diff --git a/src/muse.c b/src/muse.c
index ab5575a3d..d95b0c2e8 100644
--- a/src/muse.c
+++ b/src/muse.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* NetHack 3.7	muse.c	$NHDT-Date: 1711734229 2024/03/29 17:43:49 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.216 $ */
+/* NetHack 3.7	muse.c	$NHDT-Date: 1715109270 2024/05/07 19:14:30 $  $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.7 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.218 $ */
 /*      Copyright (C) 1990 by Ken Arromdee                         */
 /* NetHack may be freely redistributed.  See license for details.  */
 
@@ -1661,7 +1661,6 @@ mbhit(
     struct obj *obj)              /* 2nd arg to fhitm/fhito */
 {
     struct monst *mtmp;
-    struct obj *otmp;
     uchar ltyp;
     int ddx, ddy, otyp = obj->otyp;
 
@@ -1699,29 +1698,12 @@ mbhit(
         if (otyp == WAN_STRIKING
             /* if levl[x][y].typ is DRAWBRIDGE_UP then the zap is passing
                over the moat in front of a closed drawbridge and doesn't
-               hit any part of the bridge's mechanism */
+               hit any part of the bridge's mechanism (yet; it might be
+               about to hit the closed portcullis on the next iteration) */
             && ltyp != DRAWBRIDGE_UP && find_drawbridge(&dbx, &dby)) {
-            /* this might kill mon and destroy obj; mon will remain
-               accessible even if dead but obj could be deleted */
+            /* this might kill mon and destroy obj but they'll remain
+               accessible; (*fhitm)() and (*fhito)() use obj for zap type */
             destroy_drawbridge(dbx, dby);
-            for (otmp = mon->minvent; otmp; otmp = otmp->nobj)
-                if (otmp == obj)
-                    break;
-            if (!otmp) {
-                for (otmp = gl.level.objects[x][y]; otmp;
-                     otmp = otmp->nexthere)
-                    if (otmp == obj)
-                        break;
-            }
-            /* if otmp is Null, mon isn't carrying obj anymore and didn't
-               just drop it here; assume that it was destroyed and stop
-               the zap; not really correct behavior but we can't continue
-               without the responsible object because fhitm (mbhitm) and
-               fhito (bhito) will want it at forthcoming spots in zap path */
-            if (!otmp) {
-                /*obj = NULL;*/
-                break;
-            }
         } else if (IS_DOOR(ltyp) || ltyp == SDOOR) {
             switch (otyp) {
             /* note: monsters don't use opening or locking magic