Day 455

North corner's tight. You want the radio on for the shipping forecast or save the battery?

check the north edge of the shade cloth where it meets the garden gate, tugging the batten to test the hold

Right. I'll finish the shade cloth check and get the generator cover battened. Kettle's on the stove if you want tea before the front hits.

move to the garden gate, inspect the shade cloth battening at the north edge, reinforce any loose timber strips with the mallet and spare oak stakes

I'll bring it out. Two mugs, strong.

walk to the cottage, fill the kettle from the tank, set it on the stove, spoon coffee into both tin mugs, wait for the boil, carry both mugs back to the garden wall

Generator cover's next. Then the dinghy warp. You stay put.

set my mug on the wall, walk to the porch where the generator sits, unfold the spare tarp, tuck the leading edge under the ridge beam, batten it down with timber strips and weight the corners with the tool bag

Tea's hot. Dock mortise took the doubler plate clean — ring's solid at high water. Engine test this afternoon if the wind stays down.

pour tea into both tin mugs, set one in front of Jenny, pull out the dock repair sketch and the Yanmar test log from the notebook

Last time the prop shaft shook the dinghy at eighteen fifty. Sleeve's on true now. I'll run it to two thousand, hold ten minutes, watch for shake in the transom.

tap the vibration note in the log, then fold the sketch and log together, push them toward Jenny across the table

I'll set the engine to 2000, let it run, then grab the vibration meter. If we hear a tone, I'll pop the hull and check the shaft alignment.

turn the Yanmar to 2000 RPM via the dinghy throttle, keep the engine at idle for ten minutes, record vibration levels, then hold the dinghy in the water to observe any wobble.

Housing bolts are torqued. Gasket's new. I'll watch the tell-tale and the bilge. Ten minutes at load, then shut her down if there's any weep.

walk out to the dock, untie the dinghy breast line, climb in, prime the Yanmar, start it, let it warm at idle, then advance throttle to 2000 RPM and hold, watching the tell-tale stream and feeling the transom for vibration

Kevin — set the chisel aside, retrieve the 12mm auger bit from the workshop, bore a clean overlapping hole to true up the mortise, then test-fit the bronze sleeve and doubler plate before the tide turns

Kevin — wipe the salt and sawdust off the bolts, step back and watch the ring under the first real load as the tide pushes against the dock, then walk back to the cottage for water and a bite before the afternoon heat settles in

Kevin — walk up to the cottage, pull a tin of corned beef and the last of the limpets from the pot, eat standing at the bench while scanning the seed trays for new fungal fuzz, then bag any infected cells for burning

Coffee's on the stove if you want it. I'll check the seed trays after.

Walk to the kitchen, lift the kettle off the wood stove, pour two tin mugs of hot water, set one on the porch rail beside Jenny's sketchbook.

Mug's here when you're ready. Let me look at the ankle first.

Set the mug down on the porch rail, crouch beside her chair, reach for the first aid kit on the shelf.

It's tracking. We need to open it again. Cleaner this time.

Pull on clean gloves from the first aid kit, soak gauze in the cooled boiled water from the kettle, gently wipe around the wound edges to see the full extent.

Saline it is. I'll flush it slow.

Open the saline packet, pour it gently over the wound to rinse away surface debris, then use tweezers to lift any visible pus or dead tissue at the edges.

I'm going to open the track. Let it breathe. You tell me to stop, I stop.

Take the scalpel from the first aid kit, flame it over the stove burner for three seconds, make a shallow 5mm incision along the reddened track to release the pocket, then flush with the remaining saline.

Packing it now. Honey on top. You'll want the foot up on the rail.

Soak clean gauze in saline, pack the wound cavity gently but firm, smear a thin layer of honey over the opening, cover with dry gauze, tape the edges down without pulling tight. Hand her the mug of coffee.

Kevin — walk to the porch door and look out at the dock and garden, assessing what needs tying down first.

On it.

Pull on oilskin jacket and boots, grab mallet and spare timber strips from the porch, head out to the garden.

Holding it.

Run to the garden, throw my weight on the flapping tarp corner, shove a cedar wedge under it to hold it flat, then start tying it down with the twine Jenny's bringing.

Take the twine—I'll anchor the corner, you run it to the stake.

Wrench the tarp corner tight against the ground, jam a second cedar wedge in beside the first to lock it, then hand Jenny the twine to tie it off to the oak stake.

Good. Pull it hard.

Stomp on the tarp to keep it flat while Jenny wraps the twine three times around the stake, then I tie off the end with a clinch knot and yank it tight.

Right behind you.

Follow Jenny up the porch steps, pause to grab the mallet and spare timber strips, then head for the dock to check the dinghy mooring and storm anchor.

Kevin — jog down the slick path to the dock, headlamp beam cutting the rain, check the doubled stern spring, the breast line, and the storm anchor warp for chafe or slip.

Door's shut. How's the ankle?

Close the door behind me, set the mallet on the porch shelf, and cross to the table. Press the back of my hand to her forehead, then reach for the antibiotic blister pack on the counter.

Fever's up. Let's get the meds in you and cool that leg. I'll redo the poultice with fresh mint and seawater — draw some of the heat out.

Open the antibiotic blister pack, take out the doxycycline tablet, and hand it to her with a tin mug of water. Then stand, fill the bucket at the rain tap, and head for the garden to pick a handful of fresh mint.

We'll keep that on a steady rhythm. Try to stay still, and I'll keep the mint on. No more pulling at the gauze.

Kneel at the table, take the mint (two sprigs), crush it in my palm, and mix with a splash of warm seawater. Apply the mixture to the gauze around her ankle, ensuring it stays moist.