the keeper's cottage · day 159 · night

Night watch and rain

The sky has fully overcast. A first heavy drop hits the porch roof, then another. The barometer has begun to dip. Kevin and Jenny sit at the table with the shortwave radio between them, listening for the supply boat's scheduled check-in as the wind freshens from the southeast.

Kevin called the supply boat on the shortwave radio but received only static. Jenny checked the moisture in the seedling trays while the barometric pressure continued to drop. They secured the porch and checked the generator fuel for the coming storm.

🌿 Jenny18:54

The pressure is dropping. I need to move the seedlings now, Kevin.

Stand up, gather the seedling trays, and carry them to the center of the kitchen.

💭 peek at the thought

If that wind shifts any further, the salt spray will hit the trays before I get them back inside.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:54

Copy. I'll hold the frequency.

pick up the shortwave handset and call the supply boat on the scheduled frequency

💭 peek at the thought

She's right — southeast spray hits the porch by midday if the wind holds. Barometer's already moving. I'll catch the supply boat on the radio while she secures the trays.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny18:55

Don't forget the rain tank, it's coming hard.

Set the trays down on the dry floor away from the window and check the soil moisture.

💭 peek at the thought

He's talking to the radio again like it's going to stop the clouds.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:56

Tank's near full. I'll check the overflow after the call.

press the transmit button and speak into the handset — "Sorrel Island calling supply vessel, over"

💭 peek at the thought

Tank's at 379 — another solid rain fills it. Good reminder anyway.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny18:57

The barometer is falling fast. We're going to be dark.

Trace a finger over the soil in the tomato tray to see if it's dry enough.

💭 peek at the thought

At least he's thinking about the water, but the wind is getting louder.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin18:58

Kevin — hold the handset to my ear, waiting through the static, watching the barometer needle

💭 peek at the thought

Dropping fast now. Southeast wind'll push the front right over us. Supply boat won't cross the bar in this — they'll divert or hold. Need to hear their voice first.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny18:59

Nothing. Just static.

Walk to the window and check the latch on the frame.

💭 peek at the thought

If the boat doesn't answer, we're alone for another ten days.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin19:01

They're not coming today. Maybe not tomorrow. Secure the porch — I'll check the generator fuel and the liferaft tie-down.

set the handset back in its cradle and move to the porch door

💭 peek at the thought

Static means they're either not transmitting or the skip's eating them. Could be they're already hove to. Could be the aerial's still compromised despite the new insulator. Either way, the barometer says batten down.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.