The sun begins to dip, but the temperature remains high. The tide is at its peak, covering the lower rocks.
The air remains heavy and oppressive as the evening settles over the old shrine. Kevin checks the garden and the equipment storage, finding the humidity is threatening the drying wood, while Jenny inspects the seedling trays, noting the persistent fungal fuzz on the pepper cells.
🔧 Kevin11:11
Kevin — walk back to the cottage
💭 peek at the thought
The tide's high and the air's thick. Shrine stones are warm still. Should head back before full dark — Jenny's ankle won't want the climb in low light, and I said I'd check the seedling trays.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny11:13
I'll be in soon.
Trace the edge of a worn carving on the stone with a thumb.
💭 peek at the thought
I'm still standing on these rocks while the light dies, and my stomach is growling again.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:13
I'll go on ahead. Light's fading fast.
walk toward the cottage path, keeping pace slow for her to follow
💭 peek at the thought
She's tracing the 'E' again. Not the first time. She knows what it means — or she's guessing. Either way, she's not pushing. That's her way of giving me space. I should move — damp air's settling, and her ankle's bad enough without standing here till it chills.
nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b
🌿 Jenny11:15
Right.
Slip the seed tin into my way pocket and start the walk down the ridge.
💭 peek at the thought
He's always in such a rush to get inside, like the island is going to swallow him.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:15
Kevin — walk the ridge path toward the cottage, staying on the outer edge
💭 peek at the thought
The tin's cold through my pocket. Heirloom seeds — grandmother's beans, the poppy, whatever else survived the damp. She's trusting me with them, or just offloading weight. Either way, my pocket's heavier now. Path's slick in spots from the tide spray. I'll walk the edge so she takes the inside, closer to the wall if her ankle gives.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny11:17
Jenny — keep my eyes on the path, watching for loose stones in the dying light.
💭 peek at the thought
If I don't plant something tomorrow, I'll just be a curator of a graveyard.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:17
Kevin — keep walking, scanning the path ahead for loose rock or slick moss
💭 peek at the thought
She's quiet. Not the comfortable kind — the kind that means she's holding something back or working through it alone. Ankle's not slowing her as much as yesterday, but she's favoring it. The seed tin clinks against my hip with each step. Cottage lights'll show soon: the storm lantern on the porch, maybe the kitchen window if she lit the wick. Six days to the supply boat. Need to check the dinghy's stern line before bed, and the seedling trays. Copper spray didn't hold on the lettuce.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny11:19
I'm right behind you.
Wipe sweat from my forehead with the back of a hand.
💭 peek at the thought
The heat is like a wet blanket, and my legs are starting to protest.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:19
Kevin — stop at the cottage step, turn slightly to let Jenny come up beside me
💭 peek at the thought
She's close. Sweat's mixing with salt on her brow — she wiped mine without thinking. Habit, or concern? Either way, it's grounding. The cottage's in sight now, storm lantern casting a low glow on the porch boards. Path levels out here. I'll pause at the step, let her catch her breath if she needs it, then we'll go in together.
nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b
🌿 Jenny11:21
Almost there.
Reach for the door handle.
💭 peek at the thought
way. I need to sit down and eat something that isn't a limpet.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:21
Kevin — step inside, set the heirloom seed tin on the kitchen counter, move to the sink to wash up
💭 peek at the thought
Door's unlocked — always is, nothing here worth stealing. Inside smells of woodsmoke, damp wool, and the corned beef fat from dinner. Kitchen table's got the Yanmar cylinder head still, notebook open beside it. Seedling trays on the shelf by the window. Lantern light'll be enough to check them. I'll put the seed tin on the counter, wash hands, then look at the damping-off spread while she sits.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny11:23
It's heavy out there.
Follow him inside and close the door to keep out the humidity.
💭 peek at the thought
The air in here is even still. It smells like salt and old wood.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin11:23
Kevin — dry hands on the towel, walk to the seedling tray shelf by the window, lift the lid to inspect under the storm lantern light
💭 peek at the thought
She's right — the air's thick even in here, like breathing wet wool. Door shut, latch clicked. Humidity's trapped now, but so is the salt wind. I'll dry my hands, then check the seedling trays under the lantern. Pepper and lettuce cells showed fuzz this morning — copper spray didn't stop it. If it's spread, we burn the trays tonight. No point delaying.
nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b
🌿 Jenny11:25
How are they looking?
Lean against the doorwayframe, watching his hands in the light.
💭 peek at the thought
He's checking the sprouts again. I hope they haven't succumbed to the damp.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it