the keeper's cottage · day 362 · evening

The Rising Tide

The rain intensifies, turning the afternoon into a grey-out. The barometer continues to drop, signaling a heavier storm ahead before the boat arrives.

The air pressure has stabilized and begun to rise to 987 hPa, signaling a temporary reprieve from the storm's approach. The tide is receding rapidly, exposing the slick rocks of the tide pools near the cottage. Inside the cottage, the air is heavy with the sweet, heavy scent of ripening wild fruit from the interior woods, contrasting with the salty tang of the drying mint.

🌿 Jenny21:43

It's turning. The pressure is diving again.

Lean forward slowly and press a hand against the swollen skin of the ankle to check the temperature.

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer is lying or I'm misreading it—it was rising, now it's dropping again. This storm is circling us. I can feel the heat in my leg pulsing with every heartbeat.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin21:43

Barometer's at 972. Dropped fifteen millibars since dawn. Gale warning's extended another forty-eight on the 0600 Volmet." I set the wrench down on the table beside the injector pump parts. "How far up the leg now?

walk to the porch rail and check the shortwave, tuning to the mainland medical frequency

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer's dropping faster than I like. Her ankle's hot — infection's spreading past the dressing. We've got twelve Doxy left and two days until a boat that might not make the crossing. Need to check the radio schedule, see if we can raise the mainland for a medevac before the front hits proper.

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

🌿 Jenny21:45

Just... a few inches past the calf.

Pull the trouser leg up higher, exposing the angry red streaks tracking toward the knee.

💭 peek at the thought

He's checking the frequency. He knows. I can't let the red line be the only thing we talk about, but I can't lie about the distance.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin21:45

Right. Radio. Now." I'm already moving toward the porch, pulling the shortwave off its bracket. "You stay put. Elevate the leg — pillows under the ankle, knee bent. Don't walk on it.

carry the shortwave to the table, plug in the spare coax from the crate, and power up on the trust's emergency frequency (4125 kHz)

💭 peek at the thought

Red streaks tracking past the calf means lymphangitis. Bloodstream's next. Twelve Doxy capsules won't touch systemic spread if it's already moving that fast. The helicopter coordinates are on the back of the trust letter — but the gale's forty-eight hours out minimum, and a helo won't launch in this. Radio's the only play. Need to raise Coastguard on Channel 16, then the trust's emergency frequency. If the supply boat's skipper answers, he can relay position to MRCC.

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

🌿 Jenny21:46

I'm not going anywhere.

Lean back and shove two pillows under my ankle, keeping the leg high.

💭 peek at the thought

He's panicking. Or he's being practical. I can't tell the difference anymore when he gets this focused. I'm too tired to argue, and my leg feels like it's filled with hot lead.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin21:47

"Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard, this is Sorrel Island, call sign MZXJ4, Pan-pan medical, over." I key the mic, voice steady.

transmit the Pan-pan call on 4125 kHz with position, patient details, and medical status

💭 peek at the thought

Good. She's listening. The spare coax from the crate is dry — found it yesterday, shield continuity checked clean. Trust frequency 4125 kHz is monitored by the Falmouth station weekdays 0800-1800, but the emergency watch stands 24/7 on 2182 and 4125 both. Barometer at 972 and falling means the ionosphere's going to be noisy. Might need to try 6215 kHz night frequency if 4125 fades. First call: Pan-pan medical, position Sorrel Island 49°52'N 006°18'W, patient female 38, cellulitis spreading past calf, twelve Doxycycline remaining, no IV capability, request medevac or medical advice. Then the trust's ops frequency if they're listening.

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

🌿 Jenny21:48

Jenny — close my eyes and grip the edge of the mattress, knuckles white, listening to the static of the radio.

💭 peek at the thought

Pan-pan. Not Mayday, but close enough. He's calling it in. I can't breathe—the thought of leaving the seeds, the plants, the survey... it's like he's erasing me from the island.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin21:49

Falmouth Coastguard, Falmouth Coastguard, this is Sorrel Island MZXJ4, Pan-pan medical, position 49°52'15"N 006°18'30"W. Female, 38, spreading cellulitis left lower limb tracking above knee, twelve Doxycycline 100mg remaining, no IV access. Request medical advice and medevac options. Over.

switch the shortwave to 2182 kHz and transmit the Pan-pan call again

flagged: repeated_opener

💭 peek at the thought

Static on 4125. Ionosphere's churning with the pressure drop. Try 2182 kHz — the international distress frequency, monitored 24/7 by all Coastguard stations. Shorter wavelength, might punch through the noise better. If that fails, 6215 kHz for night propagation. The supply boat's skipper, Davey, monitors 2182 when he's at sea. Two days out, he could be in range. Need to give position in lat/long and the helicopter pad coordinates from the trust letter: 49°52'15"N 006°18'30"W, marked "H" on the OS sheet.

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.