Johanna Navarrete is delivered of a son on the night watch. The child is called Aster.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
3.53 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 24,205 thousand to go.
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.
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.
Aster Ulriksen does not wake at dimming. 98 years, most of them given to Medical.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 28,971 days to orbit.
A wedding on the first watch. Gantry Pillai, Drive; Eleanor Thorvaldsen, Hydroponics. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
A wedding in the middle watch. Pranav Yan, Drive; Altair Tväten, Drive. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
The youngest aboard is now Teodoro Northam, minutes old, asleep. 837 souls.
Sixteen years for Deneb Thorvaldsen, who signs to Life Systems on the night watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
A first shift for Guowei Thorvaldsen, sixteen: thermal engineer, Life Systems. The badge is printed fresh.
Last shift for Widad Fang, who joined Drive half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Born at brightening: Qing Petrov, generation 7. The ship holds 836 souls tonight.
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 Chunhua Sharma, who joined Life Systems half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A joining in Ring D: Halvard Thorvaldsen and Teresa Zhao. The pressing of cider is authorized.
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.
Deneb Valdivia takes the hand of Yaw Quill before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 170, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 29,002 days to orbit.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Ragnar and Ekaterina. The commons sings late.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Alice Fang. This one is called Aster.
Alice Fang is delivered of a daughter in the middle watch. The child is called Agnieszka.
Igor Orellana, 65, generation 4, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Harini Navarrete is delivered of a daughter on the first watch. The child is called Boreal.
A first shift for Ifeoma Aaberg, sixteen: broadcast keeper, Archive & Schools. The badge is printed fresh.
Orrery Thorvaldsen finishes a quilt: “The Bright Wheel.” It shows in the commons through the week.
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.
A new instrument from Orrery Sharma — “A distant water.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
“Sunless Water, Borrowed Root,” a poem by Elin Jaber, is unveiled at dimming to the particular applause of Hydroponics.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Opal Petrov. This one is called Xingyu.
A birth in Ring B: Tomasz, boy, generation 6. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Quill Diallo is delivered of a daughter at brightening. The child is called Ximena.
All boards green. I count 830 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Franklin Petrov takes the hand of Cygnet Northam before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
“What the Root Remembers,” a mural by Rocío Aaberg, is unveiled on the first watch to the particular applause of Life Systems.
Too soon, at 26: Zemin Thorvaldsen. The commons fills late in the second watch with those who knew him.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 170, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Pranav and Vasanti. The commons sings late.
Morale index reads 79. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Efua Nwosu and Khalid Navarrete name their daughter Yewande. The nursery lamps stay warm.
A joining in Ring B: Verne Tväten and Umbra Orellana. The pressing of cider is authorized.
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.
The Crossing. Every year it is observed, and every year someone stands to say the second half is the harder, and is booed warmly.
After 89 years, Aster Fang has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Yusheng Quill stands down from Fabrication at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Leonard Barakat, 84. It is little enough.
Edith Ouyang and Tarun Navarrete name their son Guowei. The nursery lamps stay warm.
A first shift for Kamala Tväten, sixteen: printer operator, Fabrication. The badge is printed fresh.
Sojourn Pillai chooses Life Systems — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.