Year 72 of the voyage begins. The oldest bottle of orchard wine that can be spared is opened. It is always described as "improving."
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — the full record, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Einar Fossum stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Hydroponics.
Too soon, at 36: Vernon Kong. The commons fills in the middle watch with those who knew him.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
A first shift for Fernanda Mazur, sixteen: bay gardener, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
A daughter, Yaw Fang, born in the Ring C infirmary to Ingrid Fang and Salvador Peng. Mother and child are well.
Morale index reads 80. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Harini Joshi died in quarters in the middle watch, 92 years old. 743 souls aboard.
Sixteen years for Cedric Thorvaldsen, who signs to Hydroponics on the first watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The schools release Zahra Thorvaldsen to Drive. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
The schools release Jiayi Ning to Hydroponics. Generation 2 takes up its tools.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 8,237th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
A daughter, Eos Orellana, born in the Ring C infirmary to Karin Orellana and Damilare Quaye. Mother and child are well.
Feng Xie does not wake on the first watch. 100 years, most of them given to Life Systems.
After 98 years, Zahra Jaber has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Last shift for Leif Ulanov, who joined Archive & Schools half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
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.
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.
The manifest shortens by one: Amparo Gallardo, 90 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Elin Yan and Gbenga Merriweather are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Hydroponics turns out.
A daughter, Ifeoma Thorvaldsen, born in the Ring A infirmary to Dolores Thorvaldsen and Hassan Ashworth. Mother and child are well.
A wedding in the middle watch. Guiying Petrov, Life Systems; Cristóbal Aaberg, Archive & Schools. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
Sixteen years for Clara Fang, who signs to Fabrication on the night watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Morale index reads 81. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Signe Valdivia is delivered of a son in the middle watch. The child is called Shanyuan.
A birth in Ring D: Elsie, girl, generation 3. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
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.
Rocío Petrov chooses Drive — or it chooses her; the elders disagree cheerfully.
Xiulan Petrov stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Ecology.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Sixteen years for Suyin Barakat, who signs to Fabrication at dimming and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 71, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Census check: 743 souls, 304 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Caelum Diallo and Nils Salazar name their daughter Chiamaka. The nursery lamps stay warm.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 65,173 days to orbit.
Nikolai Petrov does not wake in the middle watch. 93 years, most of them given to Medical.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Keel and Konstantin. The commons sings late.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 8,126th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
The star ahead brightens by amounts only I can love: another week, another hundred-millionth of a magnitude.
Tao Jaber stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Drive.
A first shift for Karim Peng, sixteen: air systems tech, Life Systems. The badge is printed fresh.
Everett Nwosu, sixteen, takes the irrigation tech apprenticeship in Hydroponics.
Anton Shen takes the hand of Agnieszka Petrov before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
Quiet shift. I re-run the arrival calculations for the 8,104th time. They have not changed. I find this restful.
A joining in Ring D: Bernardo Mansour and Qiaoyun Barakat. The pressing of cider is authorized.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 71, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
Zenith Sharma stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Medical.
Morale index reads 83. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Ishaan Jaber, sixteen, takes the grafter apprenticeship in Hydroponics.
Sixteen years for Enlai Aaberg, who signs to Hydroponics at brightening and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.