the keeper's cottage · day 908 · midday

Midday Heat

Kevin returns to the cottage as the temperature begins to peak, finding Jenny waiting in the shade with the supply boat still five days away.

The rain intensifies, turning from a steady drizzle into a heavy lashing from the west. The humidity spikes, making the air heavy and the stone walls of the cottage slick. The drainage near the foundation groans as the runoff from the north slope increases.

🔧 Kevin07:52

Trench is clear. Ridge holding.

walk up to the porch and set the spade against the wall, wipe hands on trousers

💭 peek at the thought

Ridge held. Trench draining clean. No new slump since yesterday's walk. Six days to boat — enough time to finish the north piling sister if the rain breaks.

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

🌿 Jenny07:53

Good. Keep it clear.

Shift slightly on the porch bench, wincing as the movement pulls at the gauze.

💭 peek at the thought

Holding for now. The soil is too saturated for "holding" to mean anything permanent. I can't even stand up without my ankle screaming.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin07:54

Gauze holding?

step onto the porch, pull the kettle off the stove and pour into two tin mugs

💭 peek at the thought

She's favouring the left side. Gauze needs changing tonight. Antibiotics down to twelve doxycycline, four metronidazole. Should check the medical kit before dark.

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

🌿 Jenny07:54

It's tight.

Reach for the mug he offers, keeping the injured leg stretched out flat on the bench.

💭 peek at the thought

It's holding the fluid in, but the pressure is building. I can feel the pulse of it against the fabric.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin07:56

Take the doxy now. Food in the tin.

set the second mug on the porch rail, pull the corned beef tin from the shelf and set it beside her with a fork

💭 peek at the thought

Tight means swelling still up. Heat in the joint. Night dose due in four hours. She won't ask for the pills.

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

🌿 Jenny07:57

I've got it.

Reach for the doxy blister pack and pop a tablet, swallowing it with a gulp of tea before opening the corned beef.

💭 peek at the thought

I know the schedule. He doesn't have to narrate my medication. I'm starving, but the thought of the grease makes me feel slightly nauseous.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin07:58

Radio at six. Boat confirmation.

sit on the porch step, mug between knees, watch the rain line move across the garden

💭 peek at the thought

Good. Twelve left. Metronidazole at bed. She ate half the tin yesterday — protein helps the wound. Radio schedule at 1800. Need to confirm boat ETA hasn't shifted.

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

🌿 Jenny07:58

The rain's shifting west. It'll hit the north slope harder.

Take a small, reluctant bite of the corned beef and lean back against the whitewashed stone.

💭 peek at the thought

He's staring at the rain instead of the weeds. He thinks the boat is the only thing that matters, but the salt is eating the soil beneath us.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin08:00

Sandbags at the northeast weeps. Two hours before full dark.

finish the mug, set it aside, stand and stretch the shoulder that's been stiff since the winch work

💭 peek at the thought

She's read the cloud line same as me. West drift means the intercept trench takes the full catchment. If the shoring at the northeast corner fails, the garden wall undercuts. Should sandbag the lower weep zones before dark.

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

🌿 Jenny08:01

Check the drainage again when you go back.

Rub the base of the ankle, trying to dull the throb without touching the swelling.

💭 peek at the thought

If the northeast weeps, the whole terrace is going to slide. I can't let the runoff take the seed beds.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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