The schools release Bhaskar Petrov to Hydroponics. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Departure Day, year 51. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
The youngest aboard is now Zenith Ashworth, minutes old, asleep. 796 souls.
Bhavana Nwosu is delivered of a daughter in the middle watch. The child is called Meilin.
Unn Fossum died in quarters in the middle watch, 79 years old. 794 souls aboard.
10.66 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 57,816 thousand to go.
Census check: 795 souls, 179 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Quill Mazur has died at 5, far too early. the ship stands down a shift in grief.
A daughter, Hedda Ulriksen, born in the Ring A infirmary to Yaling Ulriksen and Theodore Sharma. Mother and child are well.
Ebba Paulsen finishes a tale-cycle: “Borrowed Watch (Year 50).” It shows in the commons through the week.
After 95 years, Meera Joshi has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
10.66 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 57,906 thousand to go.
Bruno Bustamante does not wake in the middle watch. 97 years, most of them given to Life Systems.
Census check: 797 souls, 179 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Oksana Petrov, 82, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 543th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
Clara Hartley does not wake late in the second watch. 97 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
All boards green. I count 799 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
10.67 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 58,157 thousand to go.
Born at brightening: Aisha Pillai, generation 2. The ship holds 799 souls tonight.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Lakshmi Pillai, 74. It is little enough.
Born at dimming: Fernanda Mazur, generation 2. The ship holds 799 souls tonight.
Morale index reads 69. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Ulises Abiodun times an occultation to refine our ephemeris. The course correction is smaller than a held breath.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Octavio Aguirre, 80. It is little enough.
Ulyana Petrov and Rajesh Jaber name their daughter Guiying. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Census check: 798 souls, 176 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
After 83 years, Bohdana Gagarin has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Maintenance sweep of Ring B complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
A daughter, Fang Jaber, born in the Ring A infirmary to Dalia Jaber and Emilio Quintana. Mother and child are well.
A first shift for Emilio Barakat, sixteen: historian, Archive & Schools. The badge is printed fresh.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Jagdish Joshi, 78. It is little enough.
After 88 years, Mingyu Liang has let go. Remembrance in the Ring D commons at next dimming.
After 72 years, Nils Eriksen has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Anli Peng died in quarters at brightening, 93 years old. 801 souls aboard.
Born at brightening: Guadalupe Aaberg, generation 3. The ship holds 802 souls tonight.
Ikenna Adeyemi does not wake late in the second watch. 76 years, most of them given to Ecology.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Dolores Sharma. This one is called Caelum.
A daughter, Daisy Sharma, born in the Ring B infirmary to Dolores Sharma and Devendra Yacoub. Mother and child are well.
Natalya Pemberton and Rotimi Thorvaldsen name their son Zbigniew. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Alice Holloway died in quarters at brightening, 94 years old. 799 souls aboard.
Fermín Herrera, 86, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Jaroslav Peng and Jiayi Shen, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Percy Pemberton does not wake late in the second watch. 91 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
All boards green. I count 802 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
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.
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.
The youngest aboard is now Arc Jaber, minutes old, asleep. 802 souls.