the keeper's cottage · day 476 · afternoon

Afternoon Reunion

The cloud cover thickens further, and the smell of rain is heavy in the air. Jenny reaches the porch just as Kevin is inspecting the newly reinforced shutter.

Kevin spent the afternoon maintaining the Yanmar's fuel system and securing the cottage against the coming storm. Jenny focused on de-salting the sea beet and monitoring her ankle as the air pressure continued to drop.

🌿 Jenny11:43

The barometer is dropping again. It's going to mathematically before the boat.

Jenny leans against the doorframe, wincing as she shifts her weight off her ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

My leg is throbbing and I'm starving; I need to eat those limpets before I pass out.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:43

Mathematically. That's a new one. You been holding out on me — you a meteorologist now?

Set the wrench down on the porch rail and reach for her arm to steady her, guiding her toward the kitchen chair.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right about the pressure — it's not just dropping, it's falling with intention. The cottage creaks differently when the air gets this heavy. Her ankle's taking the weight wrong; she shouldn't be standing on it at all.

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

🌿 Jenny11:45

I'm just hungry, Kevin. Where are the limpets?

Jenny sinks into the chair, rubbing her swollen ankle with a shaky hand.

💭 peek at the thought

He's joking and I'm too tired to play along. I need food.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:45

Back door, in the bucket. I'll bring them in — you stay off that ankle.

Rise from the rail, grab the bucket of fresh limpets from beside the rain tank, and carry them into the kitchen, setting them on the counter near the sink.

💭 peek at the thought

She's masking the pain with hunger — classic Jenny. The limpets are in the bucket by the back door, still need a final rinse. She shouldn't be moving like this, but arguing won't help; she'll just do it anyway.

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

🌿 Jenny11:47

way boil them. I need to take the antibiotics too.

Jenny watches him, her eyes fixed on the salt-crusted shells in the bucket.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks he's being helpful, but I just feel like a patient. My stomach is cramping.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:47

Pot's still on the stove with yesterday's broth. I'll reheat it, drop the limpets in for three minutes. Pills are on the shelf — water in the tin mug.

Move to the wood stove, pull the kettle forward, and build a small hot fire with dry kindling and a split of seasoned oak, then set the dented pot of cold limpet broth to warm.

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching the limpets like they might disappear. The antibiotics are on the shelf above the stove — doxycycline and metronidazole, blister packs half-empty. She needs food in her stomach first, then the pills. The broth from yesterday's boil is still in the pot on the stove, cold but salvageable.

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

🌿 Jenny11:49

Don't overcook them, they get like rubber.

Jenny reaches for the blister pack on the shelf, her fingers trembling as she pushes out two pills.

💭 peek at the thought

I'm so weak I can barely hold my head up. I need to eat before the infection gets worse.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:49

Three minutes. I'm counting.

Drop the limpets into the simmering broth, pull the tin mug from the hook, fill it from the rain tank tap, and set it on the table beside her with the spoon.

💭 peek at the thought

Her hands are shaking worse than yesterday. The infection's pulling strength from her whole body, not just the ankle. Three minutes exactly — I've learned that much. The broth's already hot; a rolling boil will toughen them fast.

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

🌿 Jenny11:51

Thanks.

Jenny swallows the pills with a large gulp of water, waiting for the broth.

💭 peek at the thought

If I can't get some strength back, I'm never going to make it to the north ridge. My leg is screaming.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:51

Don't mention it. Just eat.

Watch the pot, counting silently, then lift the lid and skim two limpets out with the spoon, testing one for firmness — still tender — before ladling the rest into her mug and setting it in front of her.

💭 peek at the thought

She swallowed both pills at once — not like her. She's either in more pain than she's letting on or trying to get it over with so she can rest. The limpets will be done soon; I'll fish them out before they seize up.

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

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