Day 994

The barometer's still dropping - we should check the overflow before the tide turns.

walk to the east foundation and inspect the copper spillway joint for the rain tank overflow

(barely looking up from my coffee) I'll check the north ridge soil moisture sensor while you're at it. The pocket seven readings worried me.

take the doxycycline tablet with the remaining warm coffee, then walk toward the garden path carrying the seed tin and fresh poultice ingredients

Thank you. (I wrap my fingers around the cane, feeling its familiar weight, then clip the headlamp to my belt)

head to the window and glance at the darkening sky through the rain-streaked glass, then move toward the door carrying the seed tin, fresh poultice ingredients, and my resolve to finally plant pocket eight

(calling over my shoulder as I open the cottage door) I'll be late - pocket eight takes longer than I remembered.

step onto the wet porch and walk toward the garden path, cane tapping against the wooden slats, headlamp clicking on as I ascend the hill toward the north ridge, seed tin cradled in my arms like something precious and fragile

Jenny — continue up the garden path, the seed tin growing heavier in my hands with each step, the north ridge coming into view through the rain-spattered glasses

Kevin, my ankle—

lean heavily on cane, stumble slightly as mud sucks at my boot, let Kevin support my weight while he hops faster down the slope toward the dinghy

Kevin, the infection—my leg—

let Kevin brace me against the dinghy gunwale, sink deeper into the mud as he shouts up to the captain, press my palm flat against the hot, swollen ankle through my boot

Kevin, the lymph node—my knee's swollen too—

let Kevin shift my weight while he supports me, press my other hand against the tender knee joint, then sink deeper into the mud as I try to make it to the dinghy without collapsing

Kevin, the infection's spreading—my calf's burning again—

let Kevin deposit me on the thort, grip his shoulder with both hands, and use my good leg to pull myself upright while my bad ankle protests against the wet wood

Kevin, the infection's spreading up my calf — I can feel it hot against my fingers —

try to sit up straighter against the thort, grip Kevin's sleeve with my good hand, and point toward the medical crate while my bad leg slides back to brace against the dinghy's gunwale

"Thank you." (I reach for the mug but my ankle protests, so I settle for gripping the edge of the table instead) "Thank you." (I reach for the mug but my ankle protests, so I settle for gripping the edge of the table instead)

apply fresh sea beet-mint poultice to ankle; set boiling kettle on wood stove; take pain medication; write radio log entry with barometer reading 983 hPa and falling</think>THOUGHT: The infection's spreading faster than I feared.

"I already took one." (My voice comes out hoarse from lack of sleep) "I already took one this morning." (I grip the table edge tighter, the wood splinters catching against my palm) "Kevin, I need to plant the seeds today. Before the rain." (I force the words out, each one a small rebellion against my own weakness)

take pain medication with coffee; write radio log entry with antibiotic dosing; apply fresh sea beet-mint poultice to ankle; set boiling kettle on wood stove; take amoxicillin-clavulanate tablet despite previous dose; prepare fresh poultice

"No." (It comes out sharper than I intended) "No, Kevin. You don't understand. If I wait—" (I stand abruptly, leaning on my cane, the pain radiating through my ankle like fire) "The seeds need me to move. The island's already chosen what lives and dies. I won't let it decide for me." (I reach for my phone, fingers trembling)

stand abruptly on wobbly legs; lean heavily on driftwood cane; write emergency radio message to Tom; dial 8.297 MHz; transmit "Medevac preparation - infection spreading - need immediate supply boat contact"; apply fresh poultice while stand

"Kevin, I need to radio Tom. The infection..." (I try to pull my hand away but he grips my wrist) "Kevin, I need you to listen. If you could just - let me explain -" (My voice cracks with the effort of speaking) "Tell me what you need to say." (I finally look at him, really look at him, and see the fear beneath his calm)

release microphone and radio; sit heavily in wooden chair; write urgent radio message to Tom; dial 8.297 MHz; transmit "Medevac preparation - infection spreading - need immediate supply boat contact"; apply fresh poultice to ankle; take pai

Cast off in ten, check the bow line tension - northeast wind's shifting the swell pattern. I'll be at the dock after.

Stand up slowly, wincing as ankle twists in the salt soak bucket, walk to cottage door, grab radio from shelf, head toward dock while pulling notebook from bag.

Radio's in my pocket - I'll check the catalogue delay while you run it. Need those seabird population notes from yesterday's morning flight.

Walk slowly toward dock, leaning on driftwood cane, ankle throbbing against the salt soak water residue on cottage floorboards.

I'll walk the dock perimeter while you run it. Check the stern lines too - need to reinforce them before the next squall.

Grab notebook from kitchen table, head toward dock, leaning heavily on driftwood cane as ankle twists painfully against the salt-soaked floorboards.

I'm walking the dock now. Check the mooring ring bolts - I noticed the starboard one had some play when I tightened it yesterday.

Walk slowly toward dock, cane heavy in my good hand, ankle wrapped tightly in the salt-soaked gauze, notebook clutched in the other.

Kevin, the northeast wind means check the starboard mooring ring bolt anyway - the swell lag hits after the barometer drops. And I need to radio the supply boat about the medevac forms being ready.

Debride ankle and apply fresh sea beet poultice; radio supply boat to confirm medevac forms ready; burn compromised seed packets in metal bucket; plant grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket eight before midnight

Kevin, the north piling brace shows crush at the through-bolt - I need to check the south dock lines while you're down there. And I have to plant the seeds tonight.

Tighten south dock stern spring line; debride ankle and reapply fresh poultice; radio supply boat VHF to confirm medevac forms ready; plant grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket eight before midnight

Kevin, I need to radio the supply boat about the medevac forms now - I'll do it from the porch. And I have to plant the seeds tonight.

Radio supply boat VHF from porch to confirm medevac forms ready; plant grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket eight before midnight; debride ankle and apply fresh sea beet poultice

Kevin, the north piling's rotating badly - I need to add more deadman anchors. And I have to plant the seeds tonight.

Add second turn on north piling deadman anchor using heavy-duty twine; radio supply boat VHF from porch to confirm medevac forms ready; plant grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket eight before midnight; debride ankle and apply fresh sea be

Kevin, the north piling's rotating - I need to add more deadman anchors now. And I have to plant the seeds tonight.

Add second turn on north piling deadman anchor using heavy-duty twine; radio supply boat VHF from porch to confirm medevac forms ready; plant grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket eight before midnight; debride ankle and apply fresh sea be

flagged: repeated_opener

Kevin, I need you to grab the medevac forms from the ditch bag and copy the antibiotic dosages onto fresh paper. I'm going to pocket eight to plant grandmother's seeds before dark. The tide's still low enough on the north side.

debrid ankle with sterile scalpel, apply fresh sea beet-mint-honey poultice, radio Kevin supply boat ETA confirmation, walk to pocket eight location, plant grandmother's seeds with charcoal amendment at 30cm depth

I'll take the cane and move slow. The north pocket eight is accessible at low tide, and I need to plant before the rain washes the charcoal amendment away. You copy the antibiotic dosages?

radio Kevin copy acknowledged, grab walking cane from hook by door, apply fresh poultice dressing, walk slowly to pocket eight using cane for support, plant grandmother's seeds with charcoal amendment at 30cm depth

Thank you. I'll key the radio every hour on the hour. (to myself) Just need to make it to pocket eight and plant before the rain washes everything away.

radio Kevin "Hour one, infection progressing, planting seeds now" then walk slowly to pocket eight using cane, plant grandmother's seeds with charcoal amendment at 30cm depth