C2. `consume.build_multi_payload` takes two or more questions, reads the
bundle ONCE (`bm25.prepare` builds the index a question does not depend on),
ranks and cuts each sub-question exactly as `build_payload` would alone, and
interleaves the deliveries: first excerpt of each sub-question in turn, then
the second, a concept already taken skipped, cut at the same `k` and `limit`
one question gets -- so asking four times does not buy a payload four times
the size.
Chose round-robin, not a merge by score, because two questions' BM25 totals
are not on one scale: a merge by score would let the wordiest sub-question
take every place. It is the rule the search gate measured with before the
product had it, moved unchanged.
Shape, and only for two or more questions (one question is `build_payload`'s
payload byte for byte):
- `questions` replaces `question`;
- every excerpt carries `subquestions`, the indices of every sub-question
whose own delivery named it, the one whose text (passage) it carries first;
- `coverage` holds one block per sub-question (the single shape plus its
`question`, `unanswered_in_payload` read against what the reader receives),
`weak_subquestions`, and `weak` true only when EVERY sub-question is weak;
- `withheld` is every concept the merge did not deliver: `below_k` where a
sub-question delivered it and the merge's cut did not, otherwise the rule
of the sub-question that ranked it best. `nearest` walks the rankings in the
delivery's turn order. The contract checker accepts it with 0 findings.
`okf consume --question A --question B` and `okf_ask` with `questions` (both
forms at once is `question_ambiguous`) reach it. A reservation or a fusion
widening acts on ONE cut and is refused with several questions
(`subquestions_flag_conflict`).
The search gate's series (e) and (f) now ask ONE call with every
sub-question; the gate's own merge is gone. Sets and thresholds untouched.
The gate's table for this commit is kept in local state.
Suite on a clean tree after `git add`: 2411 passed, 2 skipped, 4 xfailed.
ruff, ruff format, mypy --strict clean.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
