the keeper's cottage · day 871 · morning

coax run and radio check

Kevin stands at the base of the radio mast with the coiled coax, looking up at the insulator bracket. Jenny sits on the porch step with her notebook, pencil poised over a fresh page. The rain has eased to a mist. The barometer holds at 977 hPa. The tide is low and turning.

Heavy rain lashes the island from the west, forcing outdoor work to a halt. Jenny struggles with fever and persistent pain in her ankle while Kevin monitors the rising water levels and prepares for the storm.

🔧 Kevin05:49

Running the coax up now. You log the time and frequency when I call.

climb the radio mast with the coiled coax, secure the PL-259 to the filed ceramic insulator at the bracket, then run the line down to the radio shack entry point

💭 peek at the thought

Coax is ready. Insulator's filed ceramic, sealed with self-amalgamating tape — should hold. Need to get this up the mast before the next front hits. Jenny's watching. She'll log the contact if I make one.

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

🌿 Jenny05:51

Copy that. Don't forget the tension on the weather lead.

Write the date and wind speed in the notebook, then lean back against the cold stone wall, rubbing the throbbing ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

The fever is making the edges of the world blur, but I need to finish this log before the boat comes.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:51

Weather lead. Right. Tension it off at the cleat.

secure the coax weather lead to the mast cleat with a proper hitch, check tension, then descend to the radio shack to connect the PL-259 to the shortwave set

💭 peek at the thought

Weather lead tension — right. Forgot that in the damp. She's tracking the ankle in the log too, not just the radio. Smart.

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

🌿 Jenny05:53

Hurry up. I need to check the water levels before my head spins.

Stand up slowly, wincing as the weight shifts on the sea beet poultice, and limp toward the rain tank.

💭 peek at the thought

If that connection doesn't hold, I'm just talking to the ghosts of this island.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:53

Tank's full. 400 litres. You sit. I'll check.

connect the coax to the shortwave radio, power it on, and set frequency to 2182 kHz while calling out the tank level

💭 peek at the thought

She's worse than she's letting on. The wince, the limp, "head spins" — that's not just the ankle. Infection's systemic or the antibiotics aren't holding. Tank can wait. She can't.

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

🌿 Jenny05:55

It's full. way make sure the signal gets through.

Sit on the kitchen chair, clutching the notebook to my chest, and watch the rain artwork the glass.

💭 peek at the thought

The radio hum is the only thing louder than the pulse in my leg right now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:55

Calling 2182 now. You stay put.

key the microphone and transmit on 2182 kHz — "Sorrel Island caretaker station, Sorrel Island caretaker station, this is Victor Kilo 4 Sierra Romeo, requesting radio check and supply boat status, over"

💭 peek at the thought

"Way make sure" — hands shaking or mind drifting. She's not tracking words right. Fever or pain. Radio first, then I'm checking her temp properly.

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

🌿 Jenny05:57

I'm listening.

Lean toward the radio, holding my breath, and wait for the crackle of the mainland.

💭 peek at the thought

If there's only static, I'm going to lose my mind out here.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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