IB_Components returns the engine version with with (pre V4.9)

dbVersion := Copy(pchar(@Results[ItemPtr+2]), 1,
byte( Results[ItemPtr+1]) );

Now, in V4.9.6 this doesn't work, why?

dbVersion := Copy( AnsiString( PByte( @Results[ItemPtr+2] )),
1,
byte( Results[ItemPtr+1]) );

Anyone know what it should be?
Alan