# Agent C — step kickoffs

Recovered from the operator's records (provided 2026-05-28). The per-step user messages that started each phase of C's work during the N=1 experimental run (May 2026). Recorded alongside `system_prompt.md` as part of the experimental method.

C is the control arm — no persona, no research. Only Step 3 (read the novel) and Step 4 (translate, per-pass) apply.

---

## Step 3 — read the full novel

```
You're translating a chapter from a book. First, read the whole book in
full — it's in inputs/step3_book/. Don't translate yet; when you've read
all of it, stop and tell me. You'll translate Chapter 25 next.
```

---

## Step 4 — Pass 1

```
Translate Chapter 25 into English — pass 1 of up to five. You'll be offered each
further pass one at a time and may call it final at any point. Write your
translation to translation.md and log this pass to notes/translation_passes.md.
Do not revise yet — when pass 1 is done, stop and tell me.
```

---

## Step 4 — Passes 2 through 5 (each offered in turn)

```
Re-read your current translation.md. Revise it substantively if you see
improvements (update translation.md + log it as your next pass in
notes/translation_passes.md), or declare it final and leave it unchanged. Either
way, stop and tell me. (Up to five passes total.)
```

C declared the translation final after 3 revision passes (4 passes total: 1 initial + 3 revisions).