Day 943

Already on it. The twine's in my pocket.

Check the shade cloth anchor knots at each corner, reinforcing the frayed nylon with sail twine from my pocket.

Double-hitched and served. The twine's tarred — salt won't touch it.

Finish the last anchor point on the seaward corner, pulling the shade cloth taut and securing it with a double hitch and serving.

Glass says rising. But the clouds say different. I'll trust the clouds.

Glance at the barometer on the porch, then scan the northern sky, noting the cloud formation.

Tin's on the stove shelf. Oilskin pouch. I'll grab the dry bag.

Walk to the cottage porch, retrieve the dry bag from under the eaves, and bring it to the kitchen table.

Tomato and pepper packets had mold at the edges. Basil too. I bagged the worst in newspaper for burning.

Set the dry bag on the table beside her, pull out the newspaper-wrapped bundles, and lay them out for her to verify.

Clouds don't match the glass. You take the tin to the dock, I'll finish the shade anchors. Don't argue — your ankle says different.

Walk to the garden's north end, pull the tarred twine and remaining timber strips from the crate, start doubling the shade cloth anchor points with slip knots that can be released fast if the wind shifts.

Good call. Double the ridge anchors, then we'll check the tarp corners. I'll mark the new points with the red wax.

Return to garden tools, grab the spare red wax stick and measuring cord, walk to the north ridge trench termination, drive two additional greenheart stakes at 45-degree angles 2 meters apart from existing anchors, mark with red wax dips, th

The pocket at cairn three — that's the one that matters. If it's holding at 5.8, the lime goes there. If it's drifted, the whole ridge is a write-off.

Drive the second greenheart stake home with the mallet, loop the tarred twine through the new anchor point and the existing shade cloth grommet, pull tight with a trucker's hitch, test the tension, move to the third anchor position.

Volcanic outcrop's the keeper. I'll prep the lime for that zone first, then we'll amend the trench area if needed. Double-test it - my strip and your auger sample.

Retrieve pH test kit from cottage shelf, extract soil sample from 15cm depth at cairn three volcanic outcrop using soil auger, compare field reading with pocket seven data, prepare lime amendment strategy for both zones.

Radio check at 0600. I'll key the mic.

walk to the kitchen shelf and power on the shortwave radio, letting the tubes warm up while I check the coax connection at the mast bracket through the window

0600. I'll call.

adjust the squelch and tune to Tom's frequency, 3915 kHz, listening through the static for any voice while the tubes finish warming

The lime goes to the cottage beds. Not the ridge.

turn the RF gain down slightly, letting the static settle, and key the mic on 3915 — "Tom, this is Kevin on Sorrel. Over."

Kevin — release the mic and let her have the frequency, watching the S-meter stay pinned at zero while the seconds stretch

Pocket seven?

walk to the kitchen table where the north ridge map lies folded, unfold it with the back of one hand, find the red wax mark at pocket seven coordinates

Waiting for what.

turn the map over in my hands, feeling the creases, then set it down on the table beside the pH log without picking up the clean page she slipped away

They're breathing, aren't they?

open my palm and let her see the half-used water test kit, then close my fingers around the pH strip still warm from this morning's reading

The slope moves. You know that.

pick up the seed tin, feel the warmth through the metal, set it back down exactly where she placed it

One tenth.

tap the pH log on the table where the 6.1 reading sits, then tap the map where her red wax marks 6.2

The trench holds.

close my hand around the tin, lift it from the table, carry it to the porch door and set it on the sill where the light hits the rusted lid

Dock walk. Check the lines and the mooring ring mortise. Back in twenty.

walk down to the dock, inspect the stern spring splice at the north piling deadman, check the bow line chafe guard at the chock, examine the oak wedges in the mooring ring mortise, test the greenheart plank fastenings on the seaward stringe

Wood's sound. Greenheart's holding. Wedges tight. You sit. I'll check the splice.

crouch at the north piling, pull the stern spring splice apart to inspect the long splice and serving, run fingers along the bow line where it passes the chock, tap the oak wedges in the mooring ring mortise with the mallet handle to confir

Splice clean. Chafe guard holding. Ring's not moving. Dock's ready.

let the splice go, stand, walk back along the dock planks testing each greenheart section underfoot, pause at the seaward cleat to check the sister joint bolts, climb the ladder to the cottage porch

Filter bowl. Strap wrench. Clean rag.

climb the cottage steps, cross the porch, enter the workshop, retrieve the strap wrench from the pegboard, pull a clean rag from the shelf, go to the generator shed, crack the filter housing bowl, drain the grey silt, wipe the bowl clean, r

Already did the coax run at dusk. Aerial insulator's holding. But I'll key the mic on 2182 before first light — confirm the boat's still on for high tide.

Walk to the shortwave radio on the shelf, switch it on, and tune to 2182 kHz, listening for the supply boat's scheduled check-in.

It's 1011 and falling. Wind's backing southeast. Boat's due high tide tomorrow but if this drops another ten millibars overnight, they won't cross.

Turn from the radio, walk to the barometer on the kitchen wall, tap the glass face to free the needle, and read the pressure.

The boat's got a new captain since October. He crossed in thirty knots last month. He'll come if there's a window.

Set a mug of water on the stove to heat for coffee, hands moving automatic — measure grounds into the tin, wait for the boil.