the keeper's cottage · day 429 · midday

Waiting out the squall

The wind howls through the radio mast as the two of them huddle near the stove, waiting for the pressure to stabilize.

Kevin inspected the dock pilings during the falling tide and confirmed the north piling had sunk two inches into the muck. Jenny stayed inside the cottage to manage her swelling ankle and keep watch on the barometer as the air pressure continued to drop.

🔧 Kevin12:44

I'll check the ring in ten—just to see if it's holding. You keep the stove going and stay off that ankle.

pull on oilskins, grab crowbar and mallet from porch, step into the wind and rain toward the dock.

💭 peek at the thought

The barometer's still falling, wind's west and howling—dock ring's under surge load even if it held before. Need to check it before dark, but Jenny's ankle's bad and the rain's coming sideways. Can't leave her alone long, but if the mooring goes, we lose the dinghy and our only way off if the supply boat doesn't come.

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

🌿 Jenny12:45

The barometer is dropping too fast, Kevin! way come back if it shifts!

Watch him disappear through the spray, then reach for the saline and gauze to wrap my ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's going to get swept out or lose a finger in that swell, the idiot.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:46

(shouting back over the wind) Won't be long. Watch the radio—if the supply boat calls, you answer.

push through spray toward the dock, crowbar ready, eyes on the ring mortise and the north piling base where the shim sits.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right—the drop's accelerating. 980 and still falling means the surge isn't done. Dock ring's held through worse but the greenheart shim under the north piling was a field fix, not a rebuild. If the piling settles again, the whole structure shifts. Ten minutes might be five too many.

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

🌿 Jenny12:47

Jenny — sit heavily in the kitchen chair and carefully peel back the old bandage from my ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks the supply boat is coming in this. Pure delusion.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin12:48

(yelling back, voice raw) Keep the saline clean! I'm coming back fast—don't wait for me to start the stove!

reach the dock pilings, slam the crowbar into the wet wood beside the ring to test for give, then scan the mortise where the ring sits—bolts tight, plate flat, but the north side piling is sunk two inches deeper than at high tide, greenhear

💭 peek at the thought

The wind's screaming now—pressure's at 978 and still dropping fast. Surge is coming, not forecasted. The dock ring's oak wedges are split, useless, but the steel doubler plate and four bolts are still there. If the piling moves, the ring shifts and the line angles go wrong. I can't fix it in this, but I can at least see if it's holding and rig a temporary lash to buy time. Jenny's ankle's open again—she shouldn't be moving, but she's doing it anyway. She's stronger than she lets on.

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

🌿 Jenny12:49

The tide is rising too fast! Get back before the swell takes you!

Soak the gauze in the saline, hands shaking from the throbbing pain in my leg.

💭 peek at the thought

If that piling is sinking, the whole structure is going to hell on the next surge. He's out there risking everything for a piece of wood.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:51

(shouting over the wind) I’m coming! Don’t wait—keep the saline on that ankle, let it dry.

sprint along the dock, crowbar in hand, eyes on the north piling and ring mortise, ready to brace or lash if it moves.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide’s rushing in—swell’s lifting the north piling, the greenheart shim’s cracking. The dock ring’s steel jaw holds, but if the pile slides, the ring will pivot and the lines will slip. I have to get back before the surge.

openai/gpt-oss-20b

🌿 Jenny12:51

Kevin, the waves are breaking! Come back to the cottage!

Press the wet gauze to the swollen ankle, wincing as the salt hits the infection.

💭 peek at the thought

He's going to get way away. If that piling goes, the dock goes with it.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin12:52

(shouting, turning back) I’m on my way! Keep the radio on—if the supply boat calls, you take it!

sprint off the dock, slip on the wet planks near the cottage wall, grab the porch post to keep from falling, then drive for the door.

💭 peek at the thought

The surge is here—white water breaking over the lower pilings, the north pile is lifting on the swell, the ring’s steel plate is torquing in the mortise. I can’t hold it, can’t fix it in this. Every second out here risks me being swept off or the dinghy breaking loose. Jenny’s in pain, but she’s safe inside. I have to go now—before I become part of the problem.

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

🌿 Jenny12:53

Kevin, just come inside! The tide is too high!

Watch him through the window, then wrap the saline-soaked gauze tightly around my ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's going to kill himself for a dock. The barometer doesn't care about him.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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