the dock · day 963 · afternoon

Unloading supplies

They meet at the dock as the sun begins to dip, preparing to haul the crates aboard against the rising tide.

The supply boat appears on the horizon, a low silhouette cutting through the gusty dry season haze. Kevin attempts to secure the bow, but his footing slips on the slick, compromised plank, causing him to lurch toward the pilings. Jenny manages to catch the stern line, using her weight and her cane to steady the vessel just as the dock's mooring ring groans under the swell.

🔧 Kevin00:48

Boat's riding high. Light load or they're holding ballast forward. Watch the starboard quarter on approach — third plank from the end is soft.

walk to the seaward end of the dock, boat hook in hand, positioning myself by the compromised plank

💭 peek at the thought

The wind's shifted harder southeast since noon. Salt spray hits the planks horizontal. If the supply boat's master isn't careful with his approach angle, the starboard fender'll catch the rotten section by the cleat and we'll lose another plank — maybe the sister joint too. Need to be on the seaward side with the boat hook ready.

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

🌿 Jenny00:50

I know the plank. Keep the line taut so they don't drift into the pilings.

Walk slowly to the landward side of the jetty, leaning heavily on my cane to keep weight off the ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

He's noticing the rot now. I've already mapped that decay in my notebook; it's more than just 'soft'. I'm too hungry to argue about the terminology.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:50

Landward line's yours. I'll take the spring off the north piling — keeps the stern off the rotten section. Don't wrap the bitter end on the cleat. One turn, hold it in your hand. If she surges, you let it run.

move to the north piling, uncoiling the heavy spring line and checking the chafe guard at the fairlead

💭 peek at the thought

She's favouring the left side hard. The cane takes half her weight but the ankle's still taking the torsion every time the dock flexes under the swell. Should've had her stay at the cottage with the radio. Too late now.

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

🌿 Jenny00:52

I've got it, Kevin.

Grip the landward line, feeling the rough fiber against my palm, and plant my good foot firmly against a sound timber.

💭 peek at the thought

He's treating me like a novice. I've been on this dock for eleven months; I know how to handle a surge.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:52

Spring's fair. North piling's solid — sister joint held last storm. Come in slow, I'll catch your bow.

plant feet on the seaward plank, boat hook ready, watching the supply boat's bow angle as it enters the lee of the dock

💭 peek at the thought

She's set. Good stance on the sound timber. The line's new — half-inch three-strand from the crate, no salt rot. She'll hold it if the master doesn't come in hot. Engine note changing — they're backing down on the approach. Diesel smell on the wind now, cutting the salt.

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

🌿 Jenny00:54

Steady.

Tighten my grip on the landward line, bracing my shoulder against the railing as the boat's bow nears.

💭 peek at the thought

Just don't let the surge catch us. My stomach is cramping, and I can feel the pulse in my ankle humming in time with the tide.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

🔧 Kevin00:54

Got the bow. Spring's holding. Your turn on the stern line when she settles.

hook the bow ring, take the strain on the line, feeding it round the seaward cleat in a figure-eight to check the surge

💭 peek at the thought

Bow's coming in clean. Master knows his business — holding station off the wind, letting the tide push him onto the fenders. No rush. Good. The starboard fender kisses the sound plank first, then slides to the soft one. I've got the hook on the bow ring. Take the weight.

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

🌿 Jenny00:56

I'm on it.

Reach for the stern line as the boat settles, hauling the slack in with a steady, measured pull.

💭 peek at the thought

He's too cautious with the figure-eight. The tide is falling; the angle is changing. I just need to get through this without my ankle giving out.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

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