the keeper's cottage · day 475 · night

Night of Day 475

The storm rages outside as the Analysis continues to rise against the pilings. Kevin and Jenny are together in the dim light of the kitchen, listening to the waves hammer against the shore.

Kevin lanced the infection on Jenny's ankle to relieve pressure. The procedure was partially successful, draining some fluid but leaving the area tender.

🌿 Jenny11:05

It's getting worse, isn't it?

Reach down to unwrap the ankle brace with trembling fingers, checking for new notices.

💭 peek at the thought

The heat in my ankle is pulsing in time with the wind; I hope the antibiotics are actually doing something by now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:06

Barometer's still dropping. Wind's backing southwest — means it'll hold this direction till morning." I set the wrench down on the table, the metal clacking quiet against wood. "Let me see.

Cross to her side of the table, kneel on the stone floor, and bring the lantern closer to her ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

She's favoring it worse than this morning. The swelling's pushed past the brace line. I should've changed the poultice four hours ago but the radio mast took precedence.

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

🌿 Jenny11:07

It's hot, Kevin. It feels like it's breathing.

Pull back the fabric to reveal the swollen, angry skin, flinching slightly as the light hits the infection.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so careful now, like I'm a pressed flower that might crumble if he breathes too hard.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin11:07

Hold still." My voice drops flat, the way it does when there's no room for softness. "Need to lance the worst of it. Get the pressure off.

Pull the first aid kit closer, tear open a fresh gauze packet with my teeth, lay out the scalpel blade and antibiotic cream. Tear a clean strip from the gauze for after.

💭 peek at the thought

Red streaks tracking up from the puncture wounds. Heat radiating through my fingertips before I even touch. The antibiotics aren't catching it fast enough — or it's something the doxycycline doesn't touch.

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

🌿 Jenny11:09

Just... do it quickly.

Grip the edge of the kitchen table until my knuckles turn white, squeezing my eyes shut.

💭 peek at the thought

I can't do this again, but I can't let it fester. The silence in here is heavier than the storm.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin11:10

Three cuts. Deep enough to drain, not to nick the tendon. You'll feel the scrape, not the slice. I've got you.

Swab the area with the last of the antiseptic wipes from the kit, then press the scalpel tip to the skin at the highest point of induration and make a quick, confident stab — depth just shy of the bone, angled to follow the tract.

💭 peek at the thought

Three spots need opening — the deepest one by the lateral malleolus is where the tract's tracking. If I miss the core, it'll just refill by dawn.

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

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