A joining in Ring A: Rell Quill and Yejide Kowalczyk. The pressing of cider is authorized.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — year 166, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
A son, Zbigniew Aaberg, born in the Ring A infirmary to Rocío Aaberg and Aisha Shen. Mother and child are well.
3.76 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 24,754 thousand to go.
Huda Thorvaldsen takes the hand of Kestrel Nwosu before the assembled watch. I witness, as I witness everything.
A son, Anton Diallo, born in the Ring D infirmary to Rania Diallo and Konstantin Nwosu. Mother and child are well.
Polina Pemberton, 89, generation 4, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
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.
Adrián Petrov stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Drive.
A child in Ring C asks the corridor speaker what Earth smelled like. I play the rainstorm recording. It is the best answer I have.
Born late in the second watch: Chinedu Mansour, generation 6. The ship holds 815 souls tonight.
Census check: 814 souls, 226 of them children. The manifest balances to the person, as it must.
Last shift for Femi Petrov, who joined Archive & Schools half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
Yamini Tväten is delivered of a daughter at dimming. The child is called Yasmin.
Qiang Petrov, sixteen, takes the plasma systems tech apprenticeship in Drive.
Amina Thorvaldsen, sixteen, takes the machinist apprenticeship in Fabrication.
Deneb Yan does not wake on the night watch. 90 years, most of them given to Hydroponics.
The manifest shortens by one: Catalina Nwosu, 87 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Hernán Merriweather died in quarters on the first watch, 88 years old. 815 souls aboard.
Last shift for Zhihao Aaberg, who joined Hydroponics half a century ago. The crew line the corridor and knock wrenches on the rails.
A first shift for Yash Shen, sixteen: physician, Medical. The badge is printed fresh.
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.
Yasmin Petrov retires in the middle watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
3.77 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 24,837 thousand to go.
A joining in Ring A: Quill Quill and Suyin Thorvaldsen. The pressing of cider is authorized.
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.
Rosario Thorvaldsen does not wake at brightening. 93 years, most of them given to Medical.
Born late in the second watch: Jamila Tväten, generation 6. The ship holds 817 souls tonight.
Magnus Merriweather, 85, generation 3, is carried down the spinal corridor feet-first, as the custom is.
The fever breaks shipwide. The cost is counted plainly: 1 name for the wall. The schools reopen at brightening.
Another week of the fever. Medical rotates exhausted; volunteers take the laundry runs. The rails are wiped twice a watch.
The sickness holds its grip. Wards full, schools closed, meals delivered by runner. The ship wears masks and patience.
Sable Nwosu and Noor Valdivia are joined under the orchard lamps. The whole of Hydroponics turns out.
Born in the middle watch: Halley Jaber, generation 6. The ship holds 817 souls tonight.
The sickness holds its grip. Wards full, schools closed, meals delivered by runner. The ship wears masks and patience.
Sixteen years for Verne Sharma, who signs to Command on the first watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
The sickness holds its grip. Wards full, schools closed, meals delivered by runner. The ship wears masks and patience.
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.
Another week of the fever. Medical rotates exhausted; volunteers take the laundry runs. The rails are wiped twice a watch.
Routine watch. The wheat in Bay 3 stands taller than its keepers. 30,488 days to orbit.
The manifest shortens by one: Viggo Navarrete, 71 years. The line rests with the ship now.
Daisy Jaber died in quarters at dimming, 85 years old. 817 souls aboard.
Another week of the fever. Medical rotates exhausted; volunteers take the laundry runs. The rails are wiped twice a watch.
The sickness holds its grip. Wards full, schools closed, meals delivered by runner. The ship wears masks and patience.
First watch. The orchard sprinklers run their cycle, and the sound carries down the spine like weather.
Leticia Petrov died in quarters in the middle watch, 97 years old. 818 souls aboard.
I dim the corridor lights a shade for Indira Petrov, 102. It is little enough.
A son, Pallas Thorvaldsen, born in the Ring B infirmary to Caelum Thorvaldsen and Fern Orellana. Mother and child are well.
Another week of the fever. Medical rotates exhausted; volunteers take the laundry runs. The rails are wiped twice a watch.
A birth in Ring C: Albert, boy, generation 7. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
A son, Stanislav Fang, born in the Ring C infirmary to Halley Fang and Node Ning. Mother and child are well.