the doors from the main hallway opened , and two tall , well-built men walked through . `` they 're back in her office , '' he said . at the sight of her crumpled on the floor he drew in his breath and rushed to her . they were gathered among its roots , in the tiny hills and valleys they created , and inside the tree as well . by this time , all the pigeons were off the ground and the rats started climbing boxes and the stacks of junk in an effort to reach the birds perched there . 