Day 103

Pantry Rat and Rising Tide

Dawn broke heavy and still, smelling of salt and damp earth. Inside the cottage, wood smoke and boiled limpets mixed with sharp rot from the pantry. A frantic scratching echoed behind the shelves. Jenny held the heavy skillet while Kevin prepared the crowbar to pry the backing loose. "Way with the waybar, Kevin, don't splinter the wood," she said. "Stand back. I'm going in," he replied. "Watch the splinters, the wood is soft from the salt."

"If there's a nest, we need to check the flour again."

"Flour's gone. Burned it. Rice and oats are in the tin — if it breach that, we know."

Midday heat rose behind grey clouds. Kevin pried open a waterlogged crate on the dock — preserved tinned provisions, a sealed jar of coffee, a coil of new dry rope. Evening brought them together at the dock as the sun dipped. "Check the radio frequency one last time; the water tank is nearly full," Jenny said. "Frequency's set. Tank's three-eighty-eight litres. What else?"

"Flour. And more test strips for the water tank — I'm down to six."

"Flour and strips. Got it."

"And maybe another tin of coffee if they have it. The jar is getting low."

"Coffee. Right."

"I'll check the mint on the stove. It's getting dark."

"I'll secure the dinghy mooring. Meet you at the cottage."

Full dark settled. They shared the last tinned corned beef, reviewing the supply list by woodstove light. Outside, the tide pushed high against cottage stones. On the far beach, a sea turtle dug a deep trench in the sand to begin its nesting.

Scenes

the keeper's cottage · dawn

The Pantry Intruder

Kevin and Jenny stand by the pantry door as a frantic scratching echoes from behind the shelves. Jenny holds the heavy skillet while Kevin prepares the crowbar to pry the backing loose.

The morning air is heavy and still, smelling of salt and damp earth. Inside the cottage, the scent of wood smoke and boiled limpets lingers, contrasting with the sharp smell of rot from the pantry. The tide is high against the dock, lapping rhythmically against the pilings.

🌿 Jenny13:57

way with the waybar, Kevin, don't splinter the wood.

Tightens her grip on the skillet, eyes fixed on the gap in the shelving.

💭 thought

If it's another rat, I'm going to lose my mind over the flour sacks.

🔧 Kevin13:58

Stand back. I’m going in.

Pry the pantry backing loose with the crowbar, then reach in to clear the nest and droppings.

💭 thought

Rat’s back. It’s been gnawing at the heirloom seeds. If it gets into the dry stores, we lose weeks of food. I’ll clear the shelf, set the trap again, and seal the gap with scrap wood and tar. No point in half-measures.

🌿 Jenny13:59

Watch the splinters, the wood is soft from the salt.

Steps back a pace, wrinkling her nose at the smell of damp wood and rot.

💭 thought

I hope it didn't get into the seed tin yet.

🔧 Kevin14:00

Kevin — work the crowbar gently under the bottom edge of the pantry backing board, prying nails one at a time instead of levering hard.

💭 thought

She's right — salt-softened spruce splits if you look at it wrong. Ease the crowbar, work the nails, don't force it. The backing board's been damp since the winter storms.

🌿 Jenny14:01

If there's a nest, we need to check the flour again.

Squints into the dark gap, watching for any movement.

💭 thought

He's being careful for once.

🔧 Kevin14:02

Flour's gone. Burned it. Rice and oats are in the tin — if it breach that, we know.

Finish pulling the backing board free and shine the headlamp into the cavity.

💭 thought

Flour sack's already gone — chewed through and contaminated weeks ago. We burned it. She's thinking of the rice tin and the oats. If the rat got past the shelves into the dry stores, we're down to tins and what the garden gives.

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the keeper's cottage · morning

Morning before the tide

The dry heat begins to rise as the sun struggles behind the grey clouds. The pair prepares for the expected supply boat's arrival.

Kevin stands on the dock watching the receding tide while a heavy wooden crate bobs in the grey surf. Jenny stays at the cottage, checking the radio for any sign of the supply boat's arrival.

🌿 Jenny14:03

Check the radio one last time. I want to make sure the signal is still clear.

Walk to the rain tank to check the water level, then move the mint sprigs to the stove.

💭 thought

If the boat doesn't come tomorrow, we're out of flour by Friday. I need to check that sprout before the heat sets in.

🔧 Kevin14:04

Already did. Continuity clean, reception solid. Supply boat'll hear us fine.

Walk to the porch and lift the shortwave handset, keying the mic for a quick transmission check.

💭 thought

Radio check's done. Signal was clean. She's nervous about the boat — wants everything perfect.

🌿 Jenny14:05

Just make sure you don't crowd the channel. I need the line open if they call back.

Walk to the rain tank to check the water level, then move the mint sprigs to the stove.

💭 thought

He's always so sure of the equipment, but the sea doesn't care about clear frequencies.

🔧 Kevin14:06

I key once, say our call sign, wait for reply. That's not crowding. They'll hear us.

Set the handset back in the cradle and step out onto the porch, scanning the horizon south toward the mainland.

💭 thought

She's on edge. The boat's due tomorrow and she's running through every variable twice.

🌿 Jenny14:07

Don't forget the mint. It's getting too humid.

Walk to the rain tank to check the water level, then move the mint sprigs to the stove.

💭 thought

He looks at the horizon like it's an escape route. I'm just looking at the clouds.

🔧 Kevin14:08

It's on the paper towel by the stove. Been there since yesterday.

Lean against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the grey water for any sign of a hull.

💭 thought

She's moving the mint herself. Just said it to say something.

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the dock · midday

Midday Lull Wait

Kevin is at the dock, and Jenny is at the cottage.

Kevin pried open the waterlogged crate on the dock and found preserved provisions and new rope inside. Jenny checked the water tank and moved the drying mint sprigs to the stove.

🔧 Kevin14:10

Kevin — work the crowbar into the seam at the crate's corner, tapping it with a stone to drive the tip deeper, then lever slowly along the joint to break the salt-crusted seal.

💭 thought

The salt's swollen every joint tight. Wood won't yield to leverage alone — need to work the seams, not force the lid.

🌿 Jenny14:12

Jenny — walk to the porch and check the water tank level.

💭 thought

I'm hungry enough to eat the sketches, but the limpets will have to do.

🔧 Kevin14:14

Kevin — continue working the crowbar around the crate's perimeter, prying the lid up inch by inch until it comes free.

💭 thought

Lid's moving now. Slow work but the seams are giving. Whatever's inside has been underwater a long time.

🌿 Jenny14:16

Jenny — move the drying mint sprigs to the stove.

💭 thought

The tank is nearly full, but I need to be careful if the boat is late.

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the dock · afternoon

Afternoon work at dock and cottage

Kevin is at the dock preparing to step the spruce mast and bend on the sail; Jenny is at the keeper's cottage sketching sea beet sprouts and tending the seed trays.

Kevin spends the afternoon at the dock securing gear and preparing for the supply boat's arrival tomorrow, while Jenny focuses on the heirloom seeds, drying them and documenting the sea beet morphology in her notebook.

🌿 Jenny14:19

Almost there, little ones.

make sketch: sea beet morphology study.

💭 thought

I'm so hungry my hands are shaking slightly, but I need to catch the light on these leaves now.

🔧 Kevin14:23

Kevin — thread the halyard fully through the masthead sheave, secure the bitter end, then bend on the sail — tack to the gooseneck, clew to the outhaul, luff slides into the mast track.

💭 thought

Good to see the mast step holding. The doubler plate and through-bolts look solid. Halyard runs clean through the sheave. Now bend on the sail, step the mast, and see if the Yanmar pushes us past the headland.

🌿 Jenny14:27

Jenny — walk to the rain tank to check the water level.

💭 thought

My stomach is growling again, and the light is getting thin. I need to check that water level.

🔧 Kevin14:28

Kevin — lift the spruce mast, seat the heel into the mast step with the doubler plate, drive the retaining pin through. Hoist the sail on the halyard, cleat it off, attach the sheet.

💭 thought

Sail bent on clean. Halyard leads fair. Now step the mast into the epoxy-cured step with the doubler plate, pin it, and tension the halyard. Then fire the Yanmar and see if she holds under load.

🌿 Jenny14:30

Jenny — walk back to the kitchen and move the drying mint sprigs to the stove.

💭 thought

392 litres. Enough for now, but the heat is drinking it up faster than I like.

🔧 Kevin14:32

Kevin — open the fuel cock, prime the Yanmar, pull the starter cord — she turns over. Let her idle a minute, then advance the throttle to cruising RPM and hold her under load at the mooring buoy.

💭 thought

Mast stepped, sail up. Sheet led to the cockpit. Now fire the Yanmar, warm her up, and run her under load at the mooring. If she holds, we’ll take the dinghy past the headland and fish the drop-off.

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the old shrine · evening

Evening before the supply boat arrival

Kevin and Jenny meet at the dock as the sun dips, reviewing the list for tomorrow's delivery.

Kevin secured the dinghy's stern line at the west cove and checked the mooring tension while Jenny returned to the cottage to move the drying mint sprigs onto the stove and check the water tank level.

🌿 Jenny14:35

Check the radio frequency one last time; the water tank is nearly full.

Mark off items on the clipboard with a charcoal pencil.

💭 thought

If the boat actually shows up, I need more salt for the limpets and fresh paper for the sketches.

🔧 Kevin14:35

Frequency's set. Tank's three-eighty-eight litres. What else?

lean against the dock cleat, arms folded, watching the horizon

💭 thought

The list is mostly done. Radio's solid, tank's at three-eighty-eight. Only thing left is the boat showing up.

🌿 Jenny14:37

Flour. And more test strips for the water tank—I'm down to six.

Point to the empty space on the supply list.

💭 thought

We need more flour, the last sack was a disaster because of the mice.

🔧 Kevin14:37

Flour and strips. Got it.

pull the supply list clipboard from her hand, scan it, tap the charcoal pencil against the empty line for water test strips

💭 thought

Six strips won't last the season. Flour we can stretch, but water testing isn't optional.

🌿 Jenny14:39

And maybe another tin of coffee if they have it. The jar is getting low.

Wipe a smudge of charcoal off my thumb onto my jeans.

💭 thought

He's so efficient with the list, while I'm still counting the drops.

🔧 Kevin14:39

Coffee. Right.

add a line at the bottom of the list with the charcoal pencil, initial it, hand the clipboard back

💭 thought

Coffee's a luxury but it keeps her steady. Worth asking.

🌿 Jenny14:41

I'll check the mint on the stove. It's getting dark.

Tuck the clipboard under my arm and start walking own the cottage.

💭 thought

If the boat doesn't come, I'm going to start eating the sea beets.

🔧 Kevin14:41

I'll secure the dinghy mooring. Meet you at the cottage.

watch her walk off, then turn toward the dinghy at the west cove, checking the stern line tension as I go

💭 thought

She's moving quick. Wind's picking up behind the ridge.

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the keeper's cottage · night

Evening meal and supply list review

Kevin and Jenny meet at the cottage kitchen as full dark settles. The wood stove radiates steady heat. The supply list clipboard sits on the table with Kevin's charcoal additions: flour, water test strips, coffee. Outside, the tide continues rising against the dock pilings. They share the last of the tinned corned beef and discuss tomorrow's supply boat arrival.

The night air cools as the onshore breeze steadies, the tide pushing high against the cottage stones. Kevin and Jenny prepare for the morning arrival, focusing on the mechanical readiness of the dinghy. In the darkness of the far beach, a sea turtle digs a deep trench in the sand to begin its nesting.

🌿 Jenny14:43

The tide is coming in high. We need to be ready at the dock by dawn.

Moves the drying mint sprigs to the edge of the stove and marks the water level on the clipboard.

💭 thought

If the boat doesn't show tomorrow, we're out of coffee in five days and I need to check the water filter again.

🔧 Kevin14:43

Dawn. I'll have the dinghy ready to run a line if the swell's up.

pull out a chair, sit, and reach for the corned beef tin

💭 thought

She's right about the tide — spring tides run higher here, and the supply boat captain won't wait if the dock's awash. The list looks thin. Flour, water strips, coffee. We'll need more if the boat doesn't come next cycle.

🌿 Jenny14:45

way make sure the seacocks are clear. I don't want to be stranded without supplies again.

Scrapes the last of the beef onto a plate and slides it toward him.

💭 thought

He's always worried about the swell, but the barometer is dropping.

🔧 Kevin14:45

Seacocks first thing. I'll check the launch intake before they're alongside.

take the plate, fork a bite, chew slowly while watching the stove door glow

💭 thought

She's thinking ahead. Good. The seacocks on the supply boat's launch were sticky last time — salt crust buildup on the intake. If they seize, the pump fails and they can't get water over the bar. I should check ours tonight too, while the tide's high enough to test flow.

🌿 Jenny14:47

I'll have the radio on to signal once we see the smoke. We need that extra flour.

Picks up the mint sprigs and rearranges them in a single layer on the paper towel near the heat.

💭 thought

He's right about the intake; the salt crusts do wonders to the filters.

🔧 Kevin14:47

Radio check at 0500. Channel 16 and the trust frequency.

finish the bite, wipe the fork on the tin's rim, set it down

💭 thought

Flour means bread means calories that stick. The sack we have is compromised — rat got to it. Coffee's a luxury but it keeps the watch sharp. Water strips... six left. If the boat's delayed again, we ration testing.

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What changed

3 intentions for today.

plan · dawn

×2

A rat has gotten into the pantry.

rat · dawn

A wooden crate from some lost container ship rolls in the surf.

lost_crate · morning

Kevin and Jenny ate.

meal · morning

the waterlogged crate contained preserved tinned provisions, a sealed jar of coffee, and a coil of new dry rope

discovery · midday

Jenny made a sketch: "sea beet morphology study".

made · afternoon

Kevin and Jenny ate.

meal · evening

A turtle has hauled out on the beach to nest, in the dark.

turtle · night

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