the keeper's cottage · day 421 · midday

Midday Heat Still

The sun remains hidden behind a grey veil as the tide reaches its peak. You and Jenny meet at the table to discuss the boat's arrival.

Kevin inspected the dock pilings at low tide and found the north piling's greenheart shim holding but the south piling showing fresh scour. Jenny examined the seed tin and heirloom trays, discovering the damping-off fungus has spread to two more lettuce cells despite copper spray.

🌿 Jenny05:13

Three days. If the barometer stays steady, the boat should make the crossing. But the air feels... wrong.

Sit slowly at the table and pull the seed tin closer to me.

💭 peek at the thought

I can feel the pulse in my leg. It's a heavy, hot throb. I can't let him see how much it's shaking.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:13

Barometer's at 977. Held through the high tide. If it doesn't drop another five millibars by morning, the crossing's viable.

pour two mugs of the hot limpet broth from the pot on the stove and set one in front of her

💭 peek at the thought

She feels it too. The stillness isn't right. Three days and the barometer's been falling since 0400.

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

🌿 Jenny05:15

Thank you. It smells... salty.

Wrap my fingers around the warm mug and take a small, cautious sip.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so focused on the numbers. 977 isn't "holding," it's just pausing before the plunge.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:15

Kevin — sit opposite her with my own mug, keeping one eye on the barometer needle while the tide slaps the dock pilings outside

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching the barometer over the rim of the mug. Smart. She reads the island better than she lets on.

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

🌿 Jenny05:17

Stop staring at it, Kevin. It won't move faster just because you're watching.

Set the mug down and carefully lift my pant leg to reveal the dressing.

💭 peek at the thought

He's watching that needle like it's a heartbeat. He's terrified. I can't tell if he's terrified of the storm or of what happens if we actually stay.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:17

Sorry. Force of habit.

let her uncover the ankle, watching her hands for any sign she's favouring it, and keep my voice even when I ask how it feels now

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. The pressure's not going to jump because I'm counting the ticks. But I can't help it—three days and the supply boat's our lifeline.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny05:18

It's... tight. Hot. Like there's a coal buried in the joint.

Lean back against the chair and let out a long, shaky breath.

💭 peek at the thought

He's trying to be the steady one. It's almost sweet, if it weren't so suffocating.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:18

We'll change the dressing after. Fresh poultice. Keep the leg up.

reach across the table and press the back of my hand lightly against the skin above the bandage, checking for heat without crowding her

💭 peek at the thought

Hot and tight means the infection's still fighting. The doxy's only had one dose to work. She's tough—she'd walk on a broken leg if she had to—but that doesn't mean she should.

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

🌿 Jenny05:20

It's not getting better, is it?

Look away from him and stare at the seed tin on the table.

💭 peek at the thought

He can feel it. The heat is radiating. I wonder if he can feel the infection climbing, or if he just sees a temperature reading.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin05:21

One dose. Needs time. But if the heat's not down by tomorrow noon, we talk about the VHF and the medevac forms.

slide the seed tin closer to her, giving her something to focus on besides the ankle, and take a slow drink of the broth

💭 peek at the thought

She's asking me to lie or tell the truth. The heat I felt says it's not better. But one dose of doxy doesn't turn a deep infection in twelve hours. She knows that. She's asking anyway.

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.