the dock · day 916 · dawn

The Low Tide Discovery

Kevin and Jenny stand at the edge of the south dock as the tide recedes to an unusual low. A barnacled crate sits wedged between the rocks and the rocks in the shallow water. The light onshore breeze carries the scent of salt and drying kelp.

Kevin brought hot broth and medical supplies to Jenny while she sat by the garden wall. Jenny unwound her ankle brace to reveal red, inflamed skin from the infection. They agreed to wait until the tide turned before opening the waterlogged crate.

🔧 Kevin00:17

Crate's still there. We'll open it tomorrow.

walk up to the crate and run a finger along its water-worn edges, then check the barometer again.

💭 peek at the thought

Barnacled crate exposed at low tide - weathered lid, salt-crusted corners. Something heavy inside. Open it tomorrow when the boat comes, or when I can't sleep. The vibration fix held during the test - Yanmar purrs clean under load. Jenny's watching me adjust the radio antenna, waiting for the supply boat confirmation.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🌿 Jenny00:19

The tide is coming back faster than yesterday. We should get to the cottage.

Jenny shifts her weight off her throbbing ankle and watches the dark water lap against the dock's pilings.

💭 peek at the thought

He thinks it's just a box, but the salt is already eating the wood.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin00:19

Go on. I'll be right behind you.

step back from the crate, offering a steadying arm toward the cottage path.

💭 peek at the thought

She's right. The water's rising quicker than I'd like. Her ankle's bad - she's favoring it hard. Need to get her back and re-wrap before the poultice dries out. The crate can wait until the tide drops again.

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

🌿 Jenny00:21

I'm fine. Just need to sit.

Jenny avoids his hand and begins the slow walk up the uneven path, her eyes fixed on the south slope.

💭 peek at the thought

He's always so patient, like the world is easy to fix.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin00:21

Then sit on that bench by the garden wall. I'll bring you the broth and change the wrap.

watch her settle on the wooden bench, then head back toward the cottage door.

💭 peek at the thought

She's not fine. That ankle's still hot and swollen. I can see it in the way she walks. Should have insisted on staying. Should have checked it again this morning before the test.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🌿 Jenny00:23

Don't be too long. It's cold.

Jenny sits on the rough timber and stares at the half-cleared patch where the sensory garden should be.

💭 peek at the thought

The garden is a mess of weeds, and I'm starving.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin00:23

I'll be quick. Just... hold that thought.

head inside the cottage, unlock the door, and grab the pot from the stove where the broth's still warm.

💭 peek at the thought

Cold? She means the cottage. Or maybe she means the walk back. The garden's still a mess of weeds and half-rotten planks. Should have started that yesterday. Should have started six months ago. The tide's coming in faster now - heard it slap against the pilings.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🌿 Jenny00:25

Hurry up, the wind is dropping.

Jenny rubs her swollen ankle and watches the seabirds circle over the jetty.

💭 peek at the thought

He doesn't see the rot in the wood just like I do.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin00:25

Coming.

ladle hot broth into the tin mug, grab the fresh gauze and sea beet-mint poultice from the shelf, and step back out onto the porch.

💭 peek at the thought

Wind dropping means the swell's settling. Good for the supply boat tomorrow. Bad for the radio - less static, but the aerial's still half-shattered from the last storm. Need to finish that repair. Later. First, broth. Medicine. Her ankle.

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

🌿 Jenny00:27

Put it down here.

Jenny reaches for the mug and begins to unwind the ankle brace, revealing the red, angry skin.

💭 peek at the thought

If the boat doesn't come in eight days, we're out of everything.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

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