diff --git a/balancer.js b/balancer.js
index 9cfc7e47..7592821b 100644
--- a/balancer.js
+++ b/balancer.js
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ Balancer.prototype.splitLeafAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf, address,
             offset = split.items.length - length
             index = offset
 
-            sheaf.splice(penultimate.page, penultimate.index + 1, 0, {
+            penultimate.page.splice(penultimate.index + 1, 0, {
                 key: split.items[offset].key,
                 heft: sheaf.serialize(split.items[offset].key, true).length,
                 address: page.address
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ Balancer.prototype.splitLeafAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf, address,
 
                 ok(index < split.items.length)
 
-                sheaf.splice(page, page.items.length, 0, item)
+                page.splice(page.items.length, 0, item)
 
                 index++
             }
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ Balancer.prototype.splitLeafAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf, address,
                 key: page.items[0].key
             }
         }, function () {
-            sheaf.splice(split, offset, length)
+            split.splice(offset, length)
             script.rewriteLeaf(page)
         })()
     }, function () {
@@ -357,9 +357,9 @@ Balancer.prototype.splitBranchAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf, addres
             var length = remainder-- > 0 ? records + 1 : records
             var offset = split.items.length - length
 
-            var cut = sheaf.splice(split, offset, length)
+            var cut = split.splice(offset, length)
 
-            sheaf.splice(parent.page, parent.index + 1, 0, {
+            parent.page.splice(parent.index + 1, 0, {
                 key: cut[0].key,
                 address: page.address,
                 heft: cut[0].heft
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ Balancer.prototype.splitBranchAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf, addres
             delete cut[0].key
             cut[0].heft = 0
 
-            sheaf.splice(page, 0, 0, cut)
+            page.splice(0, 0, cut)
         }
 
         children.unshift(full.page)
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ Balancer.prototype.drainRootAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf) {
             var length = remainder-- > 0 ? records + 1 : records
             var offset = root.items.length - length
 
-            var cut = sheaf.splice(root, offset, length)
+            var cut = root.splice(offset, length)
 
             lift.push({
                 key: cut[0].key,
@@ -427,12 +427,12 @@ Balancer.prototype.drainRootAndUnlock = cadence(function (async, sheaf) {
             delete cut[0].key
             cut[0].heft = 0
 
-            sheaf.splice(page, 0, 0, cut)
+            page.splice(0, 0, cut)
         }
 
         lift.reverse()
 
-        sheaf.splice(root, 0, 0, lift)
+        root.splice(0, 0, lift)
 
         children.forEach(function (page) {
             script.writeBranch(page)
@@ -460,13 +460,13 @@ Balancer.prototype.exorcise = function (sheaf, pivot, page, corporal) {
 
     // todo: how is this not a race condition? I'm writing to the log, but I've
     // not updated the pivot page, not rewritten during `deleteGhosts`.
-    sheaf.splice(page, 0, 1, sheaf.splice(corporal, corporal.ghosts, 1))
+    page.splice(0, 1, corporal.splice(corporal.ghosts, 1))
     page.ghosts = 0
 
-    var item = sheaf.splice(pivot.page, pivot.index, 1).shift()
+    var item = pivot.page.splice(pivot.index, 1).shift()
     item.key = page.items[0].key
     item.heft = page.items[0].heft
-    sheaf.splice(pivot.page, pivot.index, 0, item)
+    pivot.page.splice(pivot.index, 0, item)
 }
 
 Balancer.prototype.deleteGhost = cadence(function (async, sheaf, key) {
@@ -623,19 +623,19 @@ Balancer.prototype.mergePagesAndUnlock = cadence(function (
     }, function () {
         var index = parents.right.indexes[ancestor.address]
 
-        designation = sheaf.splice(ancestor, index, 1).shift()
+        designation = ancestor.splice(index, 1).shift()
 
         if (pivot.page.address != ancestor.address) {
             ok(!index, 'expected ancestor to be removed from zero index')
             ok(ancestor.items[index], 'expected ancestor to have right sibling')
-            designation = sheaf.splice(ancestor, index, 1).shift()
-            var hoist = sheaf.splice(pivot.page, pivot.index, 1).shift()
-            sheaf.splice(pivot.page, pivot.index, 0, {
+            designation = ancestor.splice(index, 1).shift()
+            var hoist = pivot.page.splice(pivot.index, 1).shift()
+            pivot.page.splice(pivot.index, 0, {
                 key: designation.key,
                 address: hoist.address,
                 heft: designation.heft
             })
-            sheaf.splice(ancestor, index, 0, { address: designation.address, heft: 0 })
+            ancestor.splice(index, 0, { address: designation.address, heft: 0 })
         } else{
             ok(index, 'expected ancestor to be non-zero')
         }
@@ -709,11 +709,11 @@ Balancer.prototype.mergeLeaves = function (sheaf, key, leftKey, unbalanced, ghos
                 var loop = async(function () {
                     if (index == count) return [ loop ]
                     var item = leaves.right.page.items[index + ghosts]
-                    sheaf.splice(leaves.left.page, leaves.left.page.items.length, 0, item)
+                    leaves.left.page.splice(leaves.left.page.items.length, 0, item)
                     index++
                 })()
             }, function () {
-                sheaf.splice(leaves.right.page, 0, leaves.right.page.items.length)
+                leaves.right.page.splice(0, leaves.right.page.items.length)
                 if (leftKey) {
                     leaves.referring.page.right.key = leaves.left.page.items[0].key
                     script.rotate(leaves.referring.page)
@@ -798,12 +798,12 @@ Balancer.prototype.mergeBranches = function (sheaf, key, heft, address, callback
     var merger = cadence(function (async, script, pages, ghosted) {
         ok(address == pages.right.page.address, 'unexpected address')
 
-        var cut = sheaf.splice(pages.right.page, 0, pages.right.page.items.length)
+        var cut = pages.right.page.splice(0, pages.right.page.items.length)
 
         cut[0].key = key
         cut[0].heft = heft
 
-        sheaf.splice(pages.left.page, pages.left.page.items.length, 0, cut)
+        pages.left.page.splice(pages.left.page.items.length, 0, cut)
 
         script.writeBranch(pages.left.page)
 
@@ -831,11 +831,11 @@ Balancer.prototype.fillRoot = cadence(function (async, sheaf) {
         var cut
         ok(root.page.items.length == 1, 'only one address expected')
 
-        sheaf.splice(root.page, 0, root.page.items.length)
+        root.page.splice(0, root.page.items.length)
 
-        cut = sheaf.splice(child.page, 0, child.page.items.length)
+        cut = child.page.splice(0, child.page.items.length)
 
-        sheaf.splice(root.page, root.page.items.length, 0, cut)
+        root.page.splice(root.page.items.length, 0, cut)
 
         script.writeBranch(root.page)
         script.unlink(child.page)
diff --git a/cursor.js b/cursor.js
index f8f8f453..aefda9cf 100644
--- a/cursor.js
+++ b/cursor.js
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ Cursor.prototype.insert = function (record, key, index) {
 
     var length = this._appender.writeInsert(index, record)
 
-    this._sheaf.splice(this._page, index, 0, {
+    this._page.splice(index, 0, {
         key: key,
         record: record,
         heft: length
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ Cursor.prototype.remove = function (index) {
         this._page.ghosts++
         this.offset || this.offset++
     } else {
-        this._sheaf.splice(this._page, index, 1)
+        this._page.splice(index, 1)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/locker.js b/locker.js
index b713ae5c..1142f10e 100644
--- a/locker.js
+++ b/locker.js
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ Locker.prototype.lock = cadence(function (async, address, exclusive) {
                         // todo: does there need to be differnt types anymore?
                         page = this._sheaf.createPage(address % 2, address)
                         cartridge.value.page = page
+                        page.cartridge = cartridge
                         locks.push(this._locks[address] = page.queue.createLock())
                         locks[0].exclude(async())
                     }, function () {
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@ Locker.prototype.lock = cadence(function (async, address, exclusive) {
 })
 
 Locker.prototype.encache = function (page) {
-    this._magazine.hold(page.address, { page: page })
+    var cartridge = this._magazine.hold(page.address, { page: page })
+    page.cartridge = cartridge
     this._locks[page.address] = page.queue.createLock()
     this._locks[page.address].exclude(function () {})
     return page
diff --git a/page.js b/page.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4c5363b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/page.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+function Page (sheaf, address, modulus) {
+    if (address == null) {
+        while (sheaf.nextAddress % 2 !== modulus) sheaf.nextAddress++
+        address = sheaf.nextAddress++
+    }
+    this.address = address
+    this.entries = 0
+    this.rotation = 0
+    this.items = []
+    this.queue = sheaf.sequester.createQueue()
+    this.cartridge = null
+    if (modulus === 1) {
+        this.right = { address: 0, key: null }
+        this.ghosts = 0
+    }
+}
+
+Page.prototype.splice = function (offset, length, insert) {
+    var items = this.items, cartridge = this.cartridge, heft, removals
+
+    if (length) {
+        removals = items.splice(offset, length)
+        heft = removals.reduce(function (heft, item) { return heft + item.heft }, 0)
+        cartridge.adjustHeft(-heft)
+    } else {
+        removals = []
+    }
+
+    if (insert != null) {
+        if (! Array.isArray(insert)) insert = [ insert ]
+        heft = insert.reduce(function (heft, item) { return heft + item.heft }, 0)
+        cartridge.adjustHeft(heft)
+        items.splice.apply(items, [ offset, 0 ].concat(insert))
+    }
+    return removals
+}
+
+module.exports = Page
diff --git a/player.js b/player.js
index 580f0e1e..cb70275f 100644
--- a/player.js
+++ b/player.js
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ Player.prototype._play = function (sheaf, slice, start, page) {
                     key: entry.body || null
                 }
                 if (entry.header[3] == 0 && page.ghosts) {
-                    sheaf.splice(page, 0, 1)
+                    page.splice(0, 1)
                     page.ghosts = 0
                 }
                 page.entries++
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Player.prototype._play = function (sheaf, slice, start, page) {
                 var index = header.index
                 if (leaf) {
                     if (index > 0) {
-                        sheaf.splice(page, index - 1, 0, {
+                        page.splice(index - 1, 0, {
                             key: sheaf.extractor(entry.body),
                             record: entry.body,
                             heft: length
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ Player.prototype._play = function (sheaf, slice, start, page) {
                         ok(!page.ghosts, 'double ghosts')
                         page.ghosts++
                     } else if (index < 0) {
-                        sheaf.splice(page, -(index + 1), 1)
+                        page.splice(-(index + 1), 1)
                     }
                 } else {
                     var address = header.address, key = null, heft = 0
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ Player.prototype._play = function (sheaf, slice, start, page) {
                         key = entry.body
                         heft = length
                     }
-                    sheaf.splice(page, index - 1, 0, {
+                    page.splice(index - 1, 0, {
                         key: key, address: address, heft: heft
                     })
                 }
diff --git a/sheaf.js b/sheaf.js
index ecfd100d..1955669b 100644
--- a/sheaf.js
+++ b/sheaf.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ require('cadence/loops')
 var Cache = require('magazine')
 
 var Locker = require('./locker')
+var Page = require('./page')
 var Queue = require('./queue')
 var Script = require('./script')
 
@@ -64,51 +65,10 @@ Sheaf.prototype.unbalanced = function (page, force) {
     }
 }
 
-Sheaf.prototype.heft = function (page, s) {
-    this.magazine.get(page.address).adjustHeft(s)
-}
-
-function Page (sheaf, address, modulus) {
-    if (address == null) {
-        while (sheaf.nextAddress % 2 !== modulus) sheaf.nextAddress++
-        address = sheaf.nextAddress++
-    }
-    this.address = address
-    this.entries = 0
-    this.rotation = 0
-    this.items = []
-    this.queue = sheaf.sequester.createQueue()
-    if (modulus === 1) {
-        this.right = { address: 0, key: null }
-        this.ghosts = 0
-    }
-}
-
 Sheaf.prototype.createPage = function (modulus, address) {
     return new Page(this, address, modulus)
 }
 
-Sheaf.prototype.splice = function (page, offset, length, insert) {
-    ok(typeof page != 'string', 'page is string')
-    var items = page.items, heft, removals
-
-    if (length) {
-        removals = items.splice(offset, length)
-        heft = removals.reduce(function (heft, item) { return heft + item.heft }, 0)
-        this.heft(page, -heft)
-    } else {
-        removals = []
-    }
-
-    if (insert != null) {
-        if (! Array.isArray(insert)) insert = [ insert ]
-        heft = insert.reduce(function (heft, item) { return heft + item.heft }, 0)
-        this.heft(page, heft)
-        items.splice.apply(items, [ offset, 0 ].concat(insert))
-    }
-    return removals
-}
-
 Sheaf.prototype.createMagazine = function () {
     var magazine = this.cache.createMagazine()
     var dummy = magazine.hold(-2, {
diff --git a/strata.js b/strata.js
index c8460504..b11ee9da 100644
--- a/strata.js
+++ b/strata.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ Strata.prototype.create = cadence(function (async) {
         locker.unlock(leaf)
     }], function () {
         var script = this.sheaf.logger.createScript()
-        this.sheaf.splice(root, 0, 0, { address: leaf.address, heft: 0 })
+        root.splice(0, 0, { address: leaf.address, heft: 0 })
         script.writeBranch(root)
         script.rewriteLeaf(leaf)
         script.commit(async())