the keeper's cottage · day 363 · dawn

The Approaching Gale

Steady rain drums against the tin roof as the water tank reaches its maximum capacity. Jenny sits at the kitchen table inspecting the swelling in her ankle brace, while Kevin inspects the gap in the porch shutter-door.

The rain continues its steady, rhythmic drumming against the cottage roof as dawn breaks. The water tank has finally reached its 400-litre capacity, overflowing slightly over the stone base, while the tide is receding exposing the slick rocks of the shore.

🌿 Jenny21:59

The tank is full. We won't need to worry about water if the rain keeps up.

Reach for the tin of mackerel on the shelf.

💭 peek at the thought

The red lines are still there. I can feel the heat radiating off the joint even through the fabric. I need to eat or I'll pass out before the boat even hits the horizon.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin22:01

Aye. Overflow's running clean too.

walk to the porch shutter, press my palm against the leak-gap, feel the draft and water seep, then reach for the roll of spare tarp and the batten strips leaning against the wall

💭 peek at the thought

Tank's full. Good. One less thing. She's moving stiff — favouring the left side. The streaks didn't fade overnight.

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

🌿 Jenny22:02

Don't overstretch yourself. It's just a leak.

Open the tin of mackerel with a jerky, hungry motion.

💭 peek at the thought

He's focused on the house. He's always focused on the house. I can't even stand up without a wince and he's fighting a draft.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin22:02

It's not the stretch. It's the rot if the frame stays wet.

unroll the spare tarp, tuck the leading edge under the ridge beam, start battening it down with timber strips and the tool bag for weight

💭 peek at the thought

She's deflecting. The ankle's worse and she's hiding the limp. I'll fix the shutter, then check the dressing again before the pump job.

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

🌿 Jenny22:03

I'm eating the mackerel. You want some?

Eat a forkful of mackerel, chewing slowly to fight the nausea.

💭 peek at the thought

He's right, of course. Rot is the only thing more patient than I am. I just wish he'd look at me for once instead of the woodwork.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin22:04

Aye. Half.

pull a fork from the drawer, sit opposite her at the table, eat straight from the tin

💭 peek at the thought

She's forcing it down. Good. She needs the protein. The nausea's from the antibiotics or the infection — either way, calories stay in.

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

🌿 Jenny22:04

The barometer is steady. 986. It's not dropping further.

Lean back and gingerly shift the ankle brace, exposing the red streaks on the skin.

💭 peek at the thought

There he is. Back in the room. Now that he's sitting, maybe he'll actually look at the state of my leg.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin22:06

Held through the tide cycle. Dock held too.

finish my half of the mackerel, wipe the fork, stand and walk to the medical shelf for the doxycycline blister and the honey jar

💭 peek at the thought

Steady at 986 means the low's parked. Could sit for days. The streaks track halfway to the knee now — two centimetres further than 0200. Doxycycline's not catching it. We're down to twelve capsules. No fever yet, but that's not reassurance.

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

🌿 Jenny22:07

I can do it myself.

Attempt to pull the brace off, then stop as a sharp throb shoots up to the knee.

💭 peek at the thought

He knows. He doesn't need to say it, but he knows. I hate that he's the one who has to be the steady hand while I'm the one breaking.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin22:08

You're not doing it one-handed with that tremor. Hold still.

set the doxy and honey on the table, kneel beside her chair, ease the brace straps loose with both hands, peel the dressing back slow

💭 peek at the thought

Pride's going to kill her. The streaks are advancing and she's fighting me over a bandage. I don't have time for this — the pump timing needs slack tide and the supply boat's due tomorrow.

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.