YCAI responded quickly to Lawrence's inquiry. The same feminine mechanical voice which had flooded the conference room before replied:
"Most likely causes for deviation of speech pattern during a suspect interrogation are: hallucination in the suspect, delusion in the suspect, suspect under influence of hallucinatory drugs, alternate personality of suspect, or the suspect being subsitituted. Deviations in speech pattern often indicate a sudden deviation in the subject's thought processes. This may indicate a possible danger to whoever is near the suspect."
"Hmmm," wondered Lawrence. "YCAI, out of those reasons, which is the most probable in this situation?"
The mechanical voice responded, "One moment please."
The constables an officers were gathered in the lauch deck.
Sir Alan was furious. His ship had been hijacked by a deluded maniac - again.
"Apparently, Burlington used a plasma cutter and cut a hole right through the wall," muttered Sir Alan, pacing rapidly, "Do you know how heavy that is, Vimes?"
"It's ship mounted, sir," replied Vimes.
"Exactly," said Sir Alan, "We need a BLOODY CRANE to lift that thing! Do you see a crane anywhere!?"
