Evelyn 9

Col M starts by taking out a Middle East map, without labels. Cheerful tone, "Evelyn dear, can you tell me which is Israel?"
By this I surmise she runs across some real deadheads. I get all of the neighboring countries right too.
Then we fence for maybe 20 minutes, her always probing how aware I am of current events.
We dissect South Lebanon, complete with estimated numbers of neoHezbollah, Syrian soldiers and Iranian technical advisors.
Then on to Gaza, where neoFatah and neoHamas are duking it out with shoulder held neutron bombs.
Then on to demographics of Israel proper, including how many Haredim dodge the draft and how many Israeli Arabs aren't called.
She slips in a history question, the Israeli commando raid on the Syrian nuke site a dozen years ago. I reply it was a complete success, utter destruction, at the price of one death, the Major leading the raid, and several minor injuries.
She moves on to the great financial scandal. Here I'm careful, only give out what I heard from Mr Klein. Anything further would raise suspicion.
Ever so smoothly she switches topic to religion. Doesn't ask what I think of Haredim per se, which brings out strong reactions in many Jews. Instead she asks me to compare Hasidics to the Lithuanian school of thought.
"Quite frankly Col, I admire the Lithuanians, though I don't agree with lifestyle. They at least have respect for the individual. Each person's duty to learn Torah himself. He may get advice, may argue with others; but bottom line, each person is sovereign, decides on the interpretation.
"Now Hasids strike me as little better than kindergarten kids. All that mind numbing conformity. Top down driven attitude of Rabbi-knows-all. Anyone with one ounce of brains is chased outa the fold."
By now, she and Mum are laughing.
Col smiles indulgently, "let's look at just one Hasid belief. What's your view on reincarnation?"
"Col, 99% of Jews in this city would pooh pooh it. Not me, I've seen just enough evidence to accept it's possible. I won't say yes or no; just as I grow older, maybe I'll learn more."
Mum looks like she'll faint.
Col smiles, "ok, digress a bit. Give me a quick rundown on what you've picked up from TV about Crime Scene Investigation."
"Col, fingerprints, voice prints, DNA, have been around centuries. Electronic energy is the thing of our century. Absolutely everyone on the planet owns a graph that is different, as unique as fingerprints. We're not just flesh and bones, we're bundles of energy. With the right technology, we can be trailed from the crime scene."
"Good, now guess what happens if this concept were applied to reincarnation."
"Obvious Col, those who lived before the invention would be simply untrackable. Anyone who lived since, assuming they had a reading done before death, would be clearly identifiable."
Col smiles gently, "I'll ask for your word, both of you, what comes next is secret."
Mum and I agree.
"The IDF is taking soldiers' readings, but only on a voluntary basis. Some soldiers choose to pass on information to themselves in the future. These are mostly Hasids who left that world, became secular for whatever reason. They write a diary, seal it up before going off on anything dangerous."
"You're joking Col?"
"Not at all, the Major leading the raid was one of them." Opens her briefcase, takes out a large envelope, old paper, wax seal.
"You mean," I gasp, "I match the reading?"
"Indeed you do."
"You don't censor these Col?"
Easy laugh, "not at all. First, it would destroy the program's credibility. Second, everything changes so fast in the Middle East, that this envelope would be utterly worthless to an enemy agent. It's only worth is to its owner."
"Ah well that is"
"When reading, you'll have strange reactions. Lots of deja vu, sense you know something already but can't say from where. Also, a lot of your thoughts and attitudes will be indentical or almost so, lot of carryover. Once you've read this thoroughly, there will be no doubt in your mind."
"I'll do my best Col."
"Here's my card, if you need any advice. No reading on schoolnights, the fallout is sleeplessness and strange dreams."
As the Col's taxi pulls away, Mum says, "get to bed. I'll keep that til Saturday morning, just so you aren't tempted. Get your homework done Friday evening."
"I thought you didn't believe in this stuff?"
Quiet tone, "maybe when you're grown up, I'll tell you. I've seen lots of evidence. The Hasids are right, on this issue anyway."
(So ends Part Two; the blog could be inactive for several months as Part Three is prepared.)