Regret was without question the emotion no membalmer wanted to see trickling into the basin when they tapped a skull. It was the sickly brown of leaves decomposing into stagnant water, and fragility aside, it smelled foul. The ideal outcome for any preservation, of course, was to provide a living memento of the deceased for their survivors—something to take comfort in after the graveside service was over. Knowing that your loved one had spent their last moments in distress was hardly comforting.
RJ Aurand 