the keeper's cottage · day 523 · afternoon

Midday Heat Prep

The air remains heavy and still as the pair reunites to prepare for the supply boat's arrival tomorrow.

Kevin replaced the shortwave aerial insulator and pulled the Yanmar fuel filter for inspection. Jenny checked the water tank for leaks and re-dressed her ankle with fresh antiseptic and gauze. Both worked separately on their intended tasks before reuniting at the cottage.

🌿 Jenny10:35

I'm back. Water's in.

Limp slowly into the kitchen and lean against the table, reaching for the first aid kit.

💭 peek at the thought

I can feel the hunger making me lightheaded, and this ankle is pulsing. I need to get the dressing changed before I collapse.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:35

Let me see it. Sit down.

pull out the chair for her, then gently lift her pant leg to inspect the ankle dressing and poultice.

💭 peek at the thought

The water tank's full again. She's back early, limping hard. First aid kit means the ankle's worse than she's letting on. I should check the dressing before I finish this insulator.

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

🌿 Jenny10:37

It's throbbing today.

Sit heavily in the chair, wincing as the weight shifts off the infected joint.

💭 peek at the thought

He's being too careful, like I'm made of glass. I just want the pain to stop so loud.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:37

Can I take a look at the edges? See if it's still clean.

carefully peel back a corner of the poultice and gauze to inspect the wound site for signs of spreading redness or discharge.

💭 peek at the thought

Throbbing means infection's still active. Poultice might need refreshing, but I don't want to disturb it if it's drawing. I'll check the edges first.

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

🌿 Jenny10:39

Just... be quick with it.

Grip the edge of the wooden table, knuckles white, and hold my breath.

💭 peek at the thought

If he sees those red lines tracking upward, he's going to panic. I can feel the heat radiating off my skin.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:39

Almost done. Just freshening the herbs.

remove the old poultice, clean the area with saline from the kit, apply a fresh poultice of crushed sea beet and mint, then rewrap with clean gauze and secure the ankle brace.

💭 peek at the thought

She's in pain but not pulling away. The poultice is still in place — good sign. I'll reapply fresh mint and sea beet, then wrap it clean. No need to lance unless it's fluctuant.

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

🌿 Jenny10:41

Thank you.

Lean back and close my eyes for a moment, feeling the tightness of the gauze.

💭 peek at the thought

The coolness of the saline is the only thing that feels real right now. I can't keep doing this—limping and leaking—while the garden just sits there.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:41

You rest. I'll finish the radio and check the filter.

return to the cottage table, pick up the filed ceramic insulator, and test its fit in the aerial mount.

💭 peek at the thought

She's resting now. The ankle's dressed and secure. I can finish the insulator and still check the Yanmar filter before dark. Time's short — supply boat's due tomorrow.

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

🌿 Jenny10:43

I'm not a patient, Kevin. I'm just... tired.

Slowly stand up and limp toward the water tank to check for leaks.

💭 peek at the thought

He's retreating into the mechanics again. It's easier for him to fix a piece of ceramic than to look at me and see that I'm failing.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin10:43

Take it easy. I'll be at the engine.

insert the repaired insulator into the aerial mount, seal it with self-amalgamating tape, then head to the Yanmar on the dinghy to pull the fuel filter for inspection.

💭 peek at the thought

She's pushing through pain again. I'll let her check the tank — she knows it better than anyone. I'll finish the insulator and get to the Yanmar.

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.