Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 36,862 days to orbit.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Last shift for Lucía Aaberg, who joined Medical half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
The manifest shortens by one: Tern Jaber, 81 years. The line rests with the ship now.
All boards green. I count 861 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Yewande Aaberg, 87, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Martin Quaye died in quarters at dimming, 90 years old. 862 souls aboard.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 149, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Raisa Valdivia does not wake at brightening. 80 years, most of them given to Medical.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Yejide Valdivia, 83. It is little enough.
Harish Petrov stands down from Drive at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Kestrel Kong stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Drive.
Chief of Fabrication falls to Chengdong Nwosu, who accepts with a nod and a full docket.
Arne Fang retires late in the second watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Maintenance sweep of Ring D complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Born at dimming: Meera Jaber, generation 6. The ship holds 865 souls tonight.
The schools release Elin Jaber to Hydroponics. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
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.
Sixty-eight years: Solveig Shen hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring C stands ready.
Year 149 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
“Window for the Last Winter,” a quilt by Noor Thorvaldsen, is unveiled on the night watch to the particular applause of Archive & Schools.
Meridian Sharma and Hernán Fang name their daughter Ekaterina. The nursery lamps stay warm.
4.83 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 31,888 thousand to go.
The youngest aboard is now Kamala Shen, minutes old, asleep. 863 souls.
The manifest shortens by one: Ikenna Jaber, 91 years. 4 children carry the line on.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Orrery Barakat, 69. It is little enough.
Nadia Fang and Wei Nwosu name their daughter Carmen. The nursery lamps stay warm.
After 84 years, Adrián Diallo has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
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.
A joining in Ring D: Umbra Shen and Mohan Diallo. The pressing of cider is authorized.
Sixty-eight years: Magnus Merriweather hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring B stands ready.
The youngest aboard is now Gyre Aaberg, minutes old, asleep. 864 souls.
A joining in Ring B: Yueqin Petrov and Tern Quill. The pressing of cider is authorized.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Khalid Fang times an occultation to refine our ephemeris. The course correction is smaller than a held breath.
Drift Valdivia takes the hand of Maja Jaber before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Konstantin Valdivia died in quarters in the middle watch, 79 years old. 863 souls aboard.
Maintenance sweep of Ring D complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Fern Orellana, sixteen, takes the teacher apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
Last shift for Wei Navarrete, who joined Command half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A new tale-cycle from Kayode Shen — “The Borrowed Ladder.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Repair complete on Comms Array after 5 days. I run the test cycle twice, out of respect for history.
Trouble in Comms Array. The board goes amber; the coffee goes on.
The schools release Modupe Nwosu to Hydroponics. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
Sergei Thorvaldsen does not wake late in the second watch. 80 years, most of them given to Archive & Schools.
Jamal Salazar stands down from Ecology at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
The manifest shortens by one: Lubna Fang, 88 years. 1 children carry the line on.
Last shift for Vera Valdivia, who joined Hydroponics half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Nadia Thorvaldsen retires at dimming. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.