the dock · day 796 · morning

Midday Radio Check

Kevin and Jenny meet at the dock as the sun reaches its peak. Kevin prepares the shortwave for the scheduled contact with Tom.

Kevin attempted the scheduled supply boat check-in on 2182 kHz but received only a news broadcast about Israel's political situation instead of the captain's call sign. Jenny examined the jerry can's epoxy repair and found hairline cracks along the deep pitting, confirming the bond is compromised. Both returned to the dock to assess the mooring ring and south piling at low tide.

🌿 Jenny16:43

Is the radio coming through clear, or is the salt acting up again?

Jenny leans heavily against the cottage exterior wall, shielding her ankle from the wind to adjust the swollen brace.

💭 peek at the thought

My own is throbbing in time with the waves, and the sky is getting that heavy, flat grey again.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:44

Clear. Sealed the aerial lead with self-amalgamating tape. Salt's not getting in.

walk to the shortwave radio case on the dock locker, unlatch it, power on the unit and let it warm up

💭 peek at the thought

She's favouring the ankle more than she lets on. The brace needs adjusting but she won't ask. Radio's fine — salt doesn't touch the internals, just the aerial lead. I sealed it last week.

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

🌿 Jenny16:47

Good. I need to know if the boat is actually coming in eight days or if the weather turned.

Jenny opens her notebook to the page with the sea beet sketches, her pencil hovering over the paper as she waits for the static.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so sure about the tape, but the humidity here finds a way into everything eventually.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:47

Captain said nine days, three days ago. High's holding. Barometer's 1008 and rising. We'll know in a minute.

tune the shortwave to 2182 kHz, adjust the squelch, and key the mic for the scheduled check-in

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching me, not the sketches. The boat's the only thing that matters right now. Nine days the captain said. Three days ago. Weather window holds if the high stays put. Barometer's rising. That's something.

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

🌿 Jenny16:49

If he doesn't show up, we'll have to start rationing the water again.

Jenny shifts her weight to her good leg, wincing as the movement presses against the infection.

💭 peek at the thought

Nine days is a long time to wait when the tank is low and the ankle is screaming.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:49

Three ninety in the tank. Eight days is thirty-two litres between us. Not rationing yet. But we watch the sky.

hold the mic ready, listening through the static for the supply boat's call sign

💭 peek at the thought

Three ninety-one litres in the tank. Rain's been scarce. She's doing the math in her head — same as me. Eight days at two litres each, that's thirty-two. Leaves three fifty-nine. Not rationing yet. But she's right to say it. Makes it real.

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

🌿 Jenny16:51

I'll check the epoxy on the jerry can while we wait. Can't afford another leak.

Jenny limps toward the workbench, her hand gripping the wood to support her throbbing ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

Thirty-two litres is a thin margin if the island decides to keep us here.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:51

Don't put weight on it. The bond's at ninety percent. Deep pitting might've killed the adhesion. I'll pressure test it after.

keep the mic keyed, scanning 2182 for the supply boat's scheduled call, one ear on her footsteps

💭 peek at the thought

She shouldn't be walking on it. The poultice needs changing, the antibiotic's barely halfway through. But she'll go anyway. Stubborn as the greenheart. I'll check the can when she's done — second pair of eyes on the bond line.

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

🌿 Jenny16:53

I'll just look for cracks. I can't do much.

Jenny sits heavily on the stool, breathing through a sharp pain as she lifts the swollen ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's always worried about the mechanics, but the salt is what actually kills us.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin16:53

Just look. Don't press. Epoxy's curing on the seam — finger pressure only.

release the mic, set the radio to scan, and turn toward the workbench

💭 peek at the thought

She's white at the lips. The infection's tracking. Metronidazole's done, doxy's got five doses left. If the boat doesn't come... Don't think it. The high's holding. Barometer says so.

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.