diff --git a/cmd/gateway/main.go b/cmd/gateway/main.go
index f2457bb..7e41318 100644
--- a/cmd/gateway/main.go
+++ b/cmd/gateway/main.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func main() {
 		"queryd_url":   cfg.Gateway.QuerydURL,
 		"vectord_url":  cfg.Gateway.VectordURL,
 		"embedd_url":   cfg.Gateway.EmbeddURL,
+		"pathwayd_url": cfg.Gateway.PathwaydURL,
 	}
 	for k, v := range upstreams {
 		if v == "" {
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ func main() {
 	querydURL := mustParseUpstream("queryd_url", cfg.Gateway.QuerydURL)
 	vectordURL := mustParseUpstream("vectord_url", cfg.Gateway.VectordURL)
 	embeddURL := mustParseUpstream("embedd_url", cfg.Gateway.EmbeddURL)
+	pathwaydURL := mustParseUpstream("pathwayd_url", cfg.Gateway.PathwaydURL)
 
 	storagedProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(storagedURL)
 	catalogdProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(catalogdURL)
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@ func main() {
 	querydProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(querydURL)
 	vectordProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(vectordURL)
 	embeddProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(embeddURL)
+	pathwaydProxy := gateway.NewProxyHandler(pathwaydURL)
 
 	if err := shared.Run("gateway", cfg.Gateway.Bind, func(r chi.Router) {
 
@@ -88,6 +91,8 @@ func main() {
 		r.Handle("/v1/vectors/*", vectordProxy)
 		// Embedding service — /v1/embed
 		r.Handle("/v1/embed", embeddProxy)
+		// Pathway memory — /v1/pathway/*
+		r.Handle("/v1/pathway/*", pathwaydProxy)
 	}, cfg.Auth); err != nil {
 		slog.Error("server", "err", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/cmd/pathwayd/main.go b/cmd/pathwayd/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f03c194
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/pathwayd/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,278 @@
+// pathwayd is the pathway memory service. Wraps internal/pathway's
+// Store with HTTP routes for the Mem0-style operations defined in
+// ADR-004.
+//
+// Routes (all under /pathway):
+//   POST /pathway/add              — new trace with fresh UID
+//   POST /pathway/add_idempotent   — UID-keyed add or replay-bump
+//   POST /pathway/update           — replace content for an existing UID
+//   POST /pathway/revise           — new revision linked to predecessor
+//   POST /pathway/retire           — mark trace retired (excluded from search)
+//   GET  /pathway/get/{uid}        — fetch one trace (incl. retired)
+//   GET  /pathway/history/{uid}    — backward chain via predecessor links
+//   POST /pathway/search           — filter-based listing
+//   GET  /pathway/stats            — total/active/retired counters
+//
+// Persistence: optional. Empty [pathwayd].persist_path = in-memory
+// only (matches vectord G1's pattern). Set a path for durable
+// per-trace JSONL append.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+
+	"git.agentview.dev/profit/golangLAKEHOUSE/internal/pathway"
+	"git.agentview.dev/profit/golangLAKEHOUSE/internal/shared"
+)
+
+const maxRequestBytes = 4 << 20 // 4 MiB cap on request bodies
+
+func main() {
+	configPath := flag.String("config", "lakehouse.toml", "path to TOML config")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	cfg, err := shared.LoadConfig(*configPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("config", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	// Persistence is optional — empty path = in-memory ephemeral.
+	var persistor *pathway.Persistor
+	if cfg.Pathwayd.PersistPath != "" {
+		persistor, err = pathway.NewPersistor(cfg.Pathwayd.PersistPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Error("pathway persistor", "err", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}
+
+	store := pathway.NewStore(persistor)
+	if persistor != nil {
+		n, err := store.Load()
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("pathway load", "err", err, "loaded", n)
+		} else {
+			slog.Info("pathway loaded", "events", n, "path", cfg.Pathwayd.PersistPath)
+		}
+	}
+
+	h := &handlers{store: store}
+
+	if err := shared.Run("pathwayd", cfg.Pathwayd.Bind, h.register, cfg.Auth); err != nil {
+		slog.Error("server", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+type handlers struct {
+	store *pathway.Store
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) register(r chi.Router) {
+	r.Post("/pathway/add", h.handleAdd)
+	r.Post("/pathway/add_idempotent", h.handleAddIdempotent)
+	r.Post("/pathway/update", h.handleUpdate)
+	r.Post("/pathway/revise", h.handleRevise)
+	r.Post("/pathway/retire", h.handleRetire)
+	r.Get("/pathway/get/{uid}", h.handleGet)
+	r.Get("/pathway/history/{uid}", h.handleHistory)
+	r.Post("/pathway/search", h.handleSearch)
+	r.Get("/pathway/stats", h.handleStats)
+}
+
+// ── request shapes ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+type addRequest struct {
+	Content json.RawMessage `json:"content"`
+	Tags    []string        `json:"tags,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type addIdempotentRequest struct {
+	UID     string          `json:"uid"`
+	Content json.RawMessage `json:"content"`
+	Tags    []string        `json:"tags,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type updateRequest struct {
+	UID     string          `json:"uid"`
+	Content json.RawMessage `json:"content"`
+}
+
+type reviseRequest struct {
+	PredecessorUID string          `json:"predecessor_uid"`
+	Content        json.RawMessage `json:"content"`
+	Tags           []string        `json:"tags,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type retireRequest struct {
+	UID string `json:"uid"`
+}
+
+type searchRequest struct {
+	Tag             string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	ContentContains string `json:"content_contains,omitempty"`
+	CreatedAfterNs  int64  `json:"created_after_ns,omitempty"`
+	CreatedBeforeNs int64  `json:"created_before_ns,omitempty"`
+	IncludeRetired  bool   `json:"include_retired,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// ── handlers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func (h *handlers) handleAdd(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req addRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	tr, err := h.store.Add(req.Content, req.Tags...)
+	if writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusCreated, tr)
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleAddIdempotent(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req addIdempotentRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	tr, err := h.store.AddIdempotent(req.UID, req.Content, req.Tags...)
+	if writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, tr)
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleUpdate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req updateRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := h.store.Update(req.UID, req.Content); writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"status": "updated"})
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleRevise(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req reviseRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	tr, err := h.store.Revise(req.PredecessorUID, req.Content, req.Tags...)
+	if writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusCreated, tr)
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleRetire(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req retireRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	if err := h.store.Retire(req.UID); writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleGet(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	uid := chi.URLParam(r, "uid")
+	tr, err := h.store.Get(uid)
+	if writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, tr)
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleHistory(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	uid := chi.URLParam(r, "uid")
+	chain, err := h.store.History(uid)
+	if writeStoreError(w, err) {
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{
+		"chain":  chain,
+		"length": len(chain),
+	})
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleSearch(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var req searchRequest
+	if !decodeJSON(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	results := h.store.Search(pathway.SearchFilter{
+		Tag:             req.Tag,
+		ContentContains: req.ContentContains,
+		CreatedAfterNs:  req.CreatedAfterNs,
+		CreatedBeforeNs: req.CreatedBeforeNs,
+		IncludeRetired:  req.IncludeRetired,
+	})
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{
+		"results": results,
+		"count":   len(results),
+	})
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) handleStats(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, h.store.Stats())
+}
+
+// ── helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func decodeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, v any) bool {
+	defer r.Body.Close()
+	r.Body = http.MaxBytesReader(w, r.Body, maxRequestBytes)
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(v); err != nil {
+		var maxErr *http.MaxBytesError
+		if errors.As(err, &maxErr) || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "http: request body too large") {
+			http.Error(w, "body too large", http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge)
+			return false
+		}
+		http.Error(w, "decode body: "+err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, code int, v any) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	w.WriteHeader(code)
+	if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(v); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("pathway write json", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// writeStoreError maps internal/pathway sentinel errors to HTTP
+// status codes. Returns true if a response was written (caller
+// should return). Returns false on success (caller continues).
+func writeStoreError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, pathway.ErrNotFound):
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusNotFound)
+	case errors.Is(err, pathway.ErrPredecessorMissing):
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusNotFound)
+	case errors.Is(err, pathway.ErrEmptyUID),
+		errors.Is(err, pathway.ErrInvalidContent):
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
+	case errors.Is(err, pathway.ErrCycle):
+		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusConflict)
+	default:
+		slog.Error("pathway store", "err", err)
+		http.Error(w, "internal", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/internal/shared/config.go b/internal/shared/config.go
index a67b2dc..1f1d2f6 100644
--- a/internal/shared/config.go
+++ b/internal/shared/config.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	Queryd   QuerydConfig  `toml:"queryd"`
 	Vectord  VectordConfig `toml:"vectord"`
 	Embedd   EmbeddConfig  `toml:"embedd"`
+	Pathwayd PathwaydConfig `toml:"pathwayd"`
 	S3       S3Config      `toml:"s3"`
 	Log      LogConfig     `toml:"log"`
 	Auth     AuthConfig    `toml:"auth"`
@@ -50,8 +51,8 @@ type IngestConfig struct {
 
 // GatewayConfig adds the upstream URLs the reverse proxy fronts.
 // Each route family (/v1/storage, /v1/catalog, /v1/ingest, /v1/sql,
-// /v1/vectors, /v1/embed) has its own upstream so we can scale
-// services independently or move them to different boxes without
+// /v1/vectors, /v1/embed, /v1/pathway) has its own upstream so we can
+// scale services independently or move them to different boxes without
 // touching gateway code.
 type GatewayConfig struct {
 	Bind        string `toml:"bind"`
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ type GatewayConfig struct {
 	QuerydURL   string `toml:"queryd_url"`
 	VectordURL  string `toml:"vectord_url"`
 	EmbeddURL   string `toml:"embedd_url"`
+	PathwaydURL string `toml:"pathwayd_url"`
 }
 
 // EmbeddConfig drives the embed service. ProviderURL points at the
@@ -85,6 +87,15 @@ type VectordConfig struct {
 	StoragedURL string `toml:"storaged_url"`
 }
 
+// PathwaydConfig drives the pathway-memory service (cmd/pathwayd).
+// PersistPath: file path to the JSONL log; empty = in-memory only
+// (test/dev). Production sets a stable path under /var/lib/lakehouse
+// or similar so traces survive restart.
+type PathwaydConfig struct {
+	Bind        string `toml:"bind"`
+	PersistPath string `toml:"persist_path"`
+}
+
 // QuerydConfig adds queryd-specific knobs. queryd talks DuckDB
 // directly to MinIO via DuckDB's httpfs extension (so no storaged
 // URL needed), and reads the catalog over HTTP for view registration.
@@ -161,6 +172,7 @@ func DefaultConfig() Config {
 			QuerydURL:   "http://127.0.0.1:3214",
 			VectordURL:  "http://127.0.0.1:3215",
 			EmbeddURL:   "http://127.0.0.1:3216",
+			PathwaydURL: "http://127.0.0.1:3217",
 		},
 		Storaged: ServiceConfig{Bind: "127.0.0.1:3211"},
 		Catalogd: CatalogConfig{Bind: "127.0.0.1:3212", StoragedURL: "http://127.0.0.1:3211"},
@@ -180,6 +192,11 @@ func DefaultConfig() Config {
 			DefaultModel: "nomic-embed-text",
 			CacheSize:    10_000, // ~30 MiB at d=768; set to 0 to disable
 		},
+		Pathwayd: PathwaydConfig{
+			Bind: "127.0.0.1:3217",
+			// PersistPath empty by default = in-memory only. Production
+			// sets to e.g. /var/lib/lakehouse/pathway/state.jsonl.
+		},
 		Queryd: QuerydConfig{
 			Bind:         "127.0.0.1:3214",
 			CatalogdURL:  "http://127.0.0.1:3212",
diff --git a/lakehouse.toml b/lakehouse.toml
index 685cfa0..ab17993 100644
--- a/lakehouse.toml
+++ b/lakehouse.toml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ ingestd_url  = "http://127.0.0.1:3213"
 queryd_url   = "http://127.0.0.1:3214"
 vectord_url  = "http://127.0.0.1:3215"
 embedd_url   = "http://127.0.0.1:3216"
+pathwayd_url = "http://127.0.0.1:3217"
 
 [storaged]
 bind = "127.0.0.1:3211"
@@ -47,6 +48,12 @@ catalogd_url = "http://127.0.0.1:3212"
 secrets_path = "/etc/lakehouse/secrets-go.toml"
 refresh_every = "30s"
 
+[pathwayd]
+bind = "127.0.0.1:3217"
+# Empty = in-memory only (dev/test). Production sets a path under
+# /var/lib/lakehouse/pathway/state.jsonl so traces survive restart.
+persist_path = ""
+
 [s3]
 endpoint        = "http://localhost:9000"
 region          = "us-east-1"
diff --git a/scripts/pathway_smoke.sh b/scripts/pathway_smoke.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..8f30f21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pathway_smoke.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Pathway smoke — pathwayd Mem0-style versioned trace memory (ADR-004).
+# All assertions go through gateway :3110.
+#
+# Validates:
+#   - All 9 HTTP routes (add, add_idempotent, update, revise, retire,
+#     get, history, search, stats)
+#   - Revise creates a predecessor link; History walks the chain
+#     backward (the audit-trail property pathway memory exists for)
+#   - Retire excludes from Search default; still accessible via Get
+#   - AddIdempotent on existing UID bumps replay_count, doesn't replace
+#   - Negative paths: 404 on unknown UIDs, 404 on missing predecessor,
+#     400 on invalid content
+#   - Persistence: kill + restart pathwayd → all traces survive
+#
+# Usage: ./scripts/pathway_smoke.sh
+
+set -euo pipefail
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/.."
+
+export PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin"
+
+echo "[pathway-smoke] building pathwayd + gateway..."
+go build -o bin/ ./cmd/pathwayd ./cmd/gateway
+
+pkill -f "bin/(pathwayd|gateway)" 2>/dev/null || true
+sleep 0.3
+
+PIDS=()
+TMP="$(mktemp -d)"
+PERSIST="$TMP/pathway.jsonl"
+CFG="$TMP/pathwayd.toml"
+
+cleanup() {
+  echo "[pathway-smoke] cleanup"
+  for p in "${PIDS[@]}"; do [ -n "$p" ] && kill "$p" 2>/dev/null || true; done
+  rm -rf "$TMP"
+}
+trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM
+
+# Custom toml — same defaults as lakehouse.toml but with persist_path
+# pointing at the temp file so kill+restart actually rehydrates.
+cat > "$CFG" <<EOF
+[gateway]
+bind = "127.0.0.1:3110"
+storaged_url = "http://127.0.0.1:3211"
+catalogd_url = "http://127.0.0.1:3212"
+ingestd_url  = "http://127.0.0.1:3213"
+queryd_url   = "http://127.0.0.1:3214"
+vectord_url  = "http://127.0.0.1:3215"
+embedd_url   = "http://127.0.0.1:3216"
+pathwayd_url = "http://127.0.0.1:3217"
+
+[pathwayd]
+bind = "127.0.0.1:3217"
+persist_path = "$PERSIST"
+EOF
+
+poll_health() {
+  local port="$1" deadline=$(($(date +%s) + 5))
+  while [ "$(date +%s)" -lt "$deadline" ]; do
+    if curl -sS --max-time 1 "http://127.0.0.1:$port/health" >/dev/null 2>&1; then return 0; fi
+    sleep 0.05
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+launch_pathwayd() {
+  ./bin/pathwayd -config "$CFG" > /tmp/pathwayd.log 2>&1 &
+  PATHWAYD_PID=$!
+  PIDS+=($PATHWAYD_PID)
+  poll_health 3217 || { echo "pathwayd failed"; tail /tmp/pathwayd.log; return 1; }
+}
+
+launch_gateway() {
+  ./bin/gateway -config "$CFG" > /tmp/gateway.log 2>&1 &
+  PIDS+=($!)
+  poll_health 3110 || { echo "gateway failed"; tail /tmp/gateway.log; return 1; }
+}
+
+echo "[pathway-smoke] launching pathwayd → gateway..."
+launch_pathwayd
+launch_gateway
+
+FAILED=0
+
+# ── 1. Add ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Add → fresh UID + replay_count=1:"
+RESP="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/add \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -d '{"content":{"approach":"forklift-OSHA-30","outcome":"hired"},"tags":["staffing","fill"]}')"
+UID_A="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.uid')"
+RC_A="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.replay_count')"
+if [ -n "$UID_A" ] && [ "$UID_A" != "null" ] && [ "$RC_A" = "1" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ uid=$UID_A replay_count=1"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ resp: $RESP"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 2. Get ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Get → returns same trace:"
+RESP="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/$UID_A")"
+APPROACH="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.content.approach')"
+if [ "$APPROACH" = "forklift-OSHA-30" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ content.approach round-trips"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ resp: $RESP"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 3. AddIdempotent (replay) ─────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] AddIdempotent same UID → replay_count++:"
+RESP="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/add_idempotent \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -d "{\"uid\":\"$UID_A\",\"content\":{\"approach\":\"forklift-OSHA-30\",\"outcome\":\"hired\"}}")"
+RC_REPLAY="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.replay_count')"
+if [ "$RC_REPLAY" = "2" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ replay_count bumped to 2"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ replay_count=$RC_REPLAY"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 4. Update ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Update → in-place content replace:"
+HTTP="$(curl -sS -o "$TMP/upd.json" -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/update \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -d "{\"uid\":\"$UID_A\",\"content\":{\"approach\":\"forklift-OSHA-30\",\"outcome\":\"hired\",\"note\":\"cert verified\"}}")"
+if [ "$HTTP" = "200" ]; then
+  NOTE="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/$UID_A" | jq -r '.content.note')"
+  if [ "$NOTE" = "cert verified" ]; then
+    echo "  ✓ Update applied and persisted"
+  else
+    echo "  ✗ note=$NOTE after update"; FAILED=1
+  fi
+else
+  echo "  ✗ Update HTTP=$HTTP"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 5. Revise → predecessor link ──────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Revise → new UID with predecessor link:"
+RESP="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/revise \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -d "{\"predecessor_uid\":\"$UID_A\",\"content\":{\"approach\":\"forklift-OSHA-30+CDL\",\"outcome\":\"upgraded\"},\"tags\":[\"staffing\",\"revision\"]}")"
+UID_B="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.uid')"
+PRED="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.predecessor_uid')"
+if [ "$UID_B" != "$UID_A" ] && [ "$PRED" = "$UID_A" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ revision uid=$UID_B predecessor=$UID_A"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ uid=$UID_B pred=$PRED"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 6. History → 2-trace chain ────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] History → walks chain backward:"
+RESP="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/history/$UID_B")"
+LEN="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.length')"
+HEAD="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.chain[0].uid')"
+TAIL="$(echo "$RESP" | jq -r '.chain[1].uid')"
+if [ "$LEN" = "2" ] && [ "$HEAD" = "$UID_B" ] && [ "$TAIL" = "$UID_A" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ chain length=2, [0]=$UID_B [1]=$UID_A"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ len=$LEN head=$HEAD tail=$TAIL"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 7. Search by tag ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Search tag=staffing → finds both traces:"
+COUNT="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/search \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"tag":"staffing"}' | jq -r '.count')"
+if [ "$COUNT" = "2" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ tag search count=2"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ count=$COUNT"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 8. Retire → excluded from search default, still in Get ────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Retire → excluded from Search but Get-able:"
+HTTP="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/retire \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d "{\"uid\":\"$UID_A\"}")"
+if [ "$HTTP" != "204" ]; then echo "  ✗ retire HTTP=$HTTP"; FAILED=1; fi
+
+# Default search excludes retired → only revision (UID_B) remains
+COUNT_DEFAULT="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/search \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"tag":"staffing"}' | jq -r '.count')"
+# IncludeRetired=true brings UID_A back
+COUNT_ALL="$(curl -sS -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/search \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"tag":"staffing","include_retired":true}' | jq -r '.count')"
+# Get on retired UID still returns the trace (audit trail intact)
+RETIRED_FLAG="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/$UID_A" | jq -r '.retired')"
+if [ "$COUNT_DEFAULT" = "1" ] && [ "$COUNT_ALL" = "2" ] && [ "$RETIRED_FLAG" = "true" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ retired excluded from default Search, included with flag, still Get-able"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ default=$COUNT_DEFAULT all=$COUNT_ALL retired=$RETIRED_FLAG"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 9. Stats ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Stats → total/active/retired counters:"
+STATS="$(curl -sS http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/stats)"
+T="$(echo "$STATS" | jq -r '.Total')"
+A="$(echo "$STATS" | jq -r '.Active')"
+R="$(echo "$STATS" | jq -r '.Retired')"
+if [ "$T" = "2" ] && [ "$A" = "1" ] && [ "$R" = "1" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ total=2 active=1 retired=1"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ total=$T active=$A retired=$R"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 10. Negative paths ────────────────────────────────────────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] Negative paths → 4xx semantics:"
+GET_404="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/no-such-uid)"
+UPD_404="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/update \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"uid":"no-such-uid","content":{}}')"
+REV_404="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/revise \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"predecessor_uid":"no-such-uid","content":{}}')"
+RET_404="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/retire \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"uid":"no-such-uid"}')"
+ADD_400="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -X POST http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/add \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"content":not-json}')"
+if [ "$GET_404" = "404" ] && [ "$UPD_404" = "404" ] && [ "$REV_404" = "404" ] && [ "$RET_404" = "404" ] && [ "$ADD_400" = "400" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ get/update/revise/retire on unknown → 404; bad content → 400"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ get=$GET_404 upd=$UPD_404 rev=$REV_404 ret=$RET_404 add=$ADD_400"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+# ── 11. Persistence → kill + restart preserves all traces ─────────
+echo "[pathway-smoke] kill + restart pathwayd → state survives:"
+kill $PATHWAYD_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+wait $PATHWAYD_PID 2>/dev/null || true
+sleep 0.3
+launch_pathwayd
+sleep 0.2
+
+# Both traces should reappear, retired flag preserved, replay_count preserved
+RESP_A="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/$UID_A")"
+RESP_B="$(curl -sS "http://127.0.0.1:3110/v1/pathway/get/$UID_B")"
+RC_AFTER="$(echo "$RESP_A" | jq -r '.replay_count')"
+RETIRED_AFTER="$(echo "$RESP_A" | jq -r '.retired')"
+PRED_AFTER="$(echo "$RESP_B" | jq -r '.predecessor_uid')"
+if [ "$RC_AFTER" = "2" ] && [ "$RETIRED_AFTER" = "true" ] && [ "$PRED_AFTER" = "$UID_A" ]; then
+  echo "  ✓ replay_count, retired flag, predecessor link all preserved"
+else
+  echo "  ✗ replay_count=$RC_AFTER retired=$RETIRED_AFTER pred=$PRED_AFTER"; FAILED=1
+fi
+
+if [ "$FAILED" -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "[pathway-smoke] Pathway acceptance gate: PASSED"
+  exit 0
+else
+  echo "[pathway-smoke] Pathway acceptance gate: FAILED"
+  exit 1
+fi