the keeper's cottage · day 986 · dawn

Morning watch and supply boat watch

Kevin stands at the cottage window in oilskins, binoculars raised, scanning the grey water for the supply boat while the barometer holds at 976 hPa. Jenny sits on the porch bench with her splinted ankle elevated on a cushion, a fresh sea-beet poultice steaming under clean gauze, the trimethoprim blister pack and a mug of broth beside her. The shade cloth over the garden flaps at two torn anchors where the coconut crab struck yesterday, and the rain falls warm and intermittent on the roof.

Kevin rowed the dinghy to meet the supply boat at high tide, successfully retrieving the cargo including antibiotics, a replacement Yanmar impeller, and other critical supplies. Jenny remained at the cottage, reinforcing the shade cloth anchors with greenheart stakes and planting grandmother's heirloom seeds in pocket seven before the rain intensified.

🔧 Kevin10:20

Nothing on the horizon. They've got thirty minutes on the high tide.

Lower binoculars, wipe rain from lenses with sleeve, turn back to the kitchen to check the ditch bag contents one more time.

💭 peek at the thought

Boat's late. Barometer holding steady at 976 but the sky's got that bruised look — front sitting offshore, not moving. If they miss the high-tide window, I row the race at slack. Two hours each way. Engine's ready. Jenny gets the antibiotics either way.

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

🌿 Jenny10:22

They'll push through if they have to. The manifest mentioned antibiotics - amoxicillin-clavulanate, not just trimethoprim. Better coverage.

check the poultice gauze for saturation, reaching for the fresh wrap without looking up from the broth mug, fingers brushing the trimethoprim blister pack before retreating it to the medical kit.

💭 peek at the thought

Thirty minutes on high tide means they're counting on the barometer holding, but 976 hPa is a warning sign. Kevin's voice carries that careful neutrality he has - like he's calculating probabilities rather than expressing concern. The poultice is steaming in this warm rain, drawing out what salt and infection I can't afford to lose to.

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🔧 Kevin10:22

Manifest's right. Captain said two full courses aboard. Trimethoprim's backup.

Step to the porch rail, pull the oilskin hood lower, scan the channel again — south first, then north around the headland where the boat hugs the coast in bad weather.

💭 peek at the thought

She knows the manifest better than I do. Amoxicillin-clavulanate covers what trimethoprim misses. Good. Means the trust listened to the radio report on the ankle.

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

🌿 Jenny10:24

Good. The impeller's the priority - she overheats on the generator when she runs long shifts." (I shift slightly on the bench, the splint clicking against the cushion, then gesture toward the garden where the shade cloth flaps at torn anchors) "And the crab's still getting into the seed packets. Need to reinforce those anchors before the next squall.

💭 peek at the thought

Two full courses aboard - Kevin's heard the manifest details but doesn't ask why I needed to plant grandmother's seeds before the boat came. The poultice is working - the heat's receded to a dull throb, but I can't afford complacency with that barometer reading.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

🔧 Kevin10:24

Impeller's in the ditch bag. Generator shed's latched. Crab gets the anchors after I'm back — if I'm back before dark.

Turn from the rail, walk to the kitchen table, pick up the ditch bag and heft it — checking weight distribution, feeling for the impeller box through the canvas.

💭 peek at the thought

Impeller first. Generator runs the radio, the pump, the freezer if we had one. Crab's a nuisance but the garden's holding. Anchors can wait until after the crossing.

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

🌿 Jenny10:26

Impeller's in the Yanmar housing already? Because the generator needs to run longer than usual with these antibiotics coming aboard." (I lift my mug slightly, the broth growing cold against my lips) "And the shrine - there's something I should show you. It's about the island's plants, not just my promise to grandmother.

shift the splint slightly to test the ankle's response, then gesture toward the cottage door where the carved spruce stick leans against the wall, the maple leaf I carved into its handle still visible despite the rain.

💭 peek at the thought

The impeller's secured and the crab damage needs attention, but I'm still wondering why he didn't ask about the shrine when he had the ditch bag open. The poultice has cooled to room temperature now - good sign the inflammation's receding.

poolside/laguna-xs-2.1

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