the keeper's cottage · day 903 · night

The Morning of the Arrival

The rain has tapered to a miserable drizzle as dawn breaks. You and Jenny stand at the dock, scanning the horizon for the silhouette of the supply boat.

Steady rain beats against the cottage as the water tank reaches its maximum capacity. Kevin and Jenny stay indoors to wait out the weather and prepare for the supply boat arrival tomorrow. The humidity remains high, making any outdoor construction or medical treatment impossible.

🔧 Kevin03:52

Radio check on 2182 when you see the mast. I'll have the bow line ready.

Coil the bow line neatly on the dock cleat, check the dinghy's storm anchor warp is clear to run, and scan the northern horizon with binoculars.

💭 peek at the thought

Barometer's still low but holding. If the captain's running on schedule he'll be rounding the north headland within the hour. Tide's coming in — gives him water over the shoals but puts the swell against the current at the channel mouth. Better we're here waiting than him hailing blind on the radio.

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

🌿 Jenny03:52

I've got the radio. Just give me a second to get my balance.

Lean heavily against a piling to steady myself, then reach into the dry bag for the handheld VHF.

💭 peek at the thought

My ankle is screaming. Every step on these slick planks feels like a hot needle. I just want to be back in the cottage with a coffee and my sketches.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin03:54

Take your time. No rush on the call — he'll hail us when he rounds the point.

Step down onto the lower dock planks to check the mooring ring bolts one more time, testing each with a boot heel.

💭 peek at the thought

She's favouring the left leg hard. Swelling hasn't gone down overnight. If the boat's crane swings heavy stores she won't be hauling anything up the dock ramp. I'll need to meet the crane hook myself.

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

🌿 Jenny03:54

I'm fine, Kevin. Just watching.

Hold the VHF tightly, squinting at the grey line where the sea meets the sky, shifting weight off the swollen ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's hovering. "No rush" sounds like "don't get in the way." I can see him checking the bolts he already checked three times.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin03:56

Didn't say you weren't.

Turn back from the mooring ring, hands on hips, scanning the same grey line — the north headland, the channel markers, the empty horizon.

💭 peek at the thought

She's not fine. The red line tracked past the ankle bone yesterday. If the antibiotics aren't holding by noon I'll have to call the medevac whether the supply boat shows or not. But not now — not with her standing here willing the boat into existence.

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

🌿 Jenny03:56

Jenny — look away from him and focus on the horizon, gripping the radio until my knuckles turn white.

💭 peek at the thought

That tone. That particular, flat correction. He thinks I'm being sensitive, which just makes me feel more invisible.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

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