Page 118 - The Book Thief

Pass auf, Kind, a uniform said to her at one point. Look out, child, as he
shoveled some more ash onto a cart.

Closer to the town hall, under a light, some shadows stood and talked, most
likely exulting in the success of the fire. From Liesels position, their voices were
only sounds. Not words at all.

For a few minutes, she watched the men shoveling up the pile, at first making it
smaller at the sides to allow more of it to collapse. They came back and forth
from a truck, and after three return trips, when the heap was reduced near the
bottom, a small section of living material slipped from inside the ash.

THE MATERIAL
Half a red flag, two posters advertising a Jewish poet,
three books, and a wooden sign with something written
on it in Hebrew

Perhaps they were damp. Perhaps the fire didnt burn long enough to fully reach
the depth where they sat. Whatever the reason, they were huddled among the
ashes, shaken. Survivors.

Three books. Liesel spoke softly and she looked at the backs of the men.

Come on, said one of them. Hurry up, will you, Im starving.

They moved toward the truck.

The threesome of books poked their noses out.

Liesel moved in.

The heat was still strong enough to warm her when she stood at the foot of the
ash heap. When she reached her hand in, she was bitten, but on the second

attempt, she made sure she was fast enough. She latched onto the closest of the