It may half been

• It may have been...: the Ass's answer to the original question (005.13: What then brought about that tragedy...): that is, what caused Tim Finnegan to fall from his ladder, and what caused the Temple to fall, and what caused the Tower of Babel to collapse (coming after a long section about Finnegan's role as a builder of great structures), and what broke the camel's back? → Cropherb

• It may half been: to only half-wish for something

• half → Issy's split personality