Page 188 - The Book Thief

They always counted, just in case. Voices and numbers.

The custom after a fight was that the loser would raise the hand of the victor.
When Kugler finally stood up, he walked sullenly to Max Vandenburg and lifted
his arm into the air.

Thanks, Max told him.

Kugler proffered a warning. Next time I kill you.

Altogether, over the next few years, Max Vandenburg and Walter Kugler fought
thirteen times. Walter was always seeking revenge for that first victory Max took
from him, and Max was looking to emulate his moment of glory. In the end, the
record stood at 103 for Walter.

They fought each other until 1933, when they were seventeen. Grudging respect
turned to genuine friendship, and the urge to fight left them. Both held jobs until

Max was sacked with the rest of the Jews at the Jedermann Engineering Factory
in 35. That wasnt long after the Nuremberg Laws came in, forbidding Jews to
have German citizenship and for Germans and Jews to intermarry.

Jesus, Walter said one evening, when they met on the small corner where they
used to fight. That was a time, wasnt it? There was none of this around. He gave
the star on Maxs sleeve a backhanded slap. We could never fight like that now.

Max disagreed. Yes we could. You cant marry a Jew, but theres no law against
fighting one.

Walter smiled. Theres probably a law rewarding itas long as you win.

For the next few years, they saw each other sporadically at best. Max, with the
rest of the Jews, was steadily rejected and repeatedly trodden upon, while Walter
disappeared inside his job. A printing firm.

If youre the type whos interested, yes, there were a few girls in those years. One
named Tania, the other Hildi. Neither of them lasted. There was no time, most
likely due to the uncertainty and mounting pressure. Max needed to scavenge for
work. What could he offer those girls? By 1938, it was difficult to imagine that
life could get any harder.