The Pathless on Paths---------Chapter VII part 3(11)

Before following, Karrson surveyed the room one more time. The building in itself was a little worn and old perhaps, for its walls were of exposed cement, and in places it was blackened and dirty, and were paint covered, it peeled. Yet, in contrast, all the machinery was contemporary, even futuristic, to Karrson at least. Some modifications were made to the building, new wiring, new doors: they were visibly less worn. In a corner there was a staircase that seemed to lead to the roof, and...

He descried motion on the staircase.
A quick blur that disappeared before he could tell of its authenticity in sight. A pair of legs, perhaps, just before they disappeared onto the roof. He looked back, and found that Emmerich had already reached the door.
No time to warn him now, Karrson knew he would have to solve this alone. Regardless whether the owner of those legs intended simply to conceal himself, or had other more devious intentions in mind, Karrson could not let it be. A risk is a risk, and particularly when success was within grasp, he could not allow it all to hang on a thread that was chance.