diff --git a/c/containers/mlhmmv.c b/c/containers/mlhmmv.c
index a83a1958d..400ed9690 100644
--- a/c/containers/mlhmmv.c
+++ b/c/containers/mlhmmv.c
@@ -35,8 +35,10 @@ static mlhmmv_level_t* mlhmmv_get_or_create_level_aux_no_enlarge(mlhmmv_level_t*
 
 static mlhmmv_level_entry_t* mlhmmv_get_next_level_entry(mlhmmv_level_t* pmap, mv_t* plevel_key, int* pindex);
 
-static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(mlhmmv_level_t* plevel, char* prefix, sllmve_t* prestnames,
+static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_vert(mlhmmv_level_t* plevel, char* prefix, sllmve_t* prestnames,
 	lrec_t* ptemplate, sllv_t* poutrecs);
+static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_horiz(mlhmmv_level_t* plevel, char* prefix,
+	lrec_t* poutrec);
 
 static void mlhmmv_level_print_stacked(mlhmmv_level_t* plevel, int depth,
 	int do_final_comma, int quote_values_always);
@@ -646,14 +648,15 @@ void mlhmmv_to_lrecs(mlhmmv_t* pmap, sllmv_t* pkeys, sllmv_t* pnames, sllv_t* po
 	} else {
 		lrec_t* ptemplate = lrec_unbacked_alloc();
 		char* oosvar_name = mv_alloc_format_val(pfirstkey);
-		mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(ptop_entry->level_value.u.pnext_level, oosvar_name, pnames->phead,
+		////printf("OON=[%s]\n", oosvar_name);
+		mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_vert(ptop_entry->level_value.u.pnext_level, oosvar_name, pnames->phead,
 			ptemplate, poutrecs);
 		free(oosvar_name);
 		lrec_free(ptemplate);
 	}
 }
 
-static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(
+static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_vert(
 	mlhmmv_level_t* plevel,
 	char*           prefix,
 	sllmve_t*       prestnames,
@@ -661,6 +664,7 @@ static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(
 	sllv_t*         poutrecs)
 {
 	if (prestnames != NULL) {
+	////printf("AUX REC\n");
 		for (mlhmmv_level_entry_t* pe = plevel->phead; pe != NULL; pe = pe->pnext) {
 			mlhmmv_level_value_t* plevel_value = &pe->level_value;
 			lrec_t* pnextrec = lrec_copy(ptemplate);
@@ -671,29 +675,51 @@ static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(
 					mv_alloc_format_val(&plevel_value->u.mlrval), FREE_ENTRY_KEY|FREE_ENTRY_VALUE);
 				sllv_append(poutrecs, pnextrec);
 			} else {
-				mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(pe->level_value.u.pnext_level,
+				mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_vert(pe->level_value.u.pnext_level,
 					prefix, prestnames->pnext, pnextrec, poutrecs);
 				lrec_free(pnextrec);
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
-		// xxx split out vert & horiz auxes
+	////printf("AUX 2 HRZ\n");
+		lrec_t* pnextrec = lrec_copy(ptemplate);
 		for (mlhmmv_level_entry_t* pe = plevel->phead; pe != NULL; pe = pe->pnext) {
 			mlhmmv_level_value_t* plevel_value = &pe->level_value;
-			lrec_t* pnextrec = lrec_copy(ptemplate);
-			// xxx rename
-			char* foo = mv_alloc_format_val(&pe->level_key);
-			char* name = mlr_paste_3_strings(prefix, TEMP_FLATTEN_SEP, foo);
-			free(foo);
 			if (plevel_value->is_terminal) {
-				lrec_put(pnextrec, name,
+				char* foo = mv_alloc_format_val(&pe->level_key);
+				char* name = mlr_paste_3_strings(prefix, TEMP_FLATTEN_SEP, foo);
+				free(foo);
+				lrec_put(pnextrec, mlr_strdup_or_die(name),
 					mv_alloc_format_val(&plevel_value->u.mlrval), FREE_ENTRY_KEY|FREE_ENTRY_VALUE);
-				sllv_append(poutrecs, pnextrec);
 			} else {
-				mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux(plevel_value->u.pnext_level, name, NULL, pnextrec, poutrecs);
-				lrec_free(pnextrec);
+				char* foo = mv_alloc_format_val(&pe->level_key);
+				char* name = mlr_paste_3_strings(prefix, TEMP_FLATTEN_SEP, foo);
+				free(foo);
+				mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_horiz(plevel_value->u.pnext_level, name, pnextrec);
 			}
 		}
+		sllv_append(poutrecs, pnextrec);
+	}
+}
+
+static void mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_horiz(
+	mlhmmv_level_t* plevel,
+	char*           prefix,
+	lrec_t*         poutrec)
+{
+	for (mlhmmv_level_entry_t* pe = plevel->phead; pe != NULL; pe = pe->pnext) {
+		mlhmmv_level_value_t* plevel_value = &pe->level_value;
+		// xxx rename
+		char* foo = mv_alloc_format_val(&pe->level_key);
+		char* name = mlr_paste_3_strings(prefix, TEMP_FLATTEN_SEP, foo);
+		free(foo);
+		if (plevel_value->is_terminal) {
+		////printf("PFX=[%s] NAME=[%s] LK=[%s]\n", prefix, name, mv_alloc_format_val(&pe->level_key));
+			lrec_put(poutrec, name,
+				mv_alloc_format_val(&plevel_value->u.mlrval), FREE_ENTRY_KEY|FREE_ENTRY_VALUE);
+		} else {
+			mlhmmv_to_lrecs_aux_horiz(plevel_value->u.pnext_level, name, poutrec);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/c/reg_test/expected/out b/c/reg_test/expected/out
index 3a7e8751c..f0c1bce09 100644
--- a/c/reg_test/expected/out
+++ b/c/reg_test/expected/out
@@ -13089,11 +13089,7 @@ AST END STATEMENTS (1):
 PARAMETERIZED EMIT
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] = $x; end{ emit @sum; } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan=0.502626
-sum:eks=0.611784
-sum:wye=0.573289
-sum:zee=0.598554
-sum:hat=0.031442
+sum:pan=0.502626,sum:eks=0.611784,sum:wye=0.573289,sum:zee=0.598554,sum:hat=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] = $x; end{ emit @sum,"a"; } ./reg_test/input/abixy
 a=pan,sum=0.502626
@@ -13110,27 +13106,13 @@ a=zee,sum=0.598554
 a=hat,sum=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] = $x; end{ emit @sum; } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan:pan=0.346790
-sum:pan:wye=0.502626
-sum:eks:pan=0.758680
-sum:eks:wye=0.381399
-sum:eks:zee=0.611784
-sum:wye:wye=0.204603
-sum:wye:pan=0.573289
-sum:zee:pan=0.527126
-sum:zee:wye=0.598554
-sum:hat:wye=0.031442
+sum:pan:pan=0.346790,sum:pan:wye=0.502626,sum:eks:pan=0.758680,sum:eks:wye=0.381399,sum:eks:zee=0.611784,sum:wye:wye=0.204603,sum:wye:pan=0.573289,sum:zee:pan=0.527126,sum:zee:wye=0.598554,sum:hat:wye=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] = $x; end{ emit @sum,"a"; } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-a=pan,sum:pan=0.346790
-a=pan,sum:wye=0.502626
-a=eks,sum:pan=0.758680
-a=eks,sum:wye=0.381399
-a=eks,sum:zee=0.611784
-a=wye,sum:wye=0.204603
-a=wye,sum:pan=0.573289
-a=zee,sum:pan=0.527126
-a=zee,sum:wye=0.598554
+a=pan,sum:pan=0.346790,sum:wye=0.502626
+a=eks,sum:pan=0.758680,sum:wye=0.381399,sum:zee=0.611784
+a=wye,sum:wye=0.204603,sum:pan=0.573289
+a=zee,sum:pan=0.527126,sum:wye=0.598554
 a=hat,sum:wye=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] = $x; end{ emit @sum,"a","b"; } ./reg_test/input/abixy
@@ -13197,25 +13179,13 @@ mlr put -q @sum += $nonesuch; end {emit  @sum, "extra" } ./reg_test/input/abixy
 sum=
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] += $i;        end {emit  @sum               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan=11
-sum:eks=13
-sum:wye=8
-sum:zee=14
-sum:hat=9
+sum:pan=11,sum:eks=13,sum:wye=8,sum:zee=14,sum:hat=9
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] += $x;        end {emit  @sum               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan=0.849416
-sum:eks=1.751863
-sum:wye=0.777892
-sum:zee=1.125680
-sum:hat=0.031442
+sum:pan=0.849416,sum:eks=1.751863,sum:wye=0.777892,sum:zee=1.125680,sum:hat=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] += $nonesuch; end {emit  @sum               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan=
-sum:eks=
-sum:wye=
-sum:zee=
-sum:hat=
+sum:pan=,sum:eks=,sum:wye=,sum:zee=,sum:hat=
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a] += $i;        end {emit  @sum, "a"          } ./reg_test/input/abixy
 a=pan,sum=11
@@ -13260,75 +13230,33 @@ a=zee,sum=
 a=hat,sum=
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $i;        end {emit  @sum                    } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan:pan=1
-sum:pan:wye=10
-sum:eks:pan=2
-sum:eks:wye=4
-sum:eks:zee=7
-sum:wye:wye=3
-sum:wye:pan=5
-sum:zee:pan=6
-sum:zee:wye=8
-sum:hat:wye=9
+sum:pan:pan=1,sum:pan:wye=10,sum:eks:pan=2,sum:eks:wye=4,sum:eks:zee=7,sum:wye:wye=3,sum:wye:pan=5,sum:zee:pan=6,sum:zee:wye=8,sum:hat:wye=9
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $x;        end {emit  @sum                    } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan:pan=0.346790
-sum:pan:wye=0.502626
-sum:eks:pan=0.758680
-sum:eks:wye=0.381399
-sum:eks:zee=0.611784
-sum:wye:wye=0.204603
-sum:wye:pan=0.573289
-sum:zee:pan=0.527126
-sum:zee:wye=0.598554
-sum:hat:wye=0.031442
+sum:pan:pan=0.346790,sum:pan:wye=0.502626,sum:eks:pan=0.758680,sum:eks:wye=0.381399,sum:eks:zee=0.611784,sum:wye:wye=0.204603,sum:wye:pan=0.573289,sum:zee:pan=0.527126,sum:zee:wye=0.598554,sum:hat:wye=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $nonesuch; end {emit  @sum                    } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-sum:pan:pan=
-sum:pan:wye=
-sum:eks:pan=
-sum:eks:wye=
-sum:eks:zee=
-sum:wye:wye=
-sum:wye:pan=
-sum:zee:pan=
-sum:zee:wye=
-sum:hat:wye=
+sum:pan:pan=,sum:pan:wye=,sum:eks:pan=,sum:eks:wye=,sum:eks:zee=,sum:wye:wye=,sum:wye:pan=,sum:zee:pan=,sum:zee:wye=,sum:hat:wye=
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $i;        end {emit  @sum, "a"               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-a=pan,sum:pan=1
-a=pan,sum:wye=10
-a=eks,sum:pan=2
-a=eks,sum:wye=4
-a=eks,sum:zee=7
-a=wye,sum:wye=3
-a=wye,sum:pan=5
-a=zee,sum:pan=6
-a=zee,sum:wye=8
+a=pan,sum:pan=1,sum:wye=10
+a=eks,sum:pan=2,sum:wye=4,sum:zee=7
+a=wye,sum:wye=3,sum:pan=5
+a=zee,sum:pan=6,sum:wye=8
 a=hat,sum:wye=9
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $x;        end {emit  @sum, "a"               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-a=pan,sum:pan=0.346790
-a=pan,sum:wye=0.502626
-a=eks,sum:pan=0.758680
-a=eks,sum:wye=0.381399
-a=eks,sum:zee=0.611784
-a=wye,sum:wye=0.204603
-a=wye,sum:pan=0.573289
-a=zee,sum:pan=0.527126
-a=zee,sum:wye=0.598554
+a=pan,sum:pan=0.346790,sum:wye=0.502626
+a=eks,sum:pan=0.758680,sum:wye=0.381399,sum:zee=0.611784
+a=wye,sum:wye=0.204603,sum:pan=0.573289
+a=zee,sum:pan=0.527126,sum:wye=0.598554
 a=hat,sum:wye=0.031442
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $nonesuch; end {emit  @sum, "a"               } ./reg_test/input/abixy
-a=pan,sum:pan=
-a=pan,sum:wye=
-a=eks,sum:pan=
-a=eks,sum:wye=
-a=eks,sum:zee=
-a=wye,sum:wye=
-a=wye,sum:pan=
-a=zee,sum:pan=
-a=zee,sum:wye=
+a=pan,sum:pan=,sum:wye=
+a=eks,sum:pan=,sum:wye=,sum:zee=
+a=wye,sum:wye=,sum:pan=
+a=zee,sum:pan=,sum:wye=
 a=hat,sum:wye=
 
 mlr put -q @sum[$a][$b] += $i;        end {emit  @sum, "a", "b"          } ./reg_test/input/abixy
diff --git a/c/todo.txt b/c/todo.txt
index 0173aa0ff..edc193fd8 100644
--- a/c/todo.txt
+++ b/c/todo.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ TOP-OF-LIST SUMMARY
 ! subselector emits
 ! horizontality of emits
 
+* \" in string-literal reader ... fix up in the parser or in rval_expr.
+
 * neaten/xxxes/valgrind/UT/doc for unset/tri-split-null/+=etal/parameterized emit
 * double-check oosvar+emit+tri-split-null by re-implementing as many mappers as possible using ossvars + emit
 * readme re srec vs lrec