Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 32,003 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.
Sixteen years for Omar Aaberg, who signs to Archive & Schools in the middle watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Nabil Thorvaldsen, sixteen, takes the plasma systems tech apprenticeship in Drive.
“Nine Harvests Sleeping,” a tale-cycle by Aster Shen, is unveiled on the first watch to the particular applause of Hydroponics.
The schools release Yejide Kowalczyk to Drive. Generation 5 takes up its tools.
The youngest aboard is now Wallace Thorvaldsen, minutes old, asleep. 829 souls.
Born at brightening: Gyre Tväten, generation 7. The ship holds 828 souls tonight.
Census check: 827 souls, 222 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Gilbert Valdivia, 81, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Kamala Fang finishes a tale-cycle: “What the Field Forgets.” It shows in the commons through the week.
Born on the first watch: Anders Shen, generation 6. The ship holds 828 souls tonight.
After 81 years, Arne Fang has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Last shift for Caelum Mansour, who joined Ecology half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
First Light. The observation blister queues run all day: Teegarden's Star, held in the eyepiece, a little brighter than last year — 4.03 light-years to go.
Sixty-eight years: Jamila Fang hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring C stands ready.
A birth in Ring D: Baozhen, girl, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 32,075 days to orbit.
Gantry Pillai stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Drive.
A birth in Ring A: Noemí, girl, generation 7. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Morale index reads 80. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Born at brightening: Lakshman Thorvaldsen, generation 7. The ship holds 826 souls tonight.
A new play from Anand Ulriksen — “What the Water Leaves.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
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.
The youngest aboard is now Zenith Nwosu, minutes old, asleep. 825 souls.
Gyre Thorvaldsen chooses Drive — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
The manifest shortens by one: Qiang Nwosu, 97 years. 2 children carry the line on.
Fern Orellana and Caelum Thorvaldsen are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Archive & Schools turns out.
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.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Deepika Pillai, 95. It is little enough.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 162, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Ion Jaber is delivered of a son at brightening. The child is called Ishaan.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 5,195th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
Chief of Life Systems falls to Xiulan Tväten, who accepts with a nod and a full docket.
Zenith Petrov stands down from Life Systems at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
After 86 years, Peng Shen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Clara Barakat died in quarters at dimming, 96 years old. 826 souls aboard.
A daughter, Umbra Fang, born in the Ring A infirmary to Alice Fang and Stanley Nwosu. Mother and child are well.
A son, Vikram Kong, born in the Ring C infirmary to Kestrel Kong and Arne Shen. Mother and child are well.
Safiya Peng does not wake at dimming. 89 years, most of them given to Medical.
A new quilt from Karima Nwosu — “Small Hymn, Borrowed Signal.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
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.
Caelum Valdivia takes the hand of Zenith Shen before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
A first shift for Edith Petrov, sixteen: physician, Medical. The badge is printed fresh.
Last shift for Cora Orellana, who joined Drive half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Halvard Thorvaldsen chooses Archive & Schools — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Born in the middle watch: Umbra Nwosu, generation 7. The ship holds 826 souls tonight.
Orrery Pillai and Nneka Jaber, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
After 92 years, Margaret Fossum has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Maja Shen, sixteen, takes the thermal engineer apprenticeship in Life Systems.