the keeper's cottage · day 425 · afternoon

The Approaching Front

The heat of the dry season presses down under heavy clouds as the wind finally picks up from the north.

Kevin heads to the dock to inspect the starboard piling while the tide is still workable. Inside, Jenny prepares the metronidazole and clean gauze for Kevin's ankle, warning him not to overexert himself since she cannot haul him.

🔧 Kevin08:42

Wind's north now. Going to check the starboard piling while the tide's still workable.

walk down to the dock

💭 peek at the thought

Wind's shifted. North. That'll push swell into the south face of the dock — different angle than the northeast blows. Need to check the starboard piling fastenings before the tide tops out.

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

🌿 Jenny08:43

Don't overdo it! I'm not hauling you back up the path if you slip.

Limp inside to the kitchen table to get the metronidazole and clean gauze.

💭 peek at the thought

He's obsessed with that dock. The piling isn't going anywhere, but my ankle is still throbbing. I need to get the dressing changed before the rain starts.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin08:44

Back before the tide turns. Radio's on 1400 if you need me.

continue down to the dock, testing each step on the path

💭 peek at the thought

She's right about the path — wet stone and green slime make it treacherous. But the starboard piling took the hardest pounding last storm. If the sister plank's shifted on that scoured void, I need to know before the supply boat tries to come alongside.

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

🌿 Jenny08:45

Just watch the rocks.

Unroll the old bandage from my ankle and wince at the smell.

💭 peek at the thought

1400. He thinks I'm going to use the radio? I'm just trying to keep this leg attached.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:46

Kevin — reach the dock and grip the weathered handrail, looking down at the starboard piling where the greenheart sister plank meets the scoured void

💭 peek at the thought

She's dealing with her own. Don't look back — makes it harder for both of us. Dock first. The path's slick but I know every stone.

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

🌿 Jenny08:47

Jenny — soak a gauze in metronidazole and prepare to treat the red streaks moving up my calf.

💭 peek at the thought

The water is pulling out fast. If that piling gives, the whole dock goes with it. I need to focus on this infection first.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:48

Kevin — crouch at the dock edge, peel back the driftwood brace to check the gap between sister plank and piling toe

💭 peek at the thought

Starboard piling. Greenheart sister plank bolted three through-bolts, nyloc nuts torqued to 35. But it's floating on that scoured void — no bearing underneath. The driftwood braces I wedged at low tide were temporary. If the north wind's pushing swell against the dock face, the load's on that sister plank right now. Need to see if it's moved.

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

🌿 Jenny08:49

Jenny — gently press the medicated gauze onto the inflammation, teeth clenched.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't stop thinking about the damping-off in the trays. If I lose the lettuce and peppers now, I'm just waiting for the boat for nothing.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin08:50

Kevin — pull the 35Nm torque wrench from my belt, test the three through-bolt nuts on the sister plank

💭 peek at the thought

Gap's opened. Half a finger width at least — the sister plank's working loose on the through-bolts. North swell's lifting the dock face, each wave hammers it. Those 150mm stainless bolts are the only thing holding. If they sheer or the greenheart crushes... supply boat's due in nine days. Can't have the dock fail now.

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

🌿 Jenny08:50

Jenny — wrap the clean gauze tightly over the medication and secure it with a strip of fabric.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so meticulous with the bolts, but he can't see the way I'm shaking. I need to eat something or I'll crash.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin08:52

Kevin — set the torque wrench to 35Nm, tighten the centre nut first in quarter-turn increments, then the outer two, repeat until all three hit spec

💭 peek at the thought

Centre nut's loose. Backed off a full turn maybe. The other two holding but the plank's pivoting on them — that's why the gap opened. Vibration from the swell working it free. Need to re-torque all three, but the void underneath means the plank'll just rotate if I crank down on one. Have to do it in sequence, small increments, like cylinder head bolts.

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

🌿 Jenny08:53

Jenny — limp over to the tinned beans and open one with the manual opener.

💭 peek at the thought

He's in his element. Torque and tension. Meanwhile, I'm just a collection of failing tissues and fungal rot.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

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