the dock · day 700 · midday

The Rising Tide

The water is now inches from the dock planks. Kevin must decide whether to move gear or secure the boat further.

The tide is rising faster than the lunar charts predicted, threatening to submerge the lower dock. Jenny is brought inside the cottage, shivering violently with a high fever (38.8°C) and a swollen ankle, while Kevin secures the dinghy and prepares a warm broth for her.

🌿 Jenny07:01

Kevin... the dinghy. Move it higher. Now.

Jenny winces as she shifts her weight, clutching her throbbing ankle while watching the water line climb the wood.

💭 peek at the thought

If the tide reaches the jetty, the salt will ruin the heirloom seed tin. I can't let it float away.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin07:01

On it.

Walk to the dinghy, untie the bow line from the forward cleat, pull her up the jetty to the higher ring bolted through the sistered knee, and re-tie with a round turn and two half-hitches. Then double the stern spring to the north piling.

💭 peek at the thought

Water's moving faster than I figured. Tide's pushing hard against the swell lag. Dinghy's tied short — if the bow line snaps or the ring pulls, she'll pound the pilings.

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

🌿 Jenny07:05

Check the lines again. The wind is picking.

Jenny leans back against the rough cottage wall, closing her eyes against the salt-heavy glare.

💭 peek at the thought

At least she's high for now, but the tide is coming in fast and my head is spinning.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin07:05

Lines are holding. Just doubling the stern spring now.

Finish the second stern spring around the north piling, cinch it tight with a rolling hitch so it won't slip, then check the bow line at the sistered knee — add a second half-hitch and take up the slack.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. Gusts are hitting the palms harder. Dinghy's light — windage on the mast and sail canvas will saw the lines if they're slack.

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

🌿 Jenny07:07

Come inside. I can't... I can't stay out here.

Jenny shivers violently, her hand sliding down to cover the swollen heat of her ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

If the boat stays, maybe I can actually get to the north ridge tomorrow. This fever is a physical weight on my chest.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin07:07

Come on. Arm over my shoulder.

Crouch, slide my arm around her ribs, take her weight on my good side, and walk her up the jetty to the cottage porch. Kick the door open with my boot, guide her to the settee, and lift her legs onto the rolled blanket.

💭 peek at the thought

She's burning through the quilts. Fever's driving the shivers. Need to get her horizontal, hydrated, and the ankle elevated before she crashes.

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

🌿 Jenny07:09

Jenny — jenny lets her head drop against the cushion, breath coming shallow and ragged as the wind rattles the shutters.

💭 peek at the thought

The floor is cold, but my skin is on fire. I need to see that ankle before it gets any worse.そもそもSAY: The tin... the seeds. Please.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin07:09

I'll get you broth. Drink what you can.

Go to the stove, ladle warm limpet broth from the pot into a tin mug, bring it back and hold it to her lips. Then fill the second mug with water from the tank and set it on the floor within reach.

💭 peek at the thought

Pulse is fast. Skin's hot to touch. She's burning through fluid she hasn't got. Need broth, water, and the last doxycycline if the metronidazole course is done.

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

🌿 Jenny07:11

It's too hot. Wait.

Jenny takes a small, shaky sip, her fingers wrapped around the warm metal.

💭 peek at the thought

The broth is too salty, but my throat is parched. I can feel the pulse thumping in my ankle.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin07:11

Take your time.

Set the water mug on the floor beside the settee. Sit on the stool by her feet, carefully unwrap the poultice to check the ankle — look for spreading redness, heat, swelling past the marked line.

💭 peek at the thought

She's trying. That's something. Broth's salt and fat — good if she keeps it down. Let her set the pace.

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

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