Riddell broke away from the crowd of men he was in and pushed his way through them toward the door of the former City Hall. A row of sergeants stood at the entrance.
"Where you goin'?" one of them asked.
"Got a message for Barr. Just came back from a spy-mission to Center City, and I've got information he's got to have!"
The sergeants looked at each other uneasily, as if not sure whether to admit Riddell or not. He paused just a moment, then shoved past them and into the building.
"Hey! Come back here!"
Riddell ignored the shout and disappeared into the dark lobby of the building.
A staircase beckoned. He sprang up the first flight, met an armed guard posted on the landing. The guard started to say something, but Riddell charged furiously on through him, knocking him reeling.
"Stop that man!" someone shouted.
He looked down and saw several of the men who had stood at the entrance dashing after him. Riddell grabbed the first-floor guard, lifted him in the air, and hurled him down the staircase into the midst of his pursuers. Then he turned and continued ascending.