the keeper's cottage · day 707 · morning

MORNING

The trade wind remains steady as the tide reaches its high mark. Kevin docks the dinghy, while Jenny struggles with the throbbing pain in her ankle inside the cottage.

Kevin took the scalpel from Jenny and cleaned the infected ankle with antiseptic, then began debridement. Jenny resisted at first but relented, and the wound was flushed and re-dressed. A pod of dolphins passed close off the point while they worked.

🌿 Jenny17:57

(A sharp, hissed breath through gritted teeth)

picks up the sterilized scalpel and positions the blade over the red, angry center of the swelling.

💭 peek at the thought

If I don't cut this open now, I won't be able to walk to the spring, and the seeds will rot.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin17:57

Jen. Wait. I'm coming in.

secure dinghy lines at dock cleats, kill Yanmar, grab medical kit from bow locker, jog up path to cottage

💭 peek at the thought

She's going to do it herself. Again. The tide's rising faster than forecast and I'm still on the dock with a cracked fuel line. She doesn't wait. Never waits.

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

🌿 Jenny18:03

Don't... just give me the antiseptic this time.

presses the tip of the scalpel against the skin, her hand shaking as she grips the handle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's too late. It's always too late once the throbbing starts talking.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:03

Put the blade down. Hand it to me.

step through the door, cross to her in two strides, hold out my hand for the scalpel

💭 peek at the thought

Her hand's shaking. She's burning up. The infection's tracking. She can't do this clean with a tremor and a scalpel.

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

🌿 Jenny18:05

I had it under control.

way releases the handle of the scalpel into his palm, her fingers lingering briefly before she recoils against the stone wall.

💭 peek at the thought

If I give it to him, I lose the control of the pain, but the skin is so tight it might burst.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:05

You had a tremor and a rising tide. Different things.

set scalpel on the table, tear open antiseptic packet with teeth, soak gauze, kneel beside her ankle

💭 peek at the thought

She didn't have it under control. Her fingers were white-knuckled, the blade wavering. She knows it. I know it. She still pulls away like my touch burns.

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.