One spring, a lineage of problems appeared that tests could not explain: a pattern of hairline cracks in rafters built from a certain batch of boards. The boards had all come from the same supplier and had been used across several houses that had been rebuilt in the same season. The program had not warned them; its algorithms had missed a subtle kiln defect. Mara called a town meeting in the chapel to lay out what had happened. The room filled with people who had reason to be angry. The conversation was sharp, edged with fear—about who was responsible, about what "free" had cost them in risk. Tomas suggested removing all dependence on the software: "We rebuild the old way," he said. "No files, no updates."