"Reichs, Kathy - Temperance Brennan 04 - Fatal Voyage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reichs Kathy)

I dug out and extended my NDMS identification.

The deputy studied the card, then tipped his head in the direction of
the fuselage.

"Sheriff's with the fire chiefs." His voice cracked and he wiped a hand
across his mouth. Then he dropped his eyes and walked away, embarrassed
to have shown emotion.

I was not surprised at the deputy's demeanor. The toughest and most
capable of cops and rescue workers, no matter how extensive their
training or experience, are never psychologically prepared for their
first major.

Majors. That's what the National Transportation Safety Board dubbed
these crashes. I wasn't sure what was required to qualify as a major,
but I'd worked several and knew one thing with certainty: Each was a
horror. I was never prepared, either, and shared his anguish. I'd just
learned not to show it.

Threading toward the fuselage, I passed a deputy covering a body.

"Take that off," I ordered.

"What?"

"Don't blanket them." "Who says?"

I showed my ID again.

"But they're lying in the open." His voice sounded flat, like a computer
recording.

"Everything must remain in place."

"We've got to do something. It's getting dark. Bears are gonna scent on
these" he stumbled for a word "people."

I'd seen what Ursus could do to a corpse and sympathized with the man's
concerns. Nevertheless, I had to stop him.

"Everything must be photographed and recorded before it can be touched."

He bunched the blanket with both hands, his face pinched with pain. I
knew exactly what he was feeling. The need to do something, the
uncertainty as to what. The sense of helplessness in the midst of
overwhelming tragedy.

"Please spread the word that everything has to stay put. Then search for
survivors."