10.34 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 52,508 thousand to go.
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, Meridian Aaberg, born in the Ring A infirmary to Iveta Aaberg and Uzoma Pillai. Mother and child are well.
June Gresham does not wake on the first watch. 88 years, most of them given to Life Systems.
The manifest shortens by one: Ulf Haugen, 75 years. 1 children carry the line on.
The youngest aboard is now Kofi Navarrete, minutes old, asleep. 743 souls.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 56, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
10.35 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 52,529 thousand to go.
A new poem from Dolores Valdivia — “A standing harvest.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
A son, Aster Fossum, born in the Ring B infirmary to Bohdana Fossum and Hassan Pillai. Mother and child are well.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 56, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 70,804 days to orbit.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Theodore and Vega. The commons sings late.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
“A outward furrow,” a tale-cycle by Chinedu Lawal, is unveiled in the middle watch to the particular applause of Archive & Schools.
Chunhua Yan, 89, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Ebba Aaberg takes the hand of Ifeoma Valdivia before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Born at brightening: Drift Quaye, generation 3. The ship holds 742 souls tonight.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Nils and Agnieszka. The commons sings late.
Vernon Aaberg, sixteen, takes the soil keeper apprenticeship in Ecology.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 56, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Sixteen years for Hedda Tväten, who signs to Ecology at brightening and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Jamila Navarrete is delivered of a son at dimming. The child is called Sojourn.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
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.
Obinna Bankole died in quarters late in the second watch, 92 years old. 740 souls aboard.
Too soon, at 53: Cedric Fang. The commons fills on the first watch with those who knew him.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Carmen Valdivia chooses Command — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
10.36 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 52,587 thousand to go.
Departure Day, year 56. The founders' roll is read from the first name to the thousandth, and the young ones try to stay solemn.
The manifest shortens by one: Chidinma Adeyemi, 94 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Born late in the second watch: Einar Fossum, generation 3. The ship holds 743 souls tonight.
All boards green. I count 742 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Iveta Morozov does not wake at dimming. 87 years, most of them given to Archive & Schools.
A birth in Ring C: Fernanda, girl, generation 2. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Dominika Thorvaldsen. This one is called Cedric.
Dominika Thorvaldsen and Halvard Nwosu name their daughter Zahra. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Rocío Ning is delivered of a daughter on the first watch. The child is called Jiayi.
The schools release Nils Salazar to Medical. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Temitope Falade, 76. It is little enough.
Hanan Maalouf died in quarters on the night watch, 75 years old. 740 souls aboard.
Lakshmi Ning chooses Fabrication — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Meera Lal, 86, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Bhavana Raghunathan, 87, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 55, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Ayodele Bishara has made a mural called “Harvests of Year 55.” Asked what it means, he says it means about nine years of evenings.
Zbigniew Antonov died in quarters at brightening, 83 years old. 743 souls aboard.
The schools release Lakshman Ouyang to Hydroponics. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
All boards green. I count 744 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.