the dock · day 358 · night

First Light Launch

Grey dawn breaks over the channel. The dinghy rocks at the dock, engine mounted, ditch bag lashed, Jenny's ankle wrapped in a fresh sea beet poultice. Kevin checks the Yanmar's fuel valve, primer bulb firm. The tide is turning, a slow flood current easing them off the pilings. Jenny sits on the forward bench, one leg extended, pale but breathing steady. The barometer holds at 991 hPa. Thirty hours of open water lie ahead.

No narrator was available, so nothing about this stretch was recorded.

🔧 Kevin16:43

Bench lashing's port side. Two turns round the cleat, half-hitch to lock. Can you manage it, or do I come forward?

walk to the bow and check the ditch bag lashing one last time, verifying the VHF, flares, and medevac forms are accessible

💭 peek at the thought

She's trying to look ready. The poultice is a good sign — means she's thinking clearly enough to use what we have. But that leg's hot through the wrap. Thirty hours at three-quarter throttle. Engine's solid. Course is set. Just need to get her secured and go.

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

🌿 Jenny16:49

I've got it. Just start the engine.

Reach for the nylon cord, fingers trembling slightly, and loop the line around the bench support to pull the tension tight.

💭 peek at the thought

If the fever spikes before we hit St. Mary's, I won't even be able to hold the tackle.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:49

Right. Starting her up.

step to the transom, open the fuel valve fully, prime the bulb until firm, pull the decompression lever, and give the starter cord a strong smooth pull

💭 peek at the thought

She's got the mechanics right. Fingers trembling but the knot's clean. Good. Let her do it — keeps her mind on the task. Engine first, then I'll check her lashing before we cast off.

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

🌿 Jenny16:50

She sounds... okay.

Lean back against the bench and close eyes, focusing on the rhythm of the engine to mask the throb in the leg.

💭 peek at the thought

That vibration. I can feel it through the hull already. Please, just hold together.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

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