the keeper's cottage · day 994 · midday

A Quiet Stretch

Back at the cottage.

Kevin and Jenny argued over the radio and her infection. Kevin insisted she stay in bed and take all three antibiotic courses while he fetched water for a salt soak. Jenny tried to stand and transmit a medevac call but collapsed back into the chair, too weak to key the mic.

🔧 Kevin04:48

Coffee's on. Radio in ten.

walk to the wood stove, pour two tin mugs from the kettle, set one on the porch table for Jenny, then lift the shortwave's microphone and dial 8.297 MHz

💭 peek at the thought

The cottage porch feels solid under my boots after the dock. Shoulder's screaming — abduction past forty degrees lights it up. Ribs ache with each breath. Need to check the Yanmar's impeller housing bolts before the vibration settles into something worse, then get the shortwave hot for Brest at 1800. Jenny's ankle needs eyes on it too. She won't ask.

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

🌿 Jenny04:49

"Thank you." (I reach for the mug but my ankle protests, so I settle for gripping the edge of the table instead) "Thank you." (I reach for the mug but my ankle protests, so I settle for gripping the edge of the table instead)

apply fresh sea beet-mint poultice to ankle; set boiling kettle on wood stove; take pain medication; write radio log entry with barometer reading 983 hPa and falling</think>THOUGHT: The infection's spreading faster than I feared.

💭 peek at the thought

The infection's spreading faster than I feared. My hand won't obey, and the radio's static might drown out Tom's voice anyway. But I need to know if the boat's coming - if it's delayed, I might not make it to plant pocket eight before the rain hits.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🔧 Kevin04:50

Drink the coffee. Then you're taking the big antibiotics. Both courses.

set my mug down, pull the medical kit from the shelf, palm the amoxicillin-clavulanate blister packs and set them on the table beside her mug

💭 peek at the thought

Red streaks tracking up the calf. That's not poultice territory anymore. She needs the amoxicillin-clavulanate, full course, and she needs to stay off it. But she'll fight me on both.

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

🌿 Jenny04:51

"I already took one." (My voice comes out hoarse from lack of sleep) "I already took one this morning." (I grip the table edge tighter, the wood splinters catching against my palm) "Kevin, I need to plant the seeds today. Before the rain." (I force the words out, each one a small rebellion against my own weakness)

take pain medication with coffee; write radio log entry with antibiotic dosing; apply fresh sea beet-mint poultice to ankle; set boiling kettle on wood stove; take amoxicillin-clavulanate tablet despite previous dose; prepare fresh poultice

💭 peek at the thought

He knows. He's seen the red streaking up my calf even I hadn't fully acknowledged it. The antibiotics are here, but I've already taken one dose this morning - I can't double up without risking side effects. But if this infection reaches my bloodstream, I won't make it to pocket eight.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🔧 Kevin04:53

The seeds can wait. You stay in bed. Both of us.

retrieve the doxycycline and metronidazole from the medical kit, arrange all three antibiotic courses on the table, then walk to the spring to fill a bucket so I can make her a proper salt soak

💭 peek at the thought

She took another dose already. Liver's going to hate this. But the infection's tracking up her calf - that's systemic. She needs both courses, now, before it gets worse. And she needs to rest, not plant seeds in the rain.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🌿 Jenny04:53

"No." (It comes out sharper than I intended) "No, Kevin. You don't understand. If I wait—" (I stand abruptly, leaning on my cane, the pain radiating through my ankle like fire) "The seeds need me to move. The island's already chosen what lives and dies. I won't let it decide for me." (I reach for my phone, fingers trembling)

stand abruptly on wobbly legs; lean heavily on driftwood cane; write emergency radio message to Tom; dial 8.297 MHz; transmit "Medevac preparation - infection spreading - need immediate supply boat contact"; apply fresh poultice while stand

💭 peek at the thought

He's trying to protect me, but if I don't move now, the infection will claim me and the seeds will die with me. I've seen what happens when I stall - the red streaks only grow longer.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🔧 Kevin04:54

Put the mic down, Jen. You're not leaving this island in a helicopter.

step between her and the radio, set my hand on the microphone without keying it, hold her eyes

💭 peek at the thought

She's calling Tom on 8.297. That's not the medevac frequency. She's reaching for the one person who might answer. And she's right about the seeds - the island takes what it wants. But she's burning herself to save them.

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

🌿 Jenny04:55

"Kevin, I need to radio Tom. The infection..." (I try to pull my hand away but he grips my wrist) "Kevin, I need you to listen. If you could just - let me explain -" (My voice cracks with the effort of speaking) "Tell me what you need to say." (I finally look at him, really look at him, and see the fear beneath his calm)

release microphone and radio; sit heavily in wooden chair; write urgent radio message to Tom; dial 8.297 MHz; transmit "Medevac preparation - infection spreading - need immediate supply boat contact"; apply fresh poultice to ankle; take pai

💭 peek at the thought

He's not saying no - he's saying we're doing this together. But the antibiotics are running out, the boat's coming tomorrow, and I can't wait. I need to move now, before I lose the ability to stand.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

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