the keeper's cottage · day 383 · morning

The Approaching Storm

The rain intensifies into a steady downpour as the wind picks up from the west, and the barometer continues to drop.

The morning rain continues to fall intermittently as the pressure continues its steady drop. Kevin prepares the dinghy for a load test while Jenny struggles with a rising fever and physical exhaustion in the cottage.

🌿 Jenny16:27

The barometer is dropping too fast, Kevin. The boat might not make.

Stand up slowly, wincing as the weight hits my own, and grab the notebook from the table to keep it away from the damp.

💭 peek at the thought

If the boat doesn't come tomorrow, I'm out of antibiotics and this infection will go to the bone.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:27

Boat's not coming tomorrow. Maybe not the day after. We'll manage.

Walk to the dock and check the mooring ring tension and the greenheart sister plank shim under the north piling toe.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right about the barometer. 981 and falling fast with west wind — the channel'll be a washing machine by tomorrow. Supply boat won't risk it, not with this swell building. Need to secure the dinghy inland and double-check the dock ring before the surge hits.

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

🌿 Jenny16:28

We can't just 'manage' a systemic infection when I can barely walk to the radio.

Sit back down on the bench, clutching the notebook to my chest, and stare at the rising water in the channel.

💭 peek at the thought

He says it so easily like the fever isn't eating me alive from the inside out.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:28

The medevac forms are ready. Radio's working. I'll key the coastguard at 1900 if the supply boat doesn't confirm by noon.

Check the ditch bag on the dinghy — verify the handheld VHF, flares, and medevac forms are clipped and dry.

💭 peek at the thought

She's not talking about the boat. She's talking about the antibiotics running out, the ankle not healing, the medevac forms I filled out and left face down on the radio shelf. She's right. I've been pretending the radio call at 1900 is enough. It's not.

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

🌿 Jenny16:30

Just call them if you have to. I'm not waiting for the boat anymore.

Close my eyes, trying to ignore the heat radiating from my ankle, and listen to the rain on the tin.

💭 peek at the thought

If he calls the coastguard, I'll be off this island before I ever finish the survey.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:30

I'll make the call at 1900. No matter what.

Return to the cottage and lay out the antibiotic blister packs on the table to inventory what's left. Then check the shortwave radio — power on, tune to coastguard emergency frequency, and test the mic.

💭 peek at the thought

She's done waiting. Done hoping the boat will come. Done hoping I'll say the right thing. She's telling me to act — not for the boat, not for the schedule, but for her. The infection won't wait for tides or forecasts.

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

🌿 Jenny16:32

Okay. Don't wait until I'm too far gone.

Lean my head back against the stone wall, feeling the fever throb in my temples, and watch the rain blur the horizon.

💭 peek at the thought

If he calls, the dream of this island dies before the seeds even sprout.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:33

You're not going too far gone. I'm calling now.

Pick up the shortwave mic, key the coastguard emergency channel (2182 kHz), and transmit: "Pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan. Sorrel Island, position 49°53'N 006°18'W. Medical emergency.

💭 peek at the thought

She's burning up. The ankle's hot through the wrap. The antibiotics are nearly gone — maybe two days if I stretch them. She's not "too far gone" yet, but the window's closing. The coastguard needs to hear a mayday, not a routine check-in. I'll give them position, condition, and the fact that the supply boat can't make the channel in this swell. They'll task the helicopter from St. Mary's. Two hours flight time. I need the ditch bag ready, the dinghy secured inland, and the cottage locked down.

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

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