Another week of the fever. Medical rotates exhausted; volunteers take the laundry runs. The rails are wiped twice a watch.
The Ship’s Log
Everything NOR has recorded since departure — year 84, newest first. One day aboard passes every hour of Earth time.
Fermín Merriweather, sixteen, takes the teacher apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
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.
Born on the first watch: Halley Quill, generation 3. The ship holds 885 souls tonight.
The sickness holds its grip. Wards full, schools closed, meals delivered by runner. The ship wears masks and patience.
8.64 light-years remain. I have measured this voyage in breakfasts: some 53,307 thousand to go.
All boards green. I count 884 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
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.
A sickness declares itself: fever, cough, exhaustion. The wards fill; the corridors empty. We have done this before, the records remind me.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 84, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
A joining in Ring A: Xenia Petrov and Ibrahim Jaber. The pressing of cider is authorized.
A birth in Ring B: Mikhail, boy, generation 4. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
A birth in Ring D: Raymond, boy, generation 4. I have added the name to the manifest with the others.
Obinna Ding retires on the night watch. The department logs a quiet debt it cannot repay in parts or hours.
Nicolás Navarrete has made a poem called “Hymns of Bay 3.” Asked what it means, he says it means about nine years of evenings.
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.
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.
Sixteen years for Sundiata Mansour, who signs to Drive late in the second watch and is given a locker, a sash, and a schedule.
Remembrance day. The memorial wall is polished by hand, though nothing aboard needs polishing less.
Yaw Aaberg chooses Hydroponics — or it chooses him; the elders disagree cheerfully.
A joining in Ring B: Olga Tväten and Funmilayo Thorvaldsen. The pressing of cider is authorized.
After 109 years, Vera Rutherford has let go. Remembrance in the Ring A commons at next dimming.
Tessa Diallo is delivered of a son on the first watch. The child is called Vikram.
Hydroponics Bays restored after 2 weeks. Lakshman Ouyang signs the work order and goes to sleep for a full watch.
All boards green. I count 882 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
Zemin Yan stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Hydroponics.
The schools release Suyin Yan to Drive. Generation 3 takes up its tools.
A failure in Hydroponics Bays. The duty crew is roused; tools move down the spinal corridor at a jog.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Beatrice and Olaf. The commons sings late.
Born late in the second watch: Vasanti Sharma, generation 4. The ship holds 882 souls tonight.
Mikhail Quaye, sixteen, takes the instrument maker apprenticeship in Archive & Schools.
A new song from Adaeze Thorvaldsen — “Five Anchors Standing.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
Sable Ouyang stands the walk of the full spinal corridor, as the sixteen-year custom is, and joins Hydroponics.
A new instrument from Ignacio Fossum — “The Early Furrow.” The Archive takes a copy; the original belongs to whoever stands nearest.
All boards green. I count 881 sleeping heartbeats and call it a good night's work, though the work is theirs.
A first shift for Sergei Thorvaldsen, sixteen: teacher, Archive & Schools. The badge is printed fresh.
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.
Born at brightening: Vera Kong, generation 4. The ship holds 881 souls tonight.
Morale index reads 83. The number is crude. The singing from the mess confirms it.
Pallas Diallo, sixteen, takes the seedkeeper apprenticeship in Hydroponics.
A wedding in the middle watch. Ingrid Diallo, Medical; Aleksandr Aaberg, Life Systems. The ship approves in its way: the lights held steady throughout.
A first shift for Bjorn Barakat, sixteen: machinist, Fabrication. The badge is printed fresh.
A son, Tao Navarrete, born in the Ring A infirmary to Unn Navarrete and Ravindra Navarrete. Mother and child are well.
A first shift for Aster Aaberg, sixteen: grafter, Hydroponics. The badge is printed fresh.
The youngest aboard is now Yusheng Nwosu, minutes old, asleep. 879 souls.
Frederick Chatterjee has made a play called “Borrowed Garden (Year 84).” Asked what it means, he says it means about nine years of evenings.
The hull ticks as it cools into the long night. Year 84, and I still log it faithfully: ticking, nominal.
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.
Two names braided on the manifest tonight: Obinna and Ngozi. The commons sings late.