"Easy," warned Baron. "Don't waste ammunition. Besides, if you get this place full of smoke they'll jump us."
Dawn was painting the windows gray when the assault began. Their first warning came when a small object was tossed into the lobby. It exploded in a cloud of white vapor.
"Tear gas," yelled Jack. "Back to the stairs." They ran for cover, weeping and choking.
Then began a slow retreat up the stairways, Jack guarding the front and Manthis the back passages. At first it was a simple matter for their enemies to toss tear bombs through the fire doors, then, protected by respirators, capture another floor. But as the light increased this became more and more hazardous. Twice a spray of buckshot laid a Solinski man low.
"He hasn't many men available," called Jack as the attack slackened. "But watch out. His time's about up. Hey, look at that woman!" A white-uniformed maid, whom he remembered having seen lying in the same spot every time he climbed the stairs, had stirred weakly, as though about to wake.
It was their glance at the sleeping form which undid them. When they looked up both fire doors were open and helmeted figures were emerging from them.
The shotguns roared. Two of their attackers collapsed, but the others came on. Before there was time for another shot they were at close quarters. Standing back to back, Manthis and Jack clubbed their guns and held their ground.
The fact that Solinski and his men wore respirators handicapped them immensely, so that the two defenders kept a cleared circle about them.
One of the attackers, more daring than the rest, leaped forward to engage the engineer. He collapsed with a crushed skull.