I remembered my hike through the woods, and knew what many of those coffins would hold. In the coming weeks DMORT, local, and state personnel would go to extraordinary lengths to identify every scrap of tissue associated with the crash. Fingerprints, dental and medical records, DNA, tattoos, and family photos would be the main sources of information, and the team anthropologists would be intimately involved in the ID process. Despite our best efforts, little would be left to put in some caskets. A severed limb. A charred molar crown. A cranial fragment. In many cases, what went home would weigh only grams.

'Once site processing is complete, al remains wil be brought here from the temporary morgue,' Larke continued. 'We expect transport to start in the next few hours. That's when the real work begins for us. You al know your jobs, so I've got just a few reminders, then I'l shut up.'

'That'l be a first.'

Mild laughter.

'Don't separate any personal effects from any set of remains until they're fuly photographed and written up.'

My mind slid to Raggedy Ann.

'Not every set of remains wil go through every stage of processing. The folks doing intake wil decide what goes where. But if a station is skipped, indicate that clearly in the disaster victim packet. I don't want to be guessing later if dental wasn't done because there weren't any teeth, or because that station got overlooked. Put something on every sheet in the packet. And be sure that information stays with the body. We want ful documentation on every ID.

'One more thing. As I'm sure you've heard, the FBI received a cal about an explosive device. Be alert for blast effects. Check X rays for bomb parts and shrapnel.

Examine lungs and eardrums for pressure damage. Look for peppering and flash burns on the skin. You know the dril.'

Larke paused and looked around the room.

'Some of you are first-timers, others have done this before. I don't have to tel any of you how hard the next few weeks are going to be. Take breaks. No one works more than twelve hours per day. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a counselor. There's no weakness in that. These folks are here for your benefit. Use them.'

Larke clipped his pen to the legal pad he was holding.

'Guess that about does it, except for thanking my staff and Earl's DMORT folks for getting here so quickly. As for the rest of you, clear out of my morgue.'

As the room emptied, I crossed to Larke, determined to ask about the passenger list. Magnus Jackson arrived at the same moment and nodded a greeting. I'd met the IIC

while working a commuter crash some years back, and knew he was not one for trading pleasantries.

'Howdy, Tempe,' Larke said to me, then turned to Jackson.

'I see you've brought a ful team.'