the dock · day 371 · afternoon

The Afternoon Lull

The sun begins its slow dip, though the clouds remain thick. Kevin and Jenny are near the cottage as they wait for the tide to turn.

Kevin listened on 4075 kHz but heard only a news bulletin about Hurricane Isaias and no sign of the supply boat or Tom. Jenny examined her ankle and found the red streaks have extended further up her calf, hot to the touch, indicating the infection is spreading despite the brace.

🔧 Kevin05:51

Low water in forty minutes. I'll haul her then, check the bracket bolts under load. You want the radio on 4075 first, or the engine?

walk toward the dock, testing the gangway planks underfoot

💭 peek at the thought

Tide's turning soon. Need to get the dinghy hauled before dark to check that bracket alignment properly. Jenny's favouring the ankle again — she'll push through but shouldn't have to.

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

🌿 Jenny05:52

Radio first. I need to know if the boat is actually on schedule before we start moving heavy gear.

Jenny wipes her hands on her jeans and stands up slowly, wincing as she shifts her weight away from her left leg.

💭 peek at the thought

If that ankle keeps swelling, I won't even be able to walk to the north ridge, let alone plant.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:52

Fair enough. I'll fire up the set.

head to the cottage porch where the shortwave sits, unclipping the dry bag and setting the radio on the table, then switching it on and letting the tubes warm

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. No sense hauling the dinghy if the supply boat's diverted again. Coast guard said no ETA three days ago. Could've changed.

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

🌿 Jenny05:53

I'm going to check my leg.

Walk slowly toward the porch, leaning heavily on the railing for support.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't just sit here and wait. I need to see if those streaks are coming back.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:55

Take your time. I'll call you if there's traffic.

tune the shortwave to 4075 kHz, adjusting the RF gain and listening through the static for any sign of the supply boat or coast guard traffic

💭 peek at the thought

Let her tend to it. She knows her own body. I'll get the radio working and sit on 4075 — supply boat frequency — and Tom's after.

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

🌿 Jenny05:55

Jenny — way on the edge of the bench, rolling up the pant leg to inspect the red lines around the ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

If it's spreading, I'm going to need that medevac. I can't lose the leg. ownSAY: Thanks.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:56

(quietly, to himself) Come on, then. Talk to me.

keep listening on 4075, logging the time and conditions in the notebook margin, one eye on the tide dropping past the dock pilings

💭 peek at the thought

Static on 4075. Nothing but atmospheric noise and a distant Spanish trawler's chatter. Barometer's rising — 992 and steady. Good sign for weather, not for news. I'll give it ten minutes, then try Tom's frequency.

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

🌿 Jenny05:57

Jenny — press a finger firmly against the edge of the redness, watching for the white to return, then lingering for the heat.

💭 peek at the thought

It's hot. The skin feels tighter than yesterday. If those lines reach the knee...그런SAY: (Sharp intake)

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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