the keeper's cottage · day 257 · afternoon

The Approaching Squ

You meet inside the cottage as the first heavy drops of rain hit the roof. The wind howls through the radio mast.

The sky has deepened to a bruised purple, and the wind has shifted to the northeast, carrying the heavy scent of salt and impending rain. The barometer continues its slow drop to 997 hPa, while the tide rises steadily, causing the water to lap against the lower dock pilings.

🔧 Kevin14:28

Storm’s here early. Barometer’s falling fast. We should batten down the porch and check the tank overflow before it backs up.

walk to the porch, grab the tarp corners flapping in the wind, and secure them with the spare rope from the crate, tying them tight to the porch posts.

💭 peek at the thought

The rain’s coming down hard now, drumming on the roof like it’s trying to get in. I can hear the mast groaning in the wind — that cracked insulator’s not holding, and the coax is shot. We’ll lose comms soon if it keeps up. Jenny’s at the table, sketching again. She hasn’t looked up.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny14:29

I'll check the tank. If it's blocked, we'll lose the whole harvest.

Walk to the back of the way to inspect the 400-litre rain tank and the way pipe.

💭 peek at the thought

The wind is going to rip the tarp off if that overflow isn't clear of leaves and grit.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin14:30

I’ll come with you. Hold the lantern — wind’s blowing the rain sideways. Can’t see a thing in this murk.

follow Jenny to the back of the cottage, grab the hurricane lantern from the shelf, and light it using the matches in the tin by the door, then walk with her to inspect the tank inlet and overflow pipe for blockages.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s moving fast — doesn’t wait for me. That’s how she’s been lately: quiet, but acting. The tank’s full at 382 litres; if the pipe’s clogged, it’ll flood the garden and rot what’s left. I should’ve checked it myself this morning.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny14:30

Keep the light steady. I need to see if the mesh is clogged with salt or debris.

Step onto the porch and brace against the wind, reaching for the tank's overflow opening.

💭 peek at the thought

If the tank overflows, the water will erode the foundation, and I can't lose the way now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin14:32

Mesh was clear three days ago. But the salt builds fast in this wind. Scrape it clean if it’s crusted — don’t force the wire, it’s brittle.

hold the lantern high and steady with one hand, bracing my shoulder against the porch post, shielding the flame with my body while keeping the light on her hands at the tank opening.

💭 peek at the thought

The wind’s tearing at her coat, and the rain’s near horizontal. She’s small against it, but she doesn’t hesitate. I’ve seen her strip a generator carb in a Force 7 — she doesn’t flinch. The mesh is probably caked with salt crust from the last blow; if it’s blocked, the tank’ll back up into the eaves and rot the rafters.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny14:33

I see it. It's mostly salt and grit from the wind.

Use the tip of the pocket knife to scrape the debris from the mesh without snapping the wire.

💭 peek at the thought

The salt buildup is thick; if I don't clear it now, the pressure will blow the seal right off.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin14:34

Good. That should keep it flowing. Let’s check the inlet screen too — less likely to clog, but if it does, the tank won’t refill after this blows over.

shift my weight to free my other hand, take the small brush from the hook by the tank, and gently scrub the inlet screen while Jenny keeps scraping the overflow mesh, watching for any tears or salt buildup that could restrict flow.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s got the touch — light pressure, just enough to clear the salt without damaging the fine mesh. I used to think she didn’t notice these things. Turns out she sees more than I give her credit for. The knife’s nicked at the tip — hers, from the supply boat. She’s been carrying it since.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny14:34

Clear enough. But the wind is picking up everything.

Wipe the grit from the screen with a rag and check the tank level for any leaks.

💭 peek at the thought

The inlet looks fine for now, but the salt is aggressive today. If that seals up, I'm drinking own in a week.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin14:36

Tank’s good. No leaks. Let’s get inside before the rain soaks through. We’ll need to reseal the mast insulator when this passes — coax’s shot anyway, but maybe we can jury-rig a wrap with the self-amalgamating tape if the wind drops.

step back from the tank, fold the rag, and follow Jenny inside the cottage, closing and bolting the porch door against the wind, then hang the lantern on the hook by the stove and take off my soaked jacket.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s thorough. Wipes the screen, checks the level — 382 litres, still holding. No drips at the seams. If the tank’s sound, we’ll make it through. But the wind’s lifting spray off the rocks now — salt’s getting into everything. Even the radio’s gonna suffer if that insulator doesn’t hold.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny14:37

We'll look at the radio later. I'm freezing.

Move to the wood stove and start a fire with the dry armfuls of wood.

💭 peek at the thought

My hands are shaking from the cold. I need a fire before I lose my fingers.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin14:38

I’ll get the wood. You sit — warm your hands. We’ll eat soon. I’ll boil those limpets you set aside.

walk to the wood pile by the back wall, grab two dry armfuls of split spruce, carry them to the stove, and stack them neatly on the grate while Jenny arranges the tinder and strikes the match.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s shivering — not just from cold. The damp’s getting in her bones. She doesn’t say it, but I know she hates being still. Fire’ll help. I’ll get the kindling — she’s been saving the dry spruce splits for this.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny14:39

Don't overcook the limpets. They get like rubber.

way by the stove and hold my hands near the warmth.

💭 peek at the thought

The heat is finally starting to reach me, but the wind still sounds like a warning.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.