There were no cheers. His announcement was greeted only by the low hum of voices, breaking like wind in pines, a sigh of relief.
Then there was a stunned silence, when, for a moment, no one knew quite what to do with himself.
After that, they began to mill around, each going to his neighbor and repeating the news again.
"Well, we're Home."
"Yes, we're Home."
The Ship drifted in its orbit, now, like a planet, like a very small planet, the balanced terrarium.
"Listen," the Mate said. "I've got him!"
He took off the headset and switched open the speaker.
"Interstellar Flight One...."