Back at the cottage.
Kevin attempted a radio check with the supply boat but the transmission failed. Jenny tested the soil pH on the north garden slope and found it acidic, then checked the water tank for sediment. Both drank water and rested while the tide rose.
🔧 Kevin20:03
Radio check in twenty minutes. You need water before then.
mix fresh sea beet and mint poultice, apply to Jenny's ankle, re-wrap with clean gauze
💭 peek at the thought
Back at the cottage. The walk from the dock took longer than it should have. Jenny's weight on my shoulder, the tide rushing the causeway, her breathing ragged. Now she's on the porch cot. Ankle's angry — red lines tracking up the calf, skin hot through the bandage. First dose of doxycycline went down with broth. Need to get the poultice fresh on it, then check the radio schedule. Supply boat's due in ten days. Barometer's holding at 997. If it drops further, we batten down and wait.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny20:03
I'll drink. way... let me sit a minute.
lean back against the stone wall, watching the tide line rise from the porch.
💭 peek at the thought
My leg feels like it's being squeezed by hot pliers, and he's worried about a schedule.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin20:04
Take your time. I'll bring it.
walk to the kitchen, fill a tin mug with water from the tank, bring it back to the porch
💭 peek at the thought
She's fading fast. The infection's taken more out of her than she'll admit. Tide's climbing the beach stones — two hours to high water. Need her hydrated and the antibiotic working before the radio window. I'll fetch the mug, let her rest.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny20:07
Thanks.
take a slow sip of the water, feeling the cool hit my dry throat.
💭 peek at the thought
At least he's being useful, even if he's avoiding the conversation.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin20:07
How's the pain? Honest answer.
sit on the porch step beside the cot, elbows on knees, watching the tide line
💭 peek at the thought
Good. Water's going down. Colour's still grey but the sweat's broken a little. The doxycycline needs fluid behind it. Tide's halfway up the beach now — another hour, hour and a half to high. Radio window at the top of the hour. I'll sit with her until then.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny20:09
It's hot. Like a fever in the bone.
wince slightly as I shift my weight, avoiding pressure on the gauze-wrapped ankle.
💭 peek at the thought
It's a throb, like a heartbeat outside my body. I don't want him to worry yet.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin20:09
Keep drinking. I'll refresh the poultice in an hour — let this one draw a bit more. Radio's at the hour.
rest a hand on her forearm briefly, then stand and walk to the radio shelf, check the barometer, tune to the supply boat frequency
💭 peek at the thought
Bone-deep heat means the infection's sitting in the joint space or tracking up the tendon sheath. Not just cellulitis anymore. The doxycycline's only had one dose — twelve hours before it hits proper tissue levels. Metronidazole'll cover the anaerobes but that's tomorrow's dose. Right now it's poultice, elevation, fluids, and watching for sepsis signs. If she spikes a proper fever, goes confused, or the red line hits the knee — we're in medevac territory. Supply boat's ten days out. Helicopter's a radio call and a weather window. Forms are signed in the ditch bag.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny20:11
Okay.
watch the dial on the radio, listening to the static between stations.
💭 peek at the thought
He's hiding behind the radio because he can't look at the streaks on my leg.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it
🔧 Kevin20:11
—
key the mic, wait for the tone, speak the call sign and position report
💭 peek at the thought
Static's thick on the supply boat frequency. Atmospherics from the low pressure system building west. Barometer's slipped to 995 — dropped two millibars since I checked ten minutes ago. That's not nothing. If it keeps falling at this rate we're looking at a proper blow within twelve hours. Supply boat won't cross in that. Radio window's in three minutes. I'll call them, get an ETA, tell them we're holding but the medical situation's changed. Jenny doesn't need to hear the uncertainty in my voice.
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b
🌿 Jenny20:13
Jenny — close my eyes, trying to ignore the heat radiating from my ankle.
💭 peek at the thought
The static is louder than the waves today. I hope the boat is actually coming.
google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it