What an idea - the Museum of the Mind. Sir John Westgate and Dr Katherine Beckford have spent ten years using computer power and AIs to recreate over 200 fictional characters from all periods of history, known as erams, who can interact with their questioners. Soldiers, dockers, parsons...even a Victorian tart with a heart. For Dr Beckford, it's a superb learning tool. For Sir John, it's a wonderful use of University funds and a great way to make money. Something was bound to go wrong. A number of erams escape into the world computer net and become self aware. It seemed at first that the outbreak could be contained - but the university authorities should never have attempted to destroy them...