Page 206 - The Book Thief

They considered whether they could move him.

But where?

No reply.

In this situation, they were friendless and paralyzed. There was nowhere else for
Max Vandenburg to go. It was them. Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Liesel had
never seen them look at each other so much, or with such solemnity.

It was they who took the food down and organized an empty paint can for Maxs
excrement. The contents would be disposed of by Hans as prudently as possible.
Rosa also took him some buckets of hot water to wash himself. The Jew was
filthy.

Outside, a mountain of cold November air was waiting at the front door each

time Liesel left the house.

Drizzle came down in spades.

Dead leaves were slumped on the road.

Soon enough, it was the book thiefs turn to visit the basement. They made her.

She walked tentatively down the steps, knowing that no words were required.
The scuffing of her feet was enough to rouse him.

In the middle of the basement, she stood and waited, feeling more like she was
standing in the center of a great dusky field. The sun was setting behind a crop

of harvested drop sheets.

When Max came out, he was holding Mein Kampf. Upon his arrival, hed offered
it back to Hans Hubermann but was told he could keep it.

Naturally, Liesel, while holding the dinner, couldnt take her eyes off it. It was a
book she had seen a few times at the BDM, but it hadnt been read or used
directly in their activities. There were occasional references to its greatness, as
well as promises that the opportunity to study it would come in later years, as