the dock · day 963 · midday

supply boat arrival

The supply boat's hull breaks the grey horizon on schedule, engine throbbing low. Kevin has the bow line ready; Jenny sits braced against the dock cleat, cane across her knees. The tide is high, water lapping the lowest plank. The captain cuts power early, letting the current swing the stern toward the dock.

The supply boat arrives on schedule, but the heavy south-east wind brings salt spray that makes the dock slick. Kevin and Jenny struggle to secure the lines as the rotting wood of the dock planks causes the boat to strain dangerously against the swell.

🌿 Jenny00:43

He's on time.

Grip the cane tight and shift weight onto the good leg, watching the gap between the hull and the jetty.

💭 peek at the thought

Finally. My ankle is pulsing, but I can't let him see me wince. I need those antibiotics and that impeller before the wind shifts.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:44

Aye. Slack tide helping him.

step forward and toss the bow line in a clean coil toward the captain's outstretched hand

💭 peek at the thought

He's early by half an hour. Good. Means the crossing was clean. Means he's not fighting weather ahead of him.

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

🌿 Jenny00:44

Steady on.

Lean forward slightly, eyes locked on the bow's approach, ready to help stabilize the line if it slips.

💭 peek at the thought

Just don't let the boat surge. One bad hit to these pilings and we're back to square one with the stringers.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:46

Got it.

catch the bow line as it comes back, snub it quick around the landward cleat, then move to the stern spring before the current takes the boat

💭 peek at the thought

She's bracing hard on that cane. The ankle's taking her weight whether she admits it or not.

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

🌿 Jenny00:47

I'll handle the spring.

Push off the cleat with the cane and limp toward the stern, reaching for the spring line.

💭 peek at the thought

He's moving fast. I need to get up and check the manifest, or I'll be waiting on the porch for hours while he decides what's important.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:48

Port side. Ring's holding.

hold the bow line taut, feeding slack only as the stern spring catches, watching the hull for any rub against the new planking

💭 peek at the thought

She'll do it anyway if I say no. The cleat's closer to her than the stern ring.

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.