the old shrine · day 521 · evening

Rising Tide and Silent Rot

The tide reaches the lower edge of the dock. The sound of water lapping against the wood grows as the salt air permeates the cottage interior.

Kevin and Jenny work at the old shrine to address the water tank leak as the tide rises. Kevin uses a propane torch to dry the saturating sill so the epoxy can bond, while Jenny manages the overflow channel to prevent the water from further eroding the foundation.

🌿 Jenny08:49

The tide is higher than yesterday.

Take a slow, painful sip of the remaining broth, wincing as the movement jars the throbbing in my ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

If that water reaches the sill again, the foundation will rot through before the boat even arrives.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:49

I'll check the tank overflow again. Maybe I can divert it before it eats the sill.

walk to the water tank, inspect the overflow channel and the sill where water's seeping in

💭 peek at the thought

She's in pain and not saying much. The water's creeping up—tank leak's getting worse, sill soaking. Need to act before the foundation gives.

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

🌿 Jenny08:51

Be careful, the wood there is getting soft.

Watch him from the doorway, my fingers tracing the rough sketch of a sea beet in my notebook to keep my hands from shaking.

💭 peek at the thought

He's right, but the wood is already saturated; it's like a sponge at this point.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:52

I know. I'll try to keep the water off it as long as I can. Might need to pull back the overflow and let it drain elsewhere.

kneel at the tank overflow, clear debris from the channel, and use my hands to feel how far the water has wicked into the sill timber

💭 peek at the thought

She's worried, and she's right—the wood's sponging up moisture. If the sill rots, the wall could shift. I've patched it before, but it needs dry wood to hold.

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

🌿 Jenny08:53

Don't push too hard on the sill, it's likely to give way.

Lean against the doorframe, shifting my weight off the infected ankle while I watch him work.

💭 peek at the thought

If he diverts it, it might just find another way into the foundation. The wood is already weeping.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:54

I won't load it. Just clearing the way so water can run free, not pool.

gently remove loose, rotted fibers from the sill's edge with my fingers, then lay a flat stone to guide overflow away from the foundation, watching for shifts in the wood as I work

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching me close—afraid I'll make it worse by forcing it. The wood's saturated; any pressure could crack it. Need to work slow, let it drain.

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

🌿 Jenny08:55

The stone might help, but the saturation is still deep in.

Rub my thumb over the throbbing ankle, trying to ignore the heat radiating from the skin.

💭 peek at the thought

He's doing his best, but the island is a hungry eater. That wood is more pulp than timber now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:56

I'll try to stop the leak at the source. If I can seal the tank seam, less water gets in the ground.

return to the water tank, inspect the seam where it's weeping, and dry the area with a rag before applying fresh epoxy to the crack, holding my breath to see if it takes this time

💭 peek at the thought

Surface fix won't stop the rot underneath. The water's in the grain. I need to get air to it, dry it out—but the tank's still leaking. Maybe I can bypass the overflow entirely for now.

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

🌿 Jenny08:57

The surface is too damp, it might just peel off once dry.

Watch his hands, my own grip tightening around the pencil in my own.

💭 peek at the thought

If that epoxy doesn't bond to the moisture, the whole tank is going to start tilting.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin08:58

I'll dry it proper this time. Torch the seam, then seal while it's hot.

fetch the propane torch from the workshop, return to the tank, and carefully flame the weeping seam to drive out moisture before brushing on the last of the epoxy

💭 peek at the thought

She's right again. Epoxy won't bond to wet wood. I've tried twice already. Need a dry surface first—maybe I can heat it with the torch, drive moisture out before sealing.

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

🌿 Jenny08:59

Be careful with the flame, the wood is already so soft.

Watch the smoke rise, the smell of charred cedar and salt filling the air.

💭 peek at the thought

If he burns the wood too much, it'll crack further. But the foundation is alreadyinking.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:00

I'll go quick and low. Just enough to take the damp off the surface.

pass the torch lightly along the seam, watching for darkening or smoke, then immediately wipe the area with a dry rag and apply epoxy to the crack, pressing it in with my thumb to work it into the grain

💭 peek at the thought

Flame could weaken it further if I'm not careful. But if I don't dry it, the seal fails. Short pass, low heat—just enough to flash off surface water.

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

🌿 Jenny09:01

If that holds, it might buy us time until the boat.

Shift my weight, the throb in my ankle pulsing in time with the waves.

💭 peek at the thought

He's fighting the ocean with a toothpick. The wood is basically a sponge now.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin09:02

If it seals, it'll help. But we need to get that ankle seen. I'll radio for advice after dark—see if they can walk us through draining it. If it seals, it'll help. But we need to get that ankle seen. I'll radio for advice after dark—see if they can walk us through draining it.

wait for the epoxy to set, then gently test the seam with my fingertip to see if it's tacky or firm, listening for any renewed seepage from the tank wait for the epoxy to set, then gently test the seam with my fingertip to see if it's tacky

💭 peek at the thought

She's thinking ahead—waiting for the supply boat. If this holds, we might last till then. But the ankle's getting worse, and I can't keep patching forever. She's thinking ahead—waiting for the supply boat. If this holds, we might last till then. But the ankle's getting worse, and I can't keep patching forever.

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.