Karima Jaber died in quarters late in the second watch, 82 years old. 714 souls aboard.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Walter Ashworth, sixteen, takes the historian apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
All boards green. I count 715 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Leonard Thorvaldsen stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Life Systems.
A birth in Ring C: Folasade, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
The youngest aboard is now Jinsong Orellana, minutes old, asleep. 714 souls.
Jianguo Ning does not wake in the middle watch. 98 years, most of them given to Ecology.
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.
Boreal Thorvaldsen is delivered of a daughter late in the second watch. The child is called Fern.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Rell Barakat is delivered of a son at brightening. The child is called Emeka.
A birth in Ring A: Baozhen, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
After 81 years, Oluwadamilola Bankole has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
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.
After 84 years, Bruno Barrientos has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Morale index reads 73. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
10.06 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 49,223 thousand to go.
After 90 years, Carmen Salazar has let go. Remembrance in the Ring B commons at next dimming.
Liang Fang, sixteen, takes the sanitation engineer apprenticeship in Life Systems.
Maja Nwosu and Gilbert Quaye name their daughter Karin. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Born late in the second watch: Tarun Quaye, generation 3. The ship holds 713 souls tonight.
Raisa Zielinski died in quarters at dimming, 87 years old. 712 souls aboard.
Year 61 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
Born at dimming: Lucía Sharma, generation 2. The ship holds 713 souls tonight.
A son, Verne Valdivia, born in the Ring C infirmary to Wenling Valdivia and Zemin Ulriksen. Mother and child are well.
Olaf Orellana stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Medical.
Solveig Vik, 94, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Born in the middle watch: Octavio Nwosu, generation 3. The ship holds 712 souls tonight.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 69,092 days to orbit.
The youngest aboard is now Orrery Navarrete, minutes old, asleep. 711 souls.
Zhenzhen Pan does not wake late in the second watch. 99 years, most of them given to Ecology.
Josefina Shen and Pallas Valdivia name their daughter Boreal. The nursery lamps stay warm.
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.
Anastasia Ouyang is delivered of a daughter late in the second watch. The child is called Xiaohui.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Ulises Cárdenas, 79. It is little enough.
Census check: 710 souls, 242 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Zahra Aswad, 82. It is little enough.
Halvard Moller died in quarters on the first watch, 80 years old. 711 souls aboard.
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.
Xiaohui Ma, 99, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
Vasili Valdivia chooses Command — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
After 84 years, Opal Northam has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Ebba Aaberg is delivered of a daughter on the first watch. The child is called Abebi.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 69,185 days to orbit.
Night watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
A new instrument from Jiayi Quill — “What the Signal Keeps.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
“Green Winter (Year 60),” a instrument by Modupe Okafor, is unveiled at dimming to the particular applause of Medical.
A birth in Ring C: Qing, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Harold Ashworth and Renshu Thorvaldsen, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.