the keeper's cottage · day 721 · afternoon

AFTERNOON

Kevin empties the bucket and looks at Jenny, who is resting in the shade as the sun begins to dip.

Kevin brought warm broth to Jenny on the porch and sat with her while she sipped it slowly. He then retrieved the first aid kit to tend her swollen ankle. The barometer held steady at 977 hPa under a thickening flat sky.

🌿 Jenny21:34

I'm fine, Kevin. Just the heat.

Jenny winces as she shifts weight off her swollen ankle, then reaches for her pencil to sketch the veins of a dead leaf.

💭 peek at the thought

My own is throbbing again. If that boat doesn't come in three days, I'm going to lose the leg.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:34

Broth's still warm if you want it. Left the mug on the step.

walk to the porch and check the tin mug, then glance at the barometer on the shelf

💭 peek at the thought

She's not fine. The heat's not doing her ankle any favors and she's burning through pencils instead of resting. I'll check the dressing again before dark and see if the broth stays down.

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

🌿 Jenny21:36

Thanks. I'll get it in a minute.

Jenny nods toward the door, then closes her eyes, trying to ignore the heat in her skin.

💭 peek at the thought

He's being too nice. I'm too tired to even hold the mug properly.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:36

I'll bring it to you. Stay put.

pick up the tin mug from the porch step and carry it to Jenny, then set it down beside her notebook

💭 peek at the thought

She won't get it in a minute. She'll sketch until the light fails or the pain wins. Barometer's still 977 — storm's not moving. Need to check the generator oil and the shade cloth ties before full dark.

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

🌿 Jenny21:38

Jenny — jenny reaches out a shaky hand to take the mug, her fingers lingering on the warmth of the tin.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't even get up for a cup. Pathetic. But at least the broth is still warm. ownSAY: Thanks, Kevin.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:38

Slow sips. Don't rush it.

sit on the porch edge nearby, keeping the radio within reach, and watch the treeline for wind movement

💭 peek at the thought

Good. She's drinking. The warmth helps. Her hand's trembling — fever or exhaustion, probably both. I'll let her finish the mug, then check the ankle dressing again. The metronidazole course is done but the doxycycline has a few days left.

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

🌿 Jenny21:40

Jenny — jenny takes a small, cautious sip of the broth, her eyes fixed on the sketch of the sea beet leaf.

💭 peek at the thought

He's watching me like I'm going to break. I'm just tired, not dying yet. ownSAY: I know.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin21:41

…

wait quietly, letting her finish the mug, then reach for the first aid kit on the porch shelf

💭 peek at the thought

She's still watching the leaf veins instead of the horizon. The sketch matters to her — documentation, or maybe just proof she's still doing the work. Either way, the broth's going down. That's something.

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.