 The first time Rikud feels pain or discomfort is when
When nobody aboard ship remembers where it's going, how can they tell when it has arrived? Every day for a week now, Rikud had come to the viewport to watch the great changeless sweep of space. But ever since the engines somewhere in the rear of the world had changed their tone, from the steady whining Rikud had heard all twenty-five years of his life, to the sullen roar that came to his ears now, the feelings had grown. But it came again, and each time it left him with a feeling he could not explain. Rikud knew that something which he could not explain had entered the elder man's head for a moment, but it had departed almost before Chuls knew of its existence. Rikud, for his part, wanted to get back to the viewport and watch the one new bright star. Rikud muttered to himself and undressed. But something soft had cushioned the impact—something which had come into being just for the moment and then abruptly passed into non-being again, something which was as impalpable as air. Rikud had been stopped in this action, although there was no real authority to stop him. There had been a revolt—again a term without any real meaning, a term that could have no reality outside of the reading machine—and the elders were overthrown. The people had decided that they did not know where they were going, or why, and that it was unfair that the elders alone had this authority. Much of this Rikud could not understand, but he knew enough to realize that the reading machine had sided with the people against the elders, and it said the people had won. Now in the health room, Rikud felt a warmth in the rays. He could see the look of easy contentment on Chuls' face as the rays fanned down upon him, bathing his old body in a forgotten magic which, many generations before Rikud's time, had negated the necessity for a knowledge of medicine. Rikud often thought of his own death, still seventy-five years in the future, not without a sense of alarm. Rikud was guiltily glad when he saw Crifer limp. Now Crifer said, "I've been reading again, Rikud." But if he wasn't reading himself, Rikud usually went to sleep. This was a new thought to Rikud, and he propped his head up on one elbow. "You know," Rikud said, sitting up now, "the stars in the viewport are changing." Over on Rikud's right, Chuls began to dress.
 the light he peered into was too bright, and his eyes hurt as a result.
 the light he peered into was too bright, and his eyes hurt as a result.  he tried to hit his head intentionally.  he experienced hunger for the first time.  he hits his head and bleeds for the first time.