  We present results from 12 km/s resolution echelle spectroscopy of the bright
$z=4.694$ QSO BR1202-0725. A preliminary analysis shows that high metallicity
narrow line absorption clouds are present up to the redshift of the quasar. A
damped Ly$\alpha$ system with an HI column density of $3.1 \times 10^{20}$
cm$^{-2}$ at $z=4.383$ has an [O/H] ratio that is about 0.01 solar, while
another absorption system with an HI column density of $5.0 \times 10^{16}$
cm$^{-2}$ at $z=4.672$, may have an O/H ratio that is twice solar. An upper
limit, or the possible detection of deuterium in this absorption cloud gives a
D/H ratio of about 1.5\,10$^{-4}$. Because this cloud is metal rich at least
some of the cloud gas has been processed after the beginning of the Universe.

Astrophysics