Maintenance sweep of Ring C complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Gunhild Valdivia is delivered of a daughter on the night watch. The child is called Noor.
Census check: 878 souls, 159 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
A child in Ring D asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Xenia Ulriksen retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
“Last Bell, Long Field,” a mural by Ulf Thorvaldsen, is unveiled at brightening to the particular applause of Medical.
A daughter, Keel Thorvaldsen, born in the Ring D infirmary to Quill Thorvaldsen and Xiulan Tväten. Mother and child are well.
Pranav Tväten stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Ecology.
Born at brightening: Zaid Nwosu, generation 6. The ship holds 877 souls tonight.
Census check: 876 souls, 158 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
A first shift for Leticia Nwosu, sixteen: teacher, Archive & Schools. The badge is printed fresh.
Suyin Tväten stands down from Life Systems at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Born late in the second watch: Teresa Quill, generation 6. The ship holds 876 souls tonight.
Kestrel Yan and Chengdong Nwosu name their son Zhihao. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Sixty-eight years: Dolores Aaberg hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring B stands ready.
First Light festival. The children are lifted to the eyepiece one by one to see where they are going.
The youngest aboard is now Franklin Petrov, minutes old, asleep. 874 souls.
The schools release Arne Shen to Medical. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
Polina Pemberton retires in the middle watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
After 85 years, Walter Orellana has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
The manifest shortens by one: Rell Barakat, 67 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Cedric Thorvaldsen does not wake in the middle watch. 89 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
A birth in Ring B: Rell, girl, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Deneb and Drift. The commons sings late.
Dinesh Peng retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
A child in Ring A asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Eleanor Barakat, 75. It is little enough.
Olaf Nwosu and Nandini Quill are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Hydroponics turns out.
Oluwaseun Merriweather and Wenbo Quaye name their son Pranav. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Sixty-eight years: Nadia Navarrete hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.
Sixty-eight years: Oksana Shen hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring C stands ready.
Jaya Pillai retires at dimming. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 38,352 days to orbit.
Halvard Thorvaldsen, 90, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 38,368 days to orbit.
Samira Shen died in quarters on the night watch, 85 years old. 876 souls aboard.
Census check: 877 souls, 155 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
A new poem from Pallas Ulriksen — “What the Season Keeps.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Last shift for Tomasz Zhao, who joined Life Systems half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Year 145 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
Sixteen years for Sojourn Quill, who signs to Medical late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Lars Yan, 88. It is little enough.
All boards green. I count 878 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A child in Ring C asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Last shift for Tariq Fang, who joined Drive half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
All boards green. I count 878 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Morale index reads 82. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Census check: 878 souls, 156 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Last shift for Dinesh Zhao, who joined Drive half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Sixteen years for Teresa Sharma, who signs to Command late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.