the keeper's cottage · day 55 · morning

The storm breaks

The rain lashes down in sheets, and the wind howls through the gaps in the cottage walls.

Kevin walked to the dock and found the Yanmar engine started cleanly on the first pull, running smoothly at idle with the new float needle holding. Jenny sorted the damp heirloom seeds at the kitchen table, separating viable from moldy packets, and cooked the sea beet with the last of the corned beef fat.

🌿 Jenny03:31

Kevin, check the window latches in the kitchen!

move the heirloom seed tin under the kitchen table and wrap it in a dry towel.

💭 peek at the thought

The pressure is dropping too fast; if these seeds get soaked now, they'll rot before they even sprout.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:31

On it.

Walk to the kitchen and check both window latches, securing any that are loose or rattling.

💭 peek at the thought

Kitchen window faces the weather. If a latch gives, we lose glass and take water inside. Move now.

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

🌿 Jenny03:32

Check the way for me. Is it still dropping?

walk to the stove and note the reading in the notebook.

💭 peek at the thought

At least he listened, though the hunger is making my hands shake. I need to eat something before I start planting.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:32

Was 975 and rising last look. Let me check.

Walk to the shelf by the shortwave radio and read the barometer, then call out the reading.

💭 peek at the thought

She means the barometer. Last I saw it was 975 and rising, but that was before the squall hit proper. Need to check the aneroid on the shelf by the radio.

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

🌿 Jenny03:35

If it's rising, the channel will be a mess tomorrow.

open the tin of seeds and begin sorting the damp ones on the kitchen table.

💭 peek at the thought

975 is low, but the surge isn't over yet. My stomach is growling loud enough.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:35

982 and climbing steady. Channel'll be lumpy tomorrow. Wind against tide.

Turn back to the kitchen window, press a palm against the glass to feel for flex in the frame, and listen for any new leaks.

💭 peek at the thought

Rising pressure after a low means the gradient's still tight — wind against tide in the channel. Choppy, confused seas. Not a day for a supply boat, but they'll try anyway if they're due.

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

🌿 Jenny03:37

I'll start on the sea beet. We need to eat something more than boiled limpets.

lay the damp heirloom seeds out on the paper towels, spreading them out carefully.

💭 peek at the thought

982 is better, but the wind is still screaming. I'm trying to get these seeds dry before the mold takes them.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin03:37

Skillet's on the stove. Fat in the tin by the flour.

Pull the cast iron skillet from the stove top, wipe it clean with a rag, and set it on the table near the sea beet leaves.

💭 peek at the thought

Sea beet's good eating if she doesn't overcook it. Salt glands hold the brine — quick sauté, splash of vinegar if we've got any. She's right about the limpets. Protein's protein but I'm tired of chewing rubber.

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.