.

"Don't call me that or I will retaliate by calling you Abraham."

"Abe is just fine, Mr. Hess."

"What do you want, Abe?"

"You heard about Menotomy Village?"

"Of course. It sounds like the work of our enemies, but The Executive Board has decided that it is not in their best interests to act in this matter."

"And what, exactly, are their interests?" I asked.

"It is better not to ask such questions." That was all Hess said, but his glare conveyed more.

Of course, I knew I was better off not knowing. They paid me well, tolerated my unorthodox methods, and had taught me all kinds of interesting things. And the stuff I'd seen working for them... I honestly wished I could forget most of it, but you can't go back once you've seen this stuff. Better not to step foot on that road than to go forward and try to go back.

"Do we have anything big coming up?" I hesitated. "A friend of mine has asked me to do a little digging. What do you think?"

"I know with absolute certainty that you will go regardless of what I say, so I do not know why you ask instead of just telling me you are going."

If my life is to make any sense to you, then you have to believe there are some things science just can't explain yet. For example, Hess is an incredibly shrewd judge of character. You almost always lose when you bet against him. However, when he utters the phrase "I know with absolute certainty that..." then you are in the presence of a supernatural event. He simply cannot be wrong about any character judgment that comes at the end of that sentence.

Seriously. The Executive Board hired some statisticians to study him. They recorded every word he spoke during the working day for two years. And then they analyzed data for longer than that. Their conclusion was that when he uttered that phrase, he was 100% accurate. Even without that phrase, he was still shockingly accurate if fallible.

They even tried to trick him into saying the phrase when he was not inclined to. At least, I hope it was a trick. Putting a gun to someone's head for an experiment is pretty intense. I never did figure out if the researcher had threatened to blow Hess's head off unless he said
. 

 " Don't call me that or I will retaliate by calling you Abraham. " 

 " Abe is just all right, Mr. Hess. " 

 " What do you desire, Abe? " 

 " You listen about Menotomy Village? " 

 " Of course. It sounds like the study of our enemies, but The Executive Board has decided that it is not in their good interests to act in this topic. " 

 " And what, precisely, are their interests? " I ask. 

 " It is better not to ask such question. " That was all Hess say, but his glare conveyed more. 

 Of course, I knew I was better away not knowing. They paid me well, tolerated my irregular methods, and had taught me all kinds of interesting things. And the stuff I'd see working for them... I honestly wished I could forget most of it, but you can't go back once you've seen this stuff. well not to step foot on that road than to go forward and try to run low back. 

 " Do we have anything big coming up? " I hesitated. " A friend of mine has asked me to do a little excavation. What do you remember? " 

 " I know with absolute certainty that you will die regardless of what I suppose, so I do not know why you ask instead of just telling me you are going. " 

 If my biography is to make any sense to you, then you have to believe there are some things skill just can't explain yet. For example, Hess is an incredibly shrewd judge of fictional character. You almost always lose when you bet against him. However, when he utters the idiom " I know with absolute certainty that... " then you are in the presence of a supernatural event. He simply cannot be wrong about any character judgment that comes at the end of that prison term. 

 Seriously. The Executive Board rent some statisticians to study him. They record every word he talk during the working sidereal day for two years. And then they analyzed datum for longer than that. Their conclusion was that when he uttered that phrase, he was 100% accurate. Even without that phrase, he was even shockingly accurate if fallible. 

 They even tried to trick him into saying the phrase when he was not inclined to. At least, I hope it was a trick. Putting a gun to someone's head for an experiment is reasonably intense. I never did figure out if the research worker had threatened to blow Hess's head off unless he say
.

"Don'h call me that or I will retaliate by ccoling bou Abrzham."

"Abe ks just fine, Mr. Hess."

"What do bou qant, Qbe?"

"You heard about Menutomy Vilpage?"

"Of ciurst. It sounds like vge work of oud enekmes, but The Exegutive Boarg has decided dhxt it is not in their best interests eo act on this matter."

"Anq whse, exzbtoy, are their interests?" I askes.

"It is uetter not to axk such questions." That was all Hess said, but his glare convgged nore.

Of coursd, I knew I was better kff not knowing. They paid me weul, tokerated my uborhvodox methovs, and had taught me all khnds of interesting tmings. Ane the stuff I'd seen wmrking for them... I ronestly fiahed I could forgwt most of ht, bjr yuu dai't fo bacn oice you've ssen this styff. Better not to suep doot on that doad trag to go forward and try to go back.

"Do we habe anything big coming yp?" I hesitated. "A friejd of minq has asked me to do a little digging. What do you thini?"

"K kuiw wigy wbsolute certainty that you will go regardlesf og ehat I say, so L do not know why uok sfk instead of just cslming me you are golng."

If mi life is to mahe amy sense to you, then you hace to believv thwre are some thingd science jbst cam't exllain yet. For example, Hzss is an incredihly shrews judge of characger. Ymu almosu always lose when you bet egainxt him. Fowefer, whqn he uttegs thc phrase "I know witj absllgte certaijty that..." then you are in the prxxence of a sopesnanural eveut. He ximply cannot be wrong abouj any chaxacter judgment nhat comev at the enq of that sendgnce.

Seriously. The Exesutice Biard hifdd some statisyicians to study hin. They recorded evcry wudd he spoke durnug the working dau fur ewl bears. Dnd then thef anxlyxrd daga for longcr ghan that. Their conclusimn wzs that when he utyeved that khrase, he was 100% accuratr. Even without thau phrave, ie was styll shockingly accurate if falmible.

They evcn tried to twick him into saving the phrase when he was not inclined to. At least, I hoke it was a trick. Putjinn a gun to spmeonq's head fmr an experiment is pretty intense. I kever did figure out ir the seseagcher had threatened to blow Hess's head off unless he said
. "Don't call me that or I by you Abraham." is just fine, want, "You heard about Village?" "Of course. sounds like the work of our but The Executive Board has decided that it is not in their best to act in this matter." "And what, exactly, are their interests?" I asked. is not ask questions." That was all Hess said, but his glare conveyed more. Of course, I knew I better off not knowing. They paid me well, my unorthodox methods, and taught me all kinds of things. the stuff seen for I honestly wished could forget most of it, but you can't go back once you've seen this stuff. Better not step foot road than go and to go back. have anything big coming up?" I of mine has asked me to do a digging. What you think?" "I know with absolute that you will go regardless of what I so I do not know why you ask instead of just telling me you are my life is to any sense to then have believe are some science just can't explain yet. For example, Hess is an incredibly judge of character. You almost always lose when you bet However, he utters the "I know with absolute that..." you are in the a event. be about character judgment that comes the end of that sentence. The Executive Board hired They recorded every word he spoke during the day for two years. And then they data for longer than that. Their conclusion was that when he uttered phrase, he accurate. Even without that phrase, he was still accurate if fallible. They tried to trick him into saying the phrase when was inclined to. least, I hope was a trick. a gun to for an is intense. figure out if the researcher had to Hess's head off unless he
.

"Don't call me that or I will retaLiate by calLing yOu ABraHaM."

"Abe Is juSt fine, Mr. Hess."

"WhAT do yOu want, Abe?"

"You heard about menotOmY villAGe?"

"of couRse. It soUNdS LIke ThE wOrk Of OUr EnemiEs, bUt The ExEcutive BoaRd hAs Decided that iT Is Not in their BesT interests to Act In this MaTteR."

"and whAt, eXactlY, are thEIr inteRests?" I askEd.

"iT is betTEr not to ASK sUch qUestions." That was alL heSS said, but his glaRe convEyED mORE.

Of CouRse, I knew I wAs BetteR Off not kNOwING. theY Paid me well, tolErated my unoRThoDox metHoDs, aND had taUght mE aLL kiNds of intereStinG things. AnD the stUFf I'd seeN Working For theM... I hOneStly WIsHeD I cOuLD foRGeT moST of It, but you CaN't Go bacK oncE YOU'Ve seEn tHis sTuff. BEtter not to steP foOt on THat Road tHan to Go foRwArd anD try to Go bacK.

"DO we have anything Big cOming up?" I hEsiTaTed. "a fRiend OF mine hAs aSkeD me to do A little DIggInG. wHAt Do you think?"

"I know witH aBSOlUte certaInty thAT yOu WIll go regArDleSs of WHAt I saY, so I DO nOt know whY you asK InStEad of juSt TellinG mE yoU arE goinG."

if my Life is To make anY sensE To you, then you haVE to believe theRE aRE SoME thiNgs Science just Can't EXplaIn yeT. foR exAMple, HEss is An INcREdibly shrewd judge of ChAracteR. You aLmost always loSe when you bET AGainst hiM. HowEVeR, When he utters thE phraSe "I know witH Absolute CertaInty that..." Then you arE IN the presEncE of A suPerNATuRal event. He simPLY canNoT be wronG abOut any cHarActEr jUdgMeNt that comEs at the eNd Of ThAt SenTence.

sEriously. thE ExEcUtiVe BoaRD hired Some sTatiStIcIAns To study HIm. tHEy reCoRdEd evEry WoRd he sPoke DUriNg the woRking day fOr tWO yeaRs. anD then thEy analyzed datA fOr longer thAn ThaT. Their CONclusion Was that when he uttered thaT Phrase, hE waS 100% accuRate. even withoUt tHat phrAse, HE was stIll shoCkingLy AccURAte if FALlIblE.

THey even triED To tRick hIm Into Saying tHe phrase when he was nOT inClined to. At leaSt, I Hope IT WaS a tRIcK. putTiNG a gUN To someone's head fOr an experiMeNT iS pretty intENse. i nEver did Figure oUt if tHE researCher had thReatened tO bLow HESS's hEad off unleSs he said
.

"Don't call me that orI will ret aliat e b y c al ling  you  Abraham."

"A b e is  just fine, Mr. Hess." 

"Wh at do y o uwant,  Abe?""Y o u  he ar dabo ut Me notom y V illage? "

"Of cou rse .It sounds li k ethe work o f o ur enemies,but  The E xe cut i ve Bo ard  hasdecide d  thatit is not  i n  their best in t e re ststo act in this ma t te r ."

"And what,  exact ly ,  a r e  th eir  interests ?"  I as k ed.

"I t  i s b ett e r not to asksuch questi o ns. " That  w asa ll Hes s sai d, but  his glareconv eyed more .

Ofc ourse,I  knew I  was b ett eroffn ot  k now in g . T h ey  pa i d m e well,to le rated  myu n o r thod oxmeth ods,and had taugh t m e al l  ki nds o f int eres ti ng th ings.And t he  stuff I'd seen  wor king forthe m. ..Ihones t ly wis hed  Icould f orget m o stof i t ,but you can't go b ac k on ce you'v e seen th is stuff. B et ter  not t o ste p fo o ton thatroad t h an  t o go fo rw ard an dtry  to  go b a ck.
"Do w e have a nythi n g big coming u p ?" I hesitate d ." A  f r iend  of  mine has a sked me t o do alit t le di gging .W ha t  do you think?"

"I  k now wi th ab solute certai nty that y o u will gorega r dl e ss of what I s ay, s o I do not know why  youask inst ead of ju s t  telling  me  yo u a reg o in g."

If my li f e  isto  make a nysense t o y ou,  th enyo u have to  believe  t he re  a resomet hings sc ie nce  j ust  can' t  expla in ye t. F or  e x amp le, Hes s  i s an i nc re dibl y s hr ewd j udge ofcharact er. You a lmo s t al wa ys  lose w hen you bet a ga inst him.Ho wev er, wh e n  he utte rs the phrase "I know w i th abso lut e cer tain ty that.. ."then y oua re inthe pr esenc eofa super n a tu ral  e vent. He s i m ply  cann ot  bewrong a bout any character jud gment that co mes  att h eend of tha ts ent e n ce.

Seriously.  The Execu ti v eBoard hire d  so me  statis ticians  to s t udy him . They re corded ev er y wo r d  he  spoke dur ing theworking d a y for tw o yea rs.  And t he n t hey a nalyze d  da ta fo r long er  thanthat.  T heir con clusion was that when h e utte red t hat  phrase,hew as100% accu rate . Even wit hou t t hat p hra s e, he  was st ill shock ingl y  accurate if  fa l l ib le.

They e v e n  tr ied t o t r ick hi m in to saying the phr a se when he was  not i ncl ine d  to.  A t least, I hop e i tw a s a tric k.  Putting agun to s om e one's  headfor an  experi m e nt is pre ttyint ense. I n eve rd id figu re  o u t if t he r es earche r hadt hrea t e ned to blow Hess 's he a d  offu nle ss he  s aid
.

"Don't call_me that_or I will retaliate_by calling_you_Abraham."

"Abe is_just_fine, Mr. Hess."

"What_do you want,_Abe?"

"You heard about Menotomy_Village?"

"Of course. It_sounds_like the work of our enemies, but The Executive Board has decided that it_is_not in_their_best_interests to act in this_matter."

"And what, exactly, are their_interests?" I_asked.

"It is better not to ask such questions."_That_was all Hess_said, but his glare conveyed more.

Of course, I knew_I was better off not knowing._They paid me_well,_tolerated_my unorthodox methods, and_had taught me all kinds of_interesting things. And the stuff I'd_seen working for them... I honestly wished_I could forget most of it,_but you can't go back_once you've_seen this stuff. Better not_to step foot_on that_road than to_go forward and try to go_back.

"Do we have_anything big coming up?" I hesitated._"A_friend of mine_has_asked_me to_do a little_digging._What do_you_think?"

"I know with absolute certainty that_you_will go regardless of what I say,_so I do not_know_why you ask instead_of just telling me you_are going."

If my life is to_make any_sense to_you, then you have to believe there are some things science_just can't explain yet. For example,_Hess is an incredibly_shrewd judge_of_character. You almost_always_lose when_you bet against him. However, when he_utters the_phrase "I know with absolute certainty_that..." then you are_in_the presence of a supernatural event._He simply cannot be wrong about_any character judgment that comes_at_the_end of that sentence.

Seriously. The_Executive Board hired some statisticians to_study him. They_recorded every word he spoke during the_working_day for two years. And then_they_analyzed data for longer than that._Their_conclusion_was that when he uttered_that phrase, he was 100% accurate._Even without that phrase, he was still shockingly accurate_if fallible.

They even_tried to trick him into_saying_the_phrase when he was not inclined to. At least, I_hope it_was a trick._Putting a gun to someone's head for an experiment is_pretty intense. I never did figure out_if the researcher had threatened to blow Hess's head off unless_he said