the keeper's cottage · day 958 · night

Night of the Rising Fever

The rain has slowed to a steady drip, and the air inside the cottage is thick with the smell of antiseptic and damp herbs. Jenny is in a fitful, restless sleep while you watch the flickering of the lantern.

Kevin confirmed the supply boat arrival for tomorrow's high tide and administered the first dose of broad-spectrum antibiotics to Jenny as her fever held at 39.5°C. Jenny's condition remained critical with infection spreading above the knee, while Kevin monitored her through the night.

🌿 Jenny12:46

Jenny — reach out to brush the sweat from her forehead with a cool cloth.

💭 peek at the thought

The fever is too high; if that red line reaches the joint tomorrow, I won't be strong enough to reach the radio.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:46

Kevin — check the pulse at her ankle again, then reach for the antibiotic blister packs in my jacket pocket.

💭 peek at the thought

Her breathing's shallow. The fever's still climbing. I've got maybe six hours before the supply boat's window — if it comes at all. The broad-spectrum course is in my pocket. Fourteen doses of doxycycline, twelve of metronidazole. She won't take them voluntary if she's lucid enough to refuse. If she's not, the decision's already made.

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

🌿 Jenny12:47

Is it... for the boat?

Open eyes slightly, wincing at the movement of the leg.

💭 peek at the thought

He's checking the pulse again. I can feel the heat radiating off the skin even through the gauze.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:48

The boat's confirmed for high tide tomorrow. Captain acknowledged on 2182. Replacement impeller and full antibiotic resupply aboard.

Press the cool cloth back to her forehead, holding it there longer than necessary.

💭 peek at the thought

She's lucid enough to ask. That's something. But the question tells me she's tracking — knows the boat's the only real chance. The infection's past her knee now. Fourteen doses won't touch sepsis if it's bloodborne. She knows that too.

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.