())),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        assert_eq!(got.iter().map(|c| c.0).collect::<Vec<_>>(), [2, 3, 4]);
+        for (seq, page) in got {
+            assert_eq!(page, g.page(seq as usize).unwrap(), "chunk {seq}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn nothing_from_is_true_only_past_the_last_chunk() {
+        let d = TempDir::new();
+        let p = a_store(d.path(), "idle", 3);
+        assert!(!nothing_from(&p, 0));
+        assert!(!nothing_from(&p, 2), "the last chunk is still to send");
+        assert!(nothing_from(&p, 3));
+        assert!(nothing_from(&p, 100));
+        assert!(
+            !nothing_from(&d.path().join("absent.log"), 3),
+            "unreadable is served, so the reason is said"
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/ship.rs b/src/ship.rs
index ec82536..3f529a8 100644
--- a/src/ship.rs
+++ b/src/ship.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,29 @@ fn tape_end(dir: &Path, name: &str) -> u64 {
     dropped + last.map(|c| c.uncomp_end()).unwrap_or(0)
 }
 
+/// True when reading `name` from tape offset `at` provably returns nothing:
+/// the cursor sits exactly at the end of the flushed chunks, and the live
+/// edge, which the read also follows, has no write-ahead entries pending or
+/// mid-handoff. Anything it cannot read answers false, so the read happens
+/// and says why.
+fn nothing_to_read(dir: &Path, name: &str, at: u64) -> bool {
+    use crate::format;
+    if format::sap_seal_path(dir, name).exists() {
+        return false;
+    }
+    if let Ok(m) = std::fs::metadata(format::sap_path(dir, name)) {
+        if m.len() > crate::sap::HEADER_LEN {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    let Ok((_, last)) = format::read_index_last(&format::rings_path(dir, name)) else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    let end =
+        crate::query::dropped_bytes_of(&dir.join(name)) + last.map(|c| c.uncomp_end()).unwrap_or(0);
+    end == at
+}
+
 /// How many stores a batch may span, and how many entries it may hold, by
 /// default. The entry cap is the destination's batch size; the store cap
 /// bounds a poll's syscalls, since every store in the selection is opened
@@ -328,7 +351,6 @@ impl Shipper {
         if stores.is_empty() {
             return Ok((Vec::new(), stores, matched));
         }
-        let files: Vec<PathBuf> = stores.iter().map(|(_, p, _)| p.clone()).collect();
         let mut cursor = self.positions.cursor();
         for (id, _, _) in &stores {
             // Never backwards: the recorded position is the floor, so a
@@ -338,6 +360,22 @@ impl Shipper {
                 cursor.insert(id.clone(), at);
             }
         }
+        // The read opens every store it is given, so an idle one is left
+        // out of it, and out of the answer: most stores are idle on most
+        // polls. The stores returned are the ones read, because the parse
+        // pairs them with the buffer.
+        let stores: Vec<Store> = stores
+            .into_iter()
+            .filter(|(id, path, _)| {
+                let at = cursor.get(id).copied();
+                let (dir, name) = (path.parent(), path.file_name().and_then(|n| n.to_str()));
+                !matches!((at, dir, name), (Some(at), Some(d), Some(n)) if nothing_to_read(d, n, at))
+            })
+            .collect();
+        if stores.is_empty() {
+            return Ok((Vec::new(), stores, matched));
+        }
+        let files: Vec<PathBuf> = stores.iter().map(|(_, p, _)| p.clone()).collect();
         let mut buf = Vec::new();
         crate::query::read_forward(&mut buf, &files, &cursor, self.batch_entries)?;
         Ok((buf, stores, matched))
@@ -990,4 +1028,58 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(bodies(&b).iter().all(|l| l.contains("web")));
         let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_store_is_idle_only_at_exactly_its_tape_end_with_nothing_live() {
+        let root = forest("idle", &[("a", "x", 3)]);
+        let (dir, name) = (root.join("a"), "a.log");
+        let end = tape_end(&dir, name);
+        assert!(end > 0);
+        assert!(nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end));
+        assert!(!nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end - 1), "behind it: to read");
+        assert!(!nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end + 1), "beyond it: say so");
+
+        // The live edge is read too: entries pending in the write-ahead
+        // segment, or a segment mid-handoff, are not idle.
+        let sap = crate::format::sap_path(&dir, name);
+        std::fs::write(&sap, vec![0u8; crate::sap::HEADER_LEN as usize]).unwrap();
+        assert!(nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end), "a header alone is empty");
+        std::fs::write(&sap, vec![0u8; crate::sap::HEADER_LEN as usize + 1]).unwrap();
+        assert!(!nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end), "pending entries");
+        std::fs::remove_file(&sap).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(crate::format::sap_seal_path(&dir, name), b"x").unwrap();
+        assert!(!nothing_to_read(&dir, name, end), "a handoff in flight");
+
+        assert!(
+            !nothing_to_read(&dir, "absent.log", 0),
+            "unreadable is read, so the reason is said"
+        );
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn a_caught_up_store_is_left_out_of_the_read_and_wakes_when_it_grows() {
+        let root = forest("wake", &[("a", "x", 3), ("b", "x", 3)]);
+        let mut sh = shipper(&root, "service=x", 100);
+        let first = sh.poll().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(first.slices.len(), 2);
+        sh.accept(&first).unwrap();
+
+        let idle = sh.poll().unwrap();
+        assert!(idle.slices.is_empty(), "both caught up: nothing is read");
+        assert_eq!(idle.matched, 2, "still matched, just idle");
+
+        append(&root, "b", 2);
+        let woke = sh.poll().unwrap();
+        let ids: Vec<_> = woke.slices.iter().map(|s| s.path.clone()).collect();
+        assert_eq!(
+            ids,
+            vec![root.join("b").join("b.log")],
+            "only the grown one"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(woke.slices[0].entries.len(), 2);
+        sh.accept(&woke).unwrap();
+        assert!(sh.poll().unwrap().slices.is_empty());
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&root);
+    }
 }