""Tell me then," he had said to her and Professor Carter had to admit that
tell him was exactly what Faith had done.
"It started when four men came in to the clinic where I work," she had started, handing him the
detailed notes she had written up already.
"We believed it to be meningitis at first, we did not even consider lightbane, because it is not contagious." This was true, Professor Carter nodded and held up a hand, motioning that Faith should wait until he had finished reading. When he had, he lifted his head and motioned for her to continue.
"I persuaded them to let me have one arc to find a cure. They agreed." Professor Carter watched Faith as she spoke. It occurred to him how shy she usually was, still, even in class yet how animated she appeared now. Which was the real her, he wondered and then turned his attention back to her.
"So, I started to research. It isn't contagious, yet it's lightbane and they all have it. That tells me that we are missing something. Some piece of information. So I instigated this."
Faith handed him the format for patient notes which she had initiated at the Order of the Adunih and gave him a moment to read it.
"It occurred to me. I was asking where these men had been in order to work out who they might have infected. But maybe I could find out how it started for them. Maybe there are patterns. I'm sure there are patterns, Professor, and I think I've started to find them."
"Patterns?" Professor Carter said and Faith leaned forward with an earnest expression on her face.
"I've received a reply from a clinic in Etzos who have successfully treated, not cured, but treated the Rot. They have sent me their patient notes. Roughly eighty seven percent of patients with it were male. That's statistically significant, surely? If we know that lightbane is an allergic reaction to a ginkgo tree, which it is," Faith handed him the
notes relating to this.
"It's a reaction which triggers an inappropriate response. I cured it. They've remained cured since. I went to see Gavin today, before coming here."
Faith looked at Professor Carter and she gave him time to let that sink in.
"If we keep better notes, we can use them better. Do more males or females catch measles? What's the average age for a heart attack? We have ideas about some of those things, but if we had looked at where lightbane happened, we'd have realised and people's sight would have been saved." Faith sighed and sat back, giving him a moment or two to consider her words.
Professor Carter smiled at her, but asked with a solemn voice, "What is it you want, Faith?"
"I want to speak to the Dean and I want to tell him that I have your support, if I do. I want a new subject of study to be started. The study of the demographics of disease. Once we know where specific diseases do, and do not, happen then we can look at them with fresh eyes and a new perspective."
Professor Carter raised an eyebrow at her. She seemed to be somewhat serious, he thought. "A new subject? And what department in the institute would be involved?" He was mostly being funny, he thought, until she answered.
"Medicine, of course. But physics, specifically with considerations of geographical physics. Chemistry, for chemical reactions. Zoology and biology for links with animals, alchemy for all the strange things. Mathematics too, for the prediction of where disease will happen or statistical likelihood and the analysis of patterns."
He couldn't help it, Professor Carter laughed. Then, with a sinking feeling he realised that she was quite serious. "I really can't see the Dean saying yes to this, Faith." The young woman smiled and nodded.
"I understand that, Professor. But if I never ask, he never will. Mathematics isn't my field, but I believe my odds of a yes are better if I ask. I can make a compelling case." He didn't doubt that, and indeed he nodded his head.
"Very well. You have my approval and my backing. Would you like me to talk to Professor Hamilton-Smith about it?"
Faith had started putting away her notes and she stopped and looked at Professor Carter with an expression which was carefully neutral.
"No, thank you, Professor. I don't plan on involving him and I'd rather you didn't." Professor Carter raised an eyebrow and considered asking. However, he decided that the Dean probably would, so he left it at that.
"What is your next move, Faith?" He had to admit to admiring her spirit. She was a determined little thing, he thought.
"Now, I'm going to prepare as much information as I can, and put it to the Dean in a proposal." With everything away, she looked at him and smiled, offering her hand to shake.
"Thank you for seeing me, Professor Carter. I'm looking forward to starting my Charter next season." He shook her hand and nodded.
"Let me know how things go with the Dean, won't you?"
"Of course, sir. Thank you again." With that, Faith left, to prepare for the next step.
