Tunde Chekhov stands down from Drive 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.
The schools release Bogdan Navarrete to Drive. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 69, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
The council confirms Howard Orellana as Chief of Drive late in the second watch.
Vera Orellana died in quarters on the first watch, 59 years old, once Chief of Drive. 726 souls aboard.
Ifeoma Valdivia and Ebba Aaberg name their son Konstantin. The nursery lamps stay warm.
A birth in Ring C: Edmund, boy, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
The youngest aboard is now Yuri Nwosu, minutes old, asleep. 725 souls.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Carmen Valdivia. This one is called Raisa.
Born late in the second watch: Mikhail Valdivia, generation 3. The ship holds 724 souls tonight.
Tern Navarrete and Hernán Pillai name their daughter Oddny. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Sergei Barakat chooses Command — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Year 69 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 66,129 days to orbit.
Sixteen years for Clara Ulriksen, who signs to Drive late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The youngest aboard is now Fermín Merriweather, minutes old, asleep. 721 souls.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Sixty-eight years: Sylvia Ning hangs up the sash. An elder's quarters in Ring C stands ready.
The manifest shortens by one: Cristóbal Mendoza, 91 years. 1 children carry the line on.
The manifest shortens by one: Gopal Patil, 91 years. 1 children carry the line on.
After 90 years, Kiran Hegde has let go. Remembrance in the Ring C commons at next dimming.
Signe Valdivia and Bohai Singh, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
Salvador Thorvaldsen chooses Ecology — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Lubna Fossum chooses Hydroponics — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Josefina Navarrete finishes a poem: “Distant Hymn (Year 68).” It shows in the commons through the week.
The youngest aboard is now Sundiata Mansour, minutes old, asleep. 723 souls.
Octavio Pillai takes the hand of Lakshman Tväten before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
A joining in Ring B: Rotimi Aaberg and Vasanti Nwosu. The pressing of cider is authorized.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Born at dimming: Yaw Aaberg, generation 3. The ship holds 722 souls tonight.
The schools release Fermín Fossum to Medical. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
A new quilt from Tara Fang — “Gardens of the orchard.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Dalia Merriweather stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Fabrication.
Maintenance sweep of Ring C complete. Somewhere aft a wrench is missing; it will surface in a decade, in a wall, with a story attached.
Middle watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Marzena Quill and Dmitri Merriweather, joined. Their quarters are re-assigned adjoining, per custom.
A second child follows on the night watch: twins for Kehinde Yan. This one is called Zemin.
A daughter, Suyin Yan, born in the Ring B infirmary to Kehinde Yan and Xingyu Ashworth. Mother and child are well.
Ravindra Yamin retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
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.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 68, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Cedric Pemberton, 91, generation 0, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
The youngest aboard is now Mikhail Quaye, minutes old, asleep. 720 souls.
A wedding in the middle watch. Walter Ashworth, Archive & Schools; Paloma Quill, Life Systems. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
Gbenga Navarrete stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Life Systems.
The schools release Lubna Petrov to Life Systems. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
A birth in Ring B: Sable, boy, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.