In many ways, this was the beginning of her Licentiate studies. Faith knew this, quite certainly. She had spent a lot of time thinking about just what details she wanted to record, what she needed to. Because she could not make a mistake here, she had to ensure that the information she gathered was correct.
"What I'm going to do," she said, to the dead woman,
"Is to make sure that I get every bit of information about you I can. It means that I'll be able to start building up pictures of things which will help me help others. Maybe, one trial, I'll be able to stop people from dying from what you died from. But either way," Faith said, as she began to draw blood.
"I'll make a difference, and give you and your family some closure, I promise."
First of all, she needed to take samples. Hair, blood, all the things that she could do before she could begin the incisions. Everything she did, she spoke about with Hennie, even though the woman's ghost wasn't there, Faith knew that it was her job to do so.
"I know," she said, as she cleared away the last of the tools she'd used in order to keep the space clean and make it ready for the cutting and removing of the organs.
"That you are worried about your family, but I'm going to help them the very best that I can. It's hard," she had dealt with so many people who were grieving that she understood it in a way which made it almost palpable to her. That, and she had spent some time feeling Padraig's emotions when she had amnesia - that was a particular kind of sorrow which helped her understand, now.
"I'm going to cut you, now. When I'm done, I'll make sure that you're sewn back up. They'll be able to come and visit you, see you. I'll make sure that the last time they see you, you'll look just like the person they know, Hennie, the person they love. I promise." Her hands moved deftly as she made the incisions needed.
"We'll be able to give them answers, and that's so important." Love was what it all came down to, Faith knew. The sorrow of grief was fuelled entirely by love, Faith firmly believed. Vri had told her, after all - love was the most important of his Domains. So, with a prayer to Vri that this woman's soul was safe in his care, she got about her job.
Faith was meticulous and careful in terms of detail, and she was deeply respectful of the person she was dealing with. This meant that performing an autopsy was not a quick thing and Faith took the time she needed to. It was the right and proper thing to do, after all, and she made sure it was done properly.
Which meant that it was some three breaks later and she was sitting, writing her notes.
"It was a bleed in your brain. I've taken each of your organs," she said to the woman who she had just autopsied.
"I think, judging by the size of the bleed, there must have been very little or no pain for you. I'm so glad about that. It's a good thing, to not be in pain." She smiled slightly.
"I've recorded all the details I can, as much detail as possible, on all of your organs. I have them recorded and, as you are the first of the people who have given details to this study, the method I use to record things, the argument I am trying to make about what we can do to push medicine further? I'm going to call that the 'Hennie Technique', with your family's permission. They'll know whether that's something they want."
She had checked and re-dressed Hennie, made sure that she looked the best she could. Faith knew that it was important to the family that this was the case and, so, Faith then rummaged in her bag and began the process of applying light make-up to the woman.
"Rest, now. Famula and Vri watch over you." The last was a whispered prayer as she lifted the sheet back up over Hennie's head.
