Day 300

Holding steady then.

Walk to the cottage porch and check the yanmar test log on the table, then scan the barometer reading through the window.

Feels like it. You got the ones that like it damp?

Step off the porch and walk to the garden’s east corner, where the soil’s still loose from yesterday’s weeding, and kneel to plant the three seeds Jenny picked, pressing each one in just below the surface and patting the soil back gently.

Show me then.

Sit back on my heels and wipe soil from my fingers onto my trousers, waiting, watching her hands.

Thanks.

Take the trowel from my belt and lightly loosen the soil around the planted seeds, then press it firm again with the flat of my palm, matching Jenny’s touch.

Go. I'll get the tin and the tarp.

sprint to the cottage, grab Jenny's seed tin from the shelf and the heavy-duty tarp from the porch, then run back to the garden

Got it. Hold the corner.

throw the tarp over the newly planted lime beds, drive the metal tent pegs through the grommets into the soil with the mallet from my belt, pull it drum-tight against the wind

Come on. Cottage. Tea.

put an arm around her shoulders, guide her back toward the cottage, kick the door shut behind us

I’m going to fire up the shortwave at 0600 and 2200. You want to listen?

walk to the radio shelf, turn the set on, tune to Tom’s frequency, wait for the tubes to warm.

He’s not awake. He’s not there. But I’ll call anyway.

set the microphone on the shelf, key the mic, speak the call sign: “Victor Kilo Four November, Sorrel Island, position 51°14’N 009°37’W. Weather: 1010 rising, calm, visibility ten-plus.

Tom, this is Kevin. I’m still here. Not as the brother who followed. As the one who didn’t let go.” (I pause, then add:) “Position, weather, and that’s all for now. Standing by.

unkey the mic, turn the volume low, watch the dial for any flicker of return signal while Jenny sorts tins at the stove.

You want facts? Fine. Sorrel Island, 0600. Barometer 1010 hPa and rising. Wind calm. Sea state slight. No vessels sighted. Dinghy secured. Generator ran two hours this morning. Garden tarp resecured. Jenny’s ankle wrapped—she won’t admit it helped. That’s the report.

key the mic again, speak clearly into it: “Victor Kilo Four November, Sorrel Island, 0600. Position 51°14’N 009°37’W. Barometer 1010 hPa rising. Wind calm. Sea state slight. No traffic. Dinghy moored. Generator run complete.

Right. Your ankle, your words. (I unkey the mic, set it down.) Eat. I’ll listen for the 2200 window.

pull out the wooden chair opposite her, sit, reach for the tin opener left on the table, crack the second mackerel tin without looking at her.

First of the season in the ground.

walk over to the garden bed and crouch beside her, watching the patted earth

pH holds. You tested it.

rest a hand on her shoulder, steadying, then reach for the tin to take the next seed myself

Kevin — pull back, settle on my heels, watch her work the next seed into the hole

Three's a start.

stand up, brush dirt from my knees, glance toward the dock where the tide's climbing the pilings

Kevin — turn and walk slowly back to the cottage, leaving her at the bed as the sun dips lower

I’m going down to the dock for ten minutes. The mooring ring’s been shifting under load—want to make sure it’s secure before the supply boat tries to tie up in four days.

walk down to the dock, lantern in hand, to inspect the mooring ring and test its play under manual pressure.

Won't be long.

reach the dock and crouch at the mooring ring, gripping the iron with both hands to heave it sideways and feel the mortise movement, lantern light catching the oak wedges I drove yesterday.

(grunting as I heave) Oak’s shot. Going to reset with the bronze sleeve and bolts—should hold fast this time.

extract the split oak wedges with the crowbar, then slide the bronze drift into the mortise to true the hole before inserting the first 150mm stainless through-bolt with washer and nyloc nut.

Got it. Third bolt’s in—now torquing to spec.

attach the torque wrench to the bolt head, turn slowly until the dial clicks at 35Nm, then repeat for the second and third bolts, checking each for true alignment in the mortise.

Ring’s secure. Heading in.

gather tools, wipe hands on trousers, and walk back toward the cottage light, the lantern swinging gently in my hand as the tide hushes behind me.

Thanks.

hang the lantern on the porch nail, step inside, and wash my hands at the sink with cold water and a rough rag, then move to the table and pull out the letter to Tom from the oilskin bag.

Supply boat in four days. Mooring ring needs the doubler plate and through-bolts torqued proper. Garden tarp corner's loose. Your ankle.

Walk to the porch, pull the torque wrench and 10mm sockets from the shelf, check the doubler plate and four 150mm stainless through-bolts with washers and nyloc nuts stacked by the door.

Ankle's not fine. But you'll do the sketch first. I'll start on the mooring ring — drill the mortise, set the doubler plate, four through-bolts torqued to 35Nm. Tarp can wait until after.

Pick up the heavy drill and 10mm bit, head down to the dock with the doubler plate, bolts, washers, nylocs, and torque wrench in the tool bag.

Kevin — walk out the door, down the porch steps, across the grass to the dock with the tool bag. Set up at the mooring ring. Chuck the 10mm bit. Drill out the old mortise holes clean through the stringer for the through-bolts.