Leticia Shen and Xenia Ulriksen name their daughter Huifen. The nursery lamps stay warm.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Born in the middle watch: Caelum Shen, generation 6. The ship holds 812 souls tonight.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 32,974 days to orbit.
A first shift for Viggo Nwosu, sixteen: grafter, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
Remembrance. All names read since the last one — held in silence in every ring at the same hour. I keep the lights low until it is done.
A daughter, Lumen Quaye, born in the Ring D infirmary to Dalia Quaye and Bruno Jaber. Mother and child are well.
After 82 years, Suyin Tväten has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Sixteen years for Widad Jaber, who signs to Medical in the middle watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Deneb Zhao does not wake at brightening. 86 years, most of them given to Fabrication.
The manifest shortens by one: Catalina Pemberton, 89 years. 3 children carry the line on.
Valentina Fang finishes a quilt: “Iron Furrow, Warm Winter.” It shows in the commons through the week.
Teodoro Merriweather does not wake on the first watch. 80 years, most of them given to Life Systems.
Ulises Aaberg stands down from Drive at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
A birth in Ring B: Juniper, girl, generation 7. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Deepika Kong stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Hydroponics.
Ekundayo Northam does not wake in the middle watch. 77 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
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.
After 94 years, Aster Tväten has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
4.20 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 26,936 thousand to go.
Chief of Life Systems falls to Zenith Petrov, who accepts with a nod and a full docket.
Zemin Thorvaldsen stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Life Systems.
Sixty-eight years: Per Ouyang hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.
Chitra Ouyang is delivered of a daughter on the first watch. The child is called Natalya.
A first shift for Signe Shen, sixteen: quartermaster, Command. The badge is printed fresh.
The manifest shortens by one: Lev Diallo, 92 years. 1 children carry the line on.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
The youngest aboard is now Birgitta Ulriksen, minutes old, asleep. 815 souls.
A child in Ring B asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
I compare today's star field against day one's. The constellations have begun, very slightly, to come apart. Nobody else will look; that is what I am for.
Nora Aaberg finishes a tale-cycle: “A kept harvest.” It shows in the commons through the week.
The Crossing feast: more behind than ahead. The long tables come out; the good preserves come down.
A daughter, Hanan Sharma, born in the Ring D infirmary to Meridian Sharma and Hernán Fang. Mother and child are well.
Last shift for Tao Fang, who joined Command half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Winifred Tväten died in quarters at dimming, 86 years old. 813 souls aboard.
Sixteen years for Ravindra Valdivia, who signs to Hydroponics on the night watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Oksana Petrov chooses Medical — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Harini Aaberg died in quarters on the first watch, 98 years old. 814 souls aboard.
Census check: 815 souls, 206 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Helm Thorvaldsen takes the hand of Yakubu Merriweather before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Bruno Navarrete, 88. It is little enough.
Femi Orellana is made Chief of Medical, and marks it by standing the ordinary shift anyway.
Last shift for Basma Nwosu, who joined Medical half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Census check: 816 souls, 206 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Georgia Aaberg chooses Fabrication — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Anders Shen, 99, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
First Light. The observation blister queues run all day: Teegarden's Star, held in the eyepiece, a little brighter than last year — 4.21 light-years to go.
A birth in Ring C: Lumen, boy, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Born in the middle watch: Meridian Jaber, generation 6. The ship holds 816 souls tonight.
Amina Thorvaldsen, sixteen, takes the thermal engineer apprenticeship in Life Systems.