diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 2b99fc0..c1e15f0 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ pub struct Maelstorm {
 
 pub struct Node {
     pub id: String,
-    pub value: HashMap<String, u64>,
     pub nodes: Vec<String>,
     rng: SmallRng,
 }
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ impl Default for Maelstorm {
                 id: String::new(),
                 nodes: Vec::new(),
                 rng: SmallRng::seed_from_u64(seed.as_secs()),
-                value: HashMap::new(),
             },
             handlers: HashMap::new(),
             callbacks: HashMap::new(),
@@ -279,7 +277,11 @@ impl Maelstorm {
                 .unwrap(),
             },
         };
-        let mut result = self.sync_rpc(io, msg).await?;
+        let mut result = match self.sync_rpc(io, msg).await {
+            Ok(v) => v,
+            Err(e) if e.to_string() == "deadline has elapsed" => return Ok(0),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+        };
 
         let body: SeqKvInput = serde_json::from_value(result.body.message_body.take())
             .map_err(|e| format!("error in parsing response body: {}", e))?;
@@ -309,7 +311,11 @@ impl Maelstorm {
                 .unwrap(),
             },
         };
-        let mut result = self.sync_rpc(io, msg).await?;
+        let mut result = match self.sync_rpc(io, msg).await {
+            Ok(v) => v,
+            Err(e) if e.to_string() == "deadline has elapsed" => return Ok(()),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e),
+        };
 
         // TODO: could return the parsed confirmation from here
         serde_json::from_value(result.body.message_body.take())
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e547a4b..5f52eb9 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -45,26 +45,11 @@ async fn main() {
             msg.body.message_type = "add_ok".into();
 
             let mut program = program.write().await;
+            let current = program.read_counter(io.clone(), msg.dest.clone()).await?;
 
-            let id = program.node.id.clone();
-            let current = *program.node.value.entry(id).or_insert(0);
-
-            match program
+            program
                 .write_counter(io.clone(), current + body.delta)
-                .await
-            {
-                Ok(v) => {
-                    let id = program.node.id.clone();
-                    *program.node.value.entry(id).or_insert(0) = current + body.delta;
-
-                    v
-                }
-                Err(e) if e.to_string() == "deadline has elapsed" => {
-                    let id = program.node.id.clone();
-                    *program.node.value.entry(id).or_insert(0) = current + body.delta;
-                }
-                Err(e) => return Err(e),
-            };
+                .await?;
             program
                 .reply(io, msg)
                 .await
@@ -82,29 +67,25 @@ async fn main() {
 
             let mut program = program.write().await;
             let mut sum = 0;
+
             for node in program.node.nodes.clone() {
-                eprintln!("reading {} from {}", node, msg.src);
-                if *node == msg.dest {
-                    sum += *program.node.value.entry(node).or_insert(0);
+                if node == msg.dest {
+                    sum += program.read_counter(io.clone(), node.clone()).await?;
                     continue;
                 }
-                // Sync first then add
 
-                sum += match program.read_counter(io.clone(), node).await {
-                    Ok(v) => v,
-                    Err(e) if e.to_string() == "deadline has elapsed" => {
-                        let id = program.node.id.clone();
-                        *program.node.value.entry(id).or_insert(0)
-                    }
-                    Err(e) => return Err(e),
-                };
+                let mut msg = msg.clone();
+                msg.body.message_type = "local_read".to_string();
+                msg.body.in_reply_to = None;
+
+                let mut resp = program.sync_rpc(io.clone(), msg).await?;
+                let body: GrowCounterReadMessage =
+                    serde_json::from_value(resp.body.message_body.take())
+                        .map_err(|e| format!("error in parsing response body: {}", e))?;
+
+                sum += body.value;
             }
 
-            msg.body.message_body =
-                serde_json::to_value(GrowCounterReadMessage { value: sum }).unwrap();
-
-            eprintln!("node = {} response = {:?}", msg.dest, msg);
-
             program
                 .reply(io, msg.clone())
                 .await
@@ -112,6 +93,28 @@ async fn main() {
         },
     );
 
+    program.register(
+        "local_read",
+        async |mut msg: Message,
+               program: Arc<RwLock<Maelstorm>>,
+               io: Arc<Mutex<MaelstormIo>>|
+               -> Result<(), String> {
+            msg.body.message_type = "local_read_ok".into();
+
+            let mut program = program.write().await;
+
+            let current = program.read_counter(io.clone(), msg.dest.clone()).await?;
+
+            msg.body.message_body =
+                serde_json::to_value(GrowCounterReadMessage { value: current }).unwrap();
+
+            program
+                .reply(io, msg)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|e| format!("add: error in writing response: {}", e))
+        },
+    );
+
     let io = MaelstormIo::default();
 
     program.run(io).await;