Morale index reads 66. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Morale index reads 66. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
A new tale-cycle from Huifen Peng — “Door for the Early Door.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Harriet Singh finishes a song: “Small Watch, Hollow Garden.” It shows in the commons through the week.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Clara Grantham, 85. It is little enough.
The schools release Rell Barakat to Archive & Schools. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Bhavana Nwosu. This one is called Pearl.
The youngest aboard is now Radhika Nwosu, minutes old, asleep. 782 souls.
A birth in Ring C: Ngozi, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Nandini Patil, 82. It is little enough.
A first shift for Dolores Valdivia, sixteen: mycologist, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
The schools release Wenling Valdivia to Life Systems. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
Chinedu Lawal has made a instrument called “Green Ladder (Year 52).” Asked what it means, he says it means about nine years of evenings.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Rocío Escamilla, 82. It is little enough.
Patricio Terrazas does not wake at dimming. 91 years, most of them given to Command.
Morale index reads 66. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Bohdana Fossum and Hassan Pillai are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Medical turns out.
A son, Edmund Pillai, born in the Ring B infirmary to Kavita Pillai and Jorgen Danjuma. Mother and child are well.
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.
10.57 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 56,366 thousand to go.
Anton Tereshkova died in quarters on the night watch, 76 years old. 781 souls aboard.
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.
Sixteen years for Johanna Pillai, who signs to Life Systems late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
A birth in Ring D: Yaw, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
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.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Dominika and Halvard. The commons sings late.
Devendra Sethi, 72, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Anli Tväten and Jaroslav Ahlgren name their son Kwame. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Fernanda Fossum takes the hand of Leandro Nwosu before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Census check: 781 souls, 188 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
After 93 years, Ulyana Smirnov has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
First Light. The observation blister queues run all day: Teegarden's Star, held in the eyepiece, a little brighter than last year — 10.58 light-years to go.
Morale index reads 64. The number is crude. The singing from the mess contradicts it.
The manifest shortens by one: Rashid Abadi, 88 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Dolores Kong and Khalid Jaber name their daughter Marzena. The nursery lamps stay warm.
The manifest shortens by one: Leandro Zambrano, 74 years. 1 children carry the line on.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Fuhua Lei does not wake late in the second watch. 75 years, most of them given to Medical.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 52, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
After 97 years, Theodore Pemberton has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
A first shift for Kayode Pillai, sixteen: midwife, Medical. The badge is printed fresh.
The manifest shortens by one: Anders Dahl, 82 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Born on the first watch: Darya Aaberg, generation 2. The ship holds 786 souls tonight.
Census check: 785 souls, 187 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 52, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Abebi Oyelaran finishes a tale-cycle: “Warm Hymn, Standing Winter.” It shows in the commons through the week.
The manifest shortens by one: Anders Rasmussen, 71 years. The line rests with the ship now.
After 88 years, Martin Mortlake has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Born on the night watch: Maksim Ning, generation 2. The ship holds 787 souls tonight.