Day 480

Vinegar soak's done. Gonna hit it with the impact. Stand clear if it breaks loose sudden.

Position the impact driver socket square on the injector nozzle hex, apply steady pressure, and trigger a sharp impact burst to break the corrosion bond.

Heat first. You're right.

Pick up the propane torch, check fuel level, light it, and apply a focused flame to the injector body (not the nozzle) for 30–40 seconds to expand the metal and break the corrosion bond before attempting the impact driver.

Short bursts. I'll feel when it breaks.

Apply the torch flame to the injector body in 10-second intervals, watching for the metal to glow dull red, then immediately test with the impact driver using short, controlled bursts — releasing pressure the instant the nozzle begins to tu

Easy does it. Almost out.

Continue applying short, controlled bursts with the impact driver while maintaining downward pressure, allowing the injector nozzle to unscrew slowly and smoothly from the cylinder head, releasing pressure immediately if binding occurs.

Morning. Kettle on?

walk to the kitchen, fill the kettle from the tank tap, set it on the wood stove, pull out the first aid kit and clean gauze

Let me see it.

set the first aid kit on the table, pull up the stool, peel back the gauze wrapping from her ankle

Red's held. No new streaks. Pus is clearing. You're doing better.

clean the wound with saline from the first aid kit, pat dry, reapply fresh honey-garlic paste, rewrap with clean gauze, snug but not tight

Coffee?

pull two tin mugs from the hook, spoon coffee into each, pour hot water, set one in front of her, take the other to the table

Kevin — check the rain tank overflow — make sure it’s not eroding the cottage foundation. Then go inside, light the stove, and warm up a tin of mackerel for lunch.

Kettle’s on. Honey-garlic paste is in the small jar on the shelf — fresh batch from yesterday.

Open the tin of mackerel with the knife, dump it in the cast iron skillet, set it on the wood stove to warm. Pour water in the kettle and hang it over the fire.

(quiet, not looking up from the skillet) Any spread?

Stir the mackerel with the fork, breaking it up. Let the fat render. Keep one eye on the bedroom doorway.

(nodding, still at the stove) Let it sit ten minutes, then we’ll rewrap. I’ll check the injector on the dinghy after — see if the impact driver can break that nozzle loose.

Turn the mackerel in the skillet once more, then push it to the side to keep warm. Lift the kettle — it’s singing. Pour hot water into the basin for her to rinse the cloth.

(quietly, to the room) Right then.

walk to the wood stove and check the kettle, then set about heating water for tea and broth

(pouring hot water into two mugs, voice low) They're in the dry bag with the radio. Double-wrapped. Saw you tracing the pulse — should've kept it elevated.

hand her a mug of tea, then pull the folding chair closer to sit beside her, keeping my voice even as I check the gauze for dampness or seepage

(after a pause, stirring my tea) We could start tomorrow. Just the first bed. Clear the marigold space, lay the cloth, put in the lettuce and basil. No promises beyond that.

set my mug down carefully, then reach over to gently adjust the edge of the garden tarp visible through the window with a fingertip — just enough to show I'm seeing it too, then turn back to her, waiting for her answer

(softly) Fever broke yesterday at four. You slept through it.

reach over and brush a strand of hair from her forehead, my thumb lingering on her temple — checking for heat — then pull my hand back slow, like I didn't mean it as a test

(quiet, rough) Five doses left. Two a day. That's two and a half days. If it's not gone by then —

stop myself, jaw tight, and pick up my own tea instead, blowing across the steam so I don't have to finish the sentence

Kevin — walk to the back wall and inspect the tank overflow connection and mortar joints

I'll check it now. Stay off it.

crouch at the tank base, wipe salt from the overflow joint, and inspect the copper fitting for cracks or seepage under pressure

Dock first. Then the pipe. You stay here.

grab the 19mm wrench and heavy weather line, head out the porch door toward the dock at low tide

Won't forget. Twenty minutes.

stride down the path to the dock, wrench in hand, heavy weather line coiled over shoulder

Kevin — reach the dock, drop to knees on the planking, and loosen the four 150mm stainless through-bolts on the steel doubler plate to reset the mooring ring in its mortise

Going to finish the dock bolts before the tide covers them. Stay off the ankle.

Walk down to the dock with the 19mm wrench and torch, work the remaining bolts on the steel doubler plate while the pilings are still accessible.

Ten minutes. I'll have the generator running and the storm lantern lit before dark.

Apply penetrating oil to the bolt heads, then torque them to 35Nm with the wrench, working quickly but steadily as the rain intensifies and the dock begins to flood at the edges.