‘I think I could do a PhD on this kid.’‘Is he schizophrenic?’‘Hard to say after only one interview. I’m guessing not. As a rule, schizophrenia is characterised by relatively stable, albeit paranoid, delusions, which our boy has in spades. But the delusions are usually accompanied by hallucinations, mostly auditory, and often perceptual disturbances as well. This lad displays none of that.’‘He talks like he’s hallucinating, but he doesn’t act like it?’ Pete asked.‘Exactly,’ Annad said. ‘He displays no disturbances of affect, volition or speech. On the other hand, he appears to have delusions of persecution, believes he’s of exalted birth and that he has a special mission. He is Darragh of the Undivided, he says, and claims to rule this alternate reality he comes from.’ Annad walked over to the coffee vending machine and began to fish around in his pocket for coins. ‘Have you checked the local mental hospitals for missing patients? That could explain where he’s been all this time.’ ‘Not a bad idea.
