Kehinde Ilesanmi stands down from Archive & Schools at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
A daughter, Mariam Tväten, born in the Ring B infirmary to Anli Tväten and Jaroslav Ahlgren. Mother and child are well.
Yuri Ulanov retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Thurayya Tahan retires at brightening. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Beatrice Lockhart, 81. It is little enough.
After 80 years, Hedda Lindqvist has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 74,087 days to orbit.
Iman Rizk stands down from Hydroponics at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Alice Jessop, 70, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Bjorn Gustavsson stands down from Life Systems at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Vicente Zambrano, 95, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
A new play from Jorgen Vik — “What the Anchor Forgets.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Uma Varma retires on the first watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Hakon Bergstrom stands down from Hydroponics at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Oluwadamilola Bankole retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Sixty-eight years: Ebba Paulsen hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring B stands ready.
The manifest shortens by one: Olaf Paulsen, 79 years. 1 children carry the line on.
Leif Ulanov and Elsie Navarrete, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Sixty-eight years: Winifred Carmody hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring A stands ready.
Sixty-eight years: Walter Standish hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.
The manifest shortens by one: Zaid Yacoub, 91 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Emilio Quintana and Dalia Jaber are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Drive turns out.
Hernán Navarrete resolves a long-period comet in the forward field — a smudge of home ice, very far from home. It is logged and named.
Ming Peng died in quarters at dimming, 93 years old. 837 souls aboard.
Sixty-eight years: Karin Bergstrom hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring D stands ready.
Morale index reads 49. The number is crude. The singing from the mess contradicts it.
Morale index reads 49. The number is crude. The singing from the mess contradicts it.
Natalya Pemberton is delivered of a daughter at brightening. The child is called Opal.
Last shift for Anjali Chatterjee, who joined Command half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
After 89 years, Harini Sharma has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Sixty-eight years: Mikhail Wisniewski hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring A stands ready.
10.89 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 62,143 thousand to go.
Departure Day, year 47. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
Born on the first watch: Nils Peng, generation 2. The ship holds 838 souls tonight.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Harini Joshi stands down from Ecology at sixty-eight, to the orchard benches and the long game of stones.
Tara Thorvaldsen has died at 37, far too early. Fabrication stands down a shift in grief.
Kavita Verma died in quarters late in the second watch, 91 years old. 838 souls aboard.
Gunhild Aaberg died in quarters at brightening, 75 years old. 839 souls aboard.
Morale index reads 51. The number is crude. The singing from the mess contradicts it.
Water Reclamation hums again. Nora Thorvaldsen is stood a round of orchard cider by the off-shift.
Fault isolated in Water Reclamation. Repair estimate: unwise to say aloud.
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 Assembly reaches its accord: schedules loosened, stores opened a measure, and a promise recorded in the permanent log. The ship exhales.
Karima Jaber retires on the first watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
After 83 years, Stanley Pemberton has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
The Ship's Assembly convenes in the largest commons. Everyone who wishes to speaks. I keep time and hold the record, nothing more.
A first shift for Hassan Pillai, sixteen: grafter, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
A work slowdown moves through the departments, orderly and cold. The ship runs; the ship also waits.