Back at the cottage.
Kevin spent the afternoon tending to the water filter, noting the mesh is nearing the end of its life. Jenny focused on the heirloom seeds, carefully spreading the damp packets to prevent mold in the high wet season humidity.
🌿 Jenny18:47
(Sharp intake of breath)
Sit on the kitchen chair, wincing as I lift my swollen own own the table. Reach for the salt and the clean water.
💭 peek at the thought
My ankle is throbbing in time with the rain; if I don't get this salt poultice on now, I won't be able to walk to the garden.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin18:47
Want me to heat water?
Walk to the wood stove, check the kettle, set it to boil.
💭 peek at the thought
Her ankle's worse. The swelling's tracked past mid-calf now, hot through the bandage. She's not saying how bad it hurts. I need to look at it proper, change the dressing, maybe lance if there's pus under the skin. First, water and salt — she's making a soak. Good. She's taking care of it. I'll let her work, stay close.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny18:48
Yes. Just not boiling.
major a handful of salt into the small bowl, my hands shaking slightly from the hunger and the pain.
💭 peek at the thought
If the water is too hot it'll burn the skin, but I need it to draw out the heat.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin18:48
Here.
Lift kettle off the stove, pour a thin stream into her bowl over the salt, swirl it with the spoon until it dissolves, set the kettle back.
💭 peek at the thought
Hands shaking. She's not eaten enough today, on top of the infection burning through her. The salt soak'll help draw it, but she needs calories and the rest of the antibiotics. Kettle's singing — pull it off before full boil. Mix it warm. She'll need the bowl steady.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny18:50
Thanks.
Soak a clean cloth in the salt water, wring it out, and press it firmly against the red, angry skin, biting my lip to keep from swearing.
💭 peek at the thought
The water is hot enough. If this doesn't stop the swelling, I'm going to lose the season.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin18:50
Kevin — pull the other kitchen chair over, sit facing her, wait.
💭 peek at the thought
She's biting through the pain. The red line's tracking upward — saw it when she pulled the bandage. Could be lymphangitis. If it hits the knee joint, she won't walk. We're nine days from the supply boat, maybe more. Antibiotics are down to the last few doses. Need to check the wound proper, see if there's an abscess to drain. But not while she's holding that compress. Let the heat work first.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny18:52
(Quiet exhale)
Lean back against the whitewashed stone, eyes closed, the salt on my ankle starting to sting through the cloth.
💭 peek at the thought
He's just watching. way he's waiting for me to breakdown or for the infection to win.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin18:53
How's the pain? One to ten.
Keep voice low, watch her face.
💭 peek at the thought
The stinging means it's working — salt pulling fluid, heat opening capillaries. Her shoulders dropped a fraction. Good. Let her rest a minute. Then I'll need to look under the bandage, see if there's a head forming, decide on lancing. The antibiotics are doxycycline and metronidazole — broad spectrum, but if it's staph or strep resistant, we're in trouble. Nine days minimum. Could radio the trust for medevac if it goes septic. The forms are in the ditch bag. Don't want to think that far yet.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b