Day 790

Got it up. You want first crack at the manifest?

set the crate down on the dock planks, wipe salt from my hands onto my trousers, and reach for the crowbar

Take your time. I'll get the tin snips.

step back from the crate, pull the tin snips from my belt loop, and hold them out handle-first

On it.

crouch at the crate's edge, run my fingers along the lid seam checking for corrosion trails and water staining, press the edge of a tin lid with my thumb testing the vacuum seal

Easy. Let the bar do the work.

brace the crate with my boot, slide my hands under the lid edge ready to lift when the nails give

Coming.

heave the lid up and back, flipping it onto the dock planks, then peer into the crate interior

Three tins corned beef. Two jerry cans diesel — one's cracked, loses maybe a litre a day. Flare gun, twelve cartridges dry. Twelve mil poly line, salt-crusted but sound. That's your haul.

pull out a chair and sit opposite her, hands flat on the table

Epoxy tub's near empty. Residue only. Might seal a hairline if I warm the can first. You want first watch on the tide? Crate's still wedged at the rocks — lid's salt-welded shut.

stand and walk to the workshop shelf, pull down the epoxy tub, scrape a fingernail along the inside rim

Won't force it. Wedge and tap. You hear the radio crackle at all last night?

tuck the epoxy tub under one arm, grab the crowbar from the garden wall, head for the dock

Right. You take the seeds and the good diesel can up to the cottage. I'll drag the cracked one to the workshop and patch it before the fumes hit the stove.

grab the cracked jerry can by the handle and haul it toward the workshop shed, crowbar hooked through the other handle for leverage

Seeds go on the high shelf. Not the table.

wrestle the cracked jerry can through the workshop door, set it on the bench, and pull the roofing tar tub from the shelf above the vise

Kevin — scoop a wad of roofing tar with the putty knife, press it hard into the hairline crack along the jerry can's seam, smooth it over with the blade heated by the propane torch flame

Kevin — set the putty knife down, wipe hands on a rag, and step to the workshop door to watch the tar cure in the heat

Kevin — wipe down the cracked jerry can with a clean rag, inspect the fracture for stress lines, set it in the shade to dry before epoxy

Won't. Let it dry proper.

set the jerry can on the workbench in the shade, pull up a stool, and watch the tide line on the dock pilings while the can airs out

Fresh water rinse first. Salt eats epoxy.

walk to the rain tank, fill a tin mug, carry it back to the workbench and slowly pour it along the crack in the jerry can, watching the runoff

Kevin — grab the clean rag from the bench, fold it, scrub the wet crack with thumb pressure, flip the rag to a dry face and wipe the metal clean, set the can back in the shade to air dry

Kevin — sit on the porch step beside her, back against the whitewashed wall, eyes on the water climbing the dock pilings, one hand resting on my knee

Water's boiling. Want the corned beef or mackerel?

set the kettle on the wood stove and pull two tin mugs from the shelf

It's good.

pry the mackerel tin open with the church key and slide it across the table to her

Eat slow. Broth's still warm if you want it.

pour the remaining limpet broth from the pot into my own mug and sit opposite her at the table

Radio check at dusk. Then first light on the ebb for the dinghy lines.

blow across my mug, watching her take another bite

Going to patch the jerry can. You want the last of the corned beef or should I crack a tin of mackerel?

walk to the workshop with the cracked jerry can and epoxy tub

Right. Mackerel it is.

set the jerry can on the workbench, wipe it dry with a rag, and mix the last of the epoxy for the crack

Bone dry. Hit it with the torch first, drive the damp out.

go over the crack with the propane torch, moving the flame steady to heat the metal and chase out moisture, then apply epoxy while the steel's still warm