diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index def67dfa67..6e0770f39f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ INCLUDE=i
 MDEFINES=-DU3_OS_$(OS) -DU3_OS_ENDIAN_$(ENDIAN) -D U3_LIB=\"$(LIB)\"
 
 # NOTFORCHECKIN - restore -O3
-CFLAGS= $(COSFLAGS) -g -msse3 -ffast-math \
+CFLAGS= $(COSFLAGS) -O3 -msse3 -ffast-math \
 	-funsigned-char \
 	-I/usr/local/include \
 	-I/opt/local/include \
diff --git a/i/n/a.h b/i/n/a.h
index 1e24a9c47b..f13590230f 100644
--- a/i/n/a.h
+++ b/i/n/a.h
@@ -311,29 +311,31 @@
   **/
     /**  Allocation.
     **/
-      /* Basic allocation.
+      /* Word-aligned allocation.
       */
         /* u3a_walloc(): allocate storage measured in words.
         */
           void*
           u3a_walloc(c3_w len_w);
 
-        /* u3a_malloc(): allocate storage measured in bytes.
-        */
-          void*
-          u3a_malloc(size_t len_i);
-
-        /* u3a_free(): free storage.
+        /* u3a_drop(): free storage.
         */
           void
-          u3a_free(void* lag_v);
+          u3a_drop(void* lag_v);
 
         /* u3a_wealloc(): word realloc.
         */
           void*
           u3a_wealloc(void* lag_v, c3_w len_w);
 
-        /* u3a_realloc(): byte realloc.
+      /* C-style aligned allocation - *not* compatible with above.
+      */
+        /* u3a_malloc(): aligned storage measured in bytes.
+        */
+          void*
+          u3a_malloc(size_t len_i);
+
+        /* u3a_realloc(): aligned realloc in bytes.
         */
           void*
           u3a_realloc(void* lag_v, size_t len_i);
@@ -343,12 +345,16 @@
           void*
           u3a_realloc2(void* lag_v, size_t old_i, size_t new_i);
 
+        /* u3a_free(): free for aligned malloc.
+        */
+          void
+          u3a_free(void* tox_v);
+
         /* u3a_free2(): gmp-shaped free.
         */
           void
           u3a_free2(void* tox_v, size_t siz_i);
 
-
       /* Reference and arena control.
       */
         /* u3a_gain(): gain a reference count in normal space.
diff --git a/n/a.c b/n/a.c
index 1cb256fcbd..00d2c2f7e4 100644
--- a/n/a.c
+++ b/n/a.c
@@ -115,29 +115,75 @@ _box_detach(u3a_box* box_u)
   }
 }
 
-/* _me_road_all_hat(): in u3R, allocate directly on the hat.
+/* _me_align_pad(): pad to first point after pos_p aligned at (ald_w, alp_w).
 */
-static c3_w*
-_me_road_all_hat(c3_w len_w)
+static __inline__ c3_w
+_me_align_pad(u3_post pos_p, c3_w ald_w, c3_w alp_w)
 {
-  if ( len_w > u3a_open(u3R) ) {
-    u3m_bail(c3__meme); return 0;
-  }
+  c3_w adj_w = (ald_w - (alp_w + 1));
+  c3_p off_p = (pos_p + adj_w);
+  c3_p orp_p = off_p &~ (ald_w - 1);
+  c3_p fin_p = orp_p + alp_w;
+  c3_w pad_w = (fin_p - pos_p);
 
-  if ( c3y == u3a_is_north(u3R) ) {
-    u3_post all_p;
+  return pad_w;
+}
+
+/* _me_align_dap(): pad to last point before pos_p aligned at (ald_w, alp_w).
+*/
+static __inline__ c3_w
+_me_align_dap(u3_post pos_p, c3_w ald_w, c3_w alp_w)
+{
+  c3_w adj_w = alp_w;
+  c3_p off_p = (pos_p - adj_w);
+  c3_p orp_p = (off_p &~ (ald_w - 1));
+  c3_p fin_p = orp_p + alp_w;
+  c3_w pad_w = (pos_p - fin_p);
+
+  return pad_w;
+}
+
+/* _ca_box_make_hat(): in u3R, allocate directly on the hat.
+*/
+static u3a_box*
+_ca_box_make_hat(c3_w len_w, c3_w ald_w, c3_w alp_w, c3_w use_w)
+{
+  c3_w    pad_w;
+  u3_post all_p;
      
+  if ( c3y == u3a_is_north(u3R) ) {
     all_p = u3R->hat_p;
-    u3R->hat_p += len_w;
+    pad_w = _me_align_pad(all_p, ald_w, alp_w);
 
-    return u3a_into(all_p);
+    u3R->hat_p += (len_w + pad_w);
+
+    if ( u3R->hat_p >= u3R->cap_p ) {
+      u3m_bail(c3__meme); return 0;
+    }
   }  
   else {
-    u3R->hat_p -= len_w;
-    return u3a_into(u3R->hat_p);
+    all_p = (u3R->hat_p - len_w);
+    pad_w = _me_align_dap(all_p, ald_w, alp_w);
+    all_p -= pad_w;
+    u3R->hat_p = all_p;
+
+    if ( u3R->hat_p <= u3R->cap_p ) {
+      u3m_bail(c3__meme); return 0;
+    }
   }
+  return _box_make(u3a_into(all_p), (len_w + pad_w), use_w);
 }
 
+#if 0
+/* _me_road_all_hat(): in u3R, allocate directly on the hat.
+*/
+static u3a_box*
+_ca_box_make_hat(c3_w len_w, c3_w alm_w, c3_w use_w)
+{
+  return _box_make(_me_road_all_hat(len_w), len_w, use_w);
+}
+#endif
+
 #if 0  // not yet used
 /* _me_road_all_cap(): in u3R, allocate directly on the cap.
 */
@@ -193,11 +239,13 @@ u3a_sane(void)
 /* _ca_walloc(): u3a_walloc() internals.
 */
 static void*
-_ca_walloc(c3_w len_w)
+_ca_walloc(c3_w len_w, c3_w ald_w, c3_w alp_w)
 {
   c3_w siz_w = c3_max(u3a_minimum, u3a_boxed(len_w));
   c3_w sel_w = _box_slot(siz_w);
 
+  alp_w = (alp_w + c3_wiseof(u3a_box)) % ald_w;
+
   //  XX: this logic is totally bizarre, but preserve it.
   //
   if ( (sel_w != 0) && (sel_w != u3a_fbox_no - 1) ) {
@@ -217,11 +265,15 @@ _ca_walloc(c3_w len_w)
         else {
           /* Nothing in top free list.  Chip away at the hat.
           */
-          return u3a_boxto(_box_make(_me_road_all_hat(siz_w), siz_w, 1));
+          return u3a_boxto(_ca_box_make_hat(siz_w, ald_w, alp_w, 1));
         }
       }
       else {
-        if ( siz_w > u3to(u3a_fbox, *pfr_p)->box_u.siz_w ) {
+        c3_w pad_w = _me_align_pad(*pfr_p, ald_w, alp_w);
+
+        if ( 1 == ald_w ) c3_assert(0 == pad_w);
+
+        if ( (siz_w + pad_w) > u3to(u3a_fbox, *pfr_p)->box_u.siz_w ) {
           /* This free block is too small.  Continue searching.
           */
           pfr_p = &(u3to(u3a_fbox, *pfr_p)->nex_p);
@@ -233,6 +285,7 @@ _ca_walloc(c3_w len_w)
           /* We have found a free block of adequate size.  Remove it
           ** from the free list.
           */
+          siz_w += pad_w;
           {
             {
               c3_assert((0 == u3to(u3a_fbox, *pfr_p)->pre_p) || 
@@ -285,7 +338,7 @@ int FOO;
 void*
 u3a_walloc(c3_w len_w)
 {
-  void* ptr_v = _ca_walloc(len_w);
+  void* ptr_v = _ca_walloc(len_w, 1, 0);
 
 #if 0
   if ( (703 == u3_Code) &&
@@ -325,16 +378,16 @@ u3a_wealloc(void* lag_v, c3_w len_w)
       for ( i_w = 0; i_w < tiz_w; i_w++ ) {
         new_w[i_w] = old_w[i_w];
       }
-      u3a_free(lag_v);
+      u3a_drop(lag_v);
       return new_w;
     }
   }
 }
 
-/* u3a_free(): free storage.
+/* u3a_drop(): free storage.
 */
 void
-u3a_free(void* tox_v)
+u3a_drop(void* tox_v)
 {
   u3a_box* box_u = u3a_botox(tox_v);
   c3_w*      box_w = (c3_w *)(void *)box_u;
@@ -417,6 +470,7 @@ u3a_free(void* tox_v)
   }
 }
 
+#if 0
 /* u3a_malloc(): allocate storage measured in bytes.
 */
 void*
@@ -437,6 +491,54 @@ u3a_realloc(void* lag_v, size_t len_i)
   return u3a_wealloc(lag_v, (len_w + 3) >> 2);
 }
 
+#else
+/* u3a_malloc(): aligned storage measured in bytes.
+*/
+void*
+u3a_malloc(size_t len_i)
+{
+  c3_w    len_w = (c3_w)((len_i + 3) >> 2);
+  c3_w*   ptr_w = _ca_walloc(len_w + 1, 4, 3);
+  u3_post ptr_p = u3a_outa(ptr_w);
+  c3_w    pad_w = _me_align_pad(ptr_p, 4, 3);
+  c3_w*   out_w = u3a_into(ptr_p + pad_w + 1);
+
+  out_w[-1] = pad_w;
+  return out_w;
+}
+
+/* u3a_realloc(): aligned realloc in bytes.
+*/
+void*
+u3a_realloc(void* lag_v, size_t len_i)
+{
+  if ( !lag_v ) {
+    return u3a_malloc(len_i);
+  } 
+  else {
+    c3_w     len_w = (c3_w)((len_i + 3) >> 2);
+    c3_w*    lag_w = lag_v;
+    c3_w     pad_w = lag_w[-1];
+    c3_w*    org_w = lag_w - (pad_w + 1);
+    u3a_box* box_u = u3a_botox((void *)org_w);
+    c3_w*    old_w = lag_v;
+    c3_w     tiz_w = c3_min(box_u->siz_w, len_w);
+    {
+      c3_w* new_w = u3a_malloc(len_i);
+      c3_w  i_w;
+
+      for ( i_w = 0; i_w < tiz_w; i_w++ ) {
+        new_w[i_w] = old_w[i_w];
+      }
+      u3a_drop(org_w);
+      return new_w;
+    }
+  }
+  c3_w len_w = (c3_w)len_i;
+
+  return u3a_wealloc(lag_v, (len_w + 3) >> 2);
+}
+
 /* u3a_realloc2(): gmp-shaped realloc.
 */
 void*
@@ -445,13 +547,27 @@ u3a_realloc2(void* lag_v, size_t old_i, size_t new_i)
   return u3a_realloc(lag_v, new_i);
 }
 
+/* u3a_free(): free for aligned malloc.
+*/
+void
+u3a_free(void* tox_v)
+{
+  c3_w* tox_w = tox_v;
+  c3_w  pad_w = tox_w[-1];
+  c3_w* org_w = tox_w - (pad_w + 1);
+
+  // printf("free %p %p\r\n", org_w, tox_w);
+  u3a_drop(org_w);
+}
+
 /* u3a_free2(): gmp-shaped free.
 */
 void
 u3a_free2(void* tox_v, size_t siz_i)
 {
-  u3a_free(tox_v);
+  return u3a_free(tox_v);
 }
+#endif
 
 #if 1
 /* _me_wash_north(): clean up mug slots after copy.
@@ -946,14 +1062,14 @@ top:
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(h_dog)) ) {
             _me_lose_north(h_dog);
           }
-          u3a_free(dog_w);
+          u3a_drop(dog_w);
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(t_dog)) ) {
             dog = t_dog;
             goto top;
           }
         }
         else {
-          u3a_free(dog_w);
+          u3a_drop(dog_w);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -986,14 +1102,14 @@ top:
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(h_dog)) ) {
             _me_lose_south(h_dog);
           }
-          u3a_free(dog_w);
+          u3a_drop(dog_w);
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(t_dog)) ) {
             dog = t_dog;
             goto top;
           }
         }
         else {
-          u3a_free(dog_w);
+          u3a_drop(dog_w);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -1340,7 +1456,7 @@ u3a_moot(c3_w* sal_w)
 
   if ( 1 == len_w ) {
     if ( _(u3a_is_cat(las_w)) ) {
-      u3a_free(nov_w);
+      u3a_drop(nov_w);
 
       return las_w;
     }
@@ -1405,7 +1521,7 @@ u3a_mint(c3_w* sal_w, c3_w len_w)
   /* See if we can free the slab entirely.
   */
   if ( len_w == 0 ) {
-    u3a_free(nov_w);
+    u3a_drop(nov_w);
 
     return 0;
   }
@@ -1413,7 +1529,7 @@ u3a_mint(c3_w* sal_w, c3_w len_w)
     c3_w low_w = nov_u->buf_w[0];
 
     if ( _(u3a_is_cat(low_w)) ) {
-      u3a_free(nov_w);
+      u3a_drop(nov_w);
 
       return low_w;
     }
diff --git a/n/e.c b/n/e.c
index eaf4800c8b..557434388e 100644
--- a/n/e.c
+++ b/n/e.c
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ u3e_init(c3_o chk_o)
 
   /* Make sure GMP uses our malloc.
   */
-  // mp_set_memory_functions(u3a_malloc, u3a_realloc2, u3a_free2);
+  mp_set_memory_functions(u3a_malloc, u3a_realloc2, u3a_free2);
 
   /* Map at fixed address.
   */
diff --git a/n/h.c b/n/h.c
index 4595c96c4e..6e77782186 100644
--- a/n/h.c
+++ b/n/h.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ _ch_buck_add(u3h_buck* hab_u, u3_noun kev)
       bah_u->kev[i_w + 1] = hab_u->kev[i_w];
     }
 
-    u3a_free(hab_u);
+    u3a_drop(hab_u);
     return bah_u;
   }
 }
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ _ch_node_add(u3h_node* han_u, c3_w lef_w, c3_w rem_w, u3_noun kev)
     for ( i_w = inx_w; i_w < len_w; i_w++ ) {
       nah_u->sot_w[i_w + 1] = han_u->sot_w[i_w];
     }
-    u3a_free(han_u);
+    u3a_drop(han_u);
     return nah_u;
   }
 }
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ _ch_free_buck(u3h_buck* hab_u)
   for ( i_w = 0; i_w < hab_u->len_w; i_w++ ) {
     u3a_lose(hab_u->kev[i_w]);
   }
-  u3a_free(hab_u);
+  u3a_drop(hab_u);
 }
 
 /* _ch_free_node(): free node.
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ _ch_free_node(u3h_node* han_u, c3_w lef_w)
       }
     }
   }
-  u3a_free(han_u);
+  u3a_drop(han_u);
 }
 
 /* u3h_free(): free hashtable.
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ u3h_free(u3p(u3h_root) har_p)
       _ch_free_node(han_u, 25);
     }
   }
-  u3a_free(har_u);
+  u3a_drop(har_u);
 }
 
 /* _ch_walk_buck(): walk bucket for gc.
diff --git a/n/v.c b/n/v.c
index a1a12c7f35..562706b910 100644
--- a/n/v.c
+++ b/n/v.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ u3v_hose(void)
     u3p(u3v_cart) nex_p = egg_u->nex_p;
 
     u3a_lose(egg_u->vir);
-    u3a_free(egg_u);
+    u3a_drop(egg_u);
 
     egg_p = nex_p;
   }