Page 249 - The Book Thief

The mustache.

With the seventh punch, he missed. It was the Fhrers chin that sustained the
blow. All at once, Hitler hit the ropes and creased forward, landing on his knees.
This time, there was no count. The referee flinched in the corner. The audience
sank down, back to their beer. On his knees, the Fhrer tested himself for blood
and straightened his hair, right to left. When he returned to his feet, much to the
approval of the thousand-strong crowd, he edged forward and did something
quite strange. He turned his back on the Jew and took the gloves from his fists.

The crowd was stunned.

Hes given up, someone whispered, but within moments, Adolf Hitler was
standing on the ropes, and he was addressing the arena.

My fellow Germans, he called, you can see something here tonight, cant you?
Bare-chested, victory-eyed, he pointed over at Max. You can see that what we

face is something far more sinister and powerful than we ever imagined. Can
you see that?

They answered. Yes, Fhrer.

Can you see that this enemy has found its waysits despicable waysthrough our
armor, and that clearly, I cannot stand up here alone and fight him? The words
were visible. They dropped from his mouth like jewels. Look at him! Take a
good look. They looked. At the bloodied Max Vandenburg. As we speak, he is
plotting his way into your neighborhood. Hes moving in next door. Hes infesting
you with his family and hes about to take you over. He Hitler glanced at him a
moment, with disgust. He will soon own you, until it is he who stands not at the
counter of your grocery shop, but sits in the back, smoking his pipe. Before you

know it, youll be working for him at minimum wage while he can hardly walk
from the weight in his pockets. Will you simply stand there and let him do this?
Will you stand by as your leaders did in the past, when they gave your land to
everybody else, when they sold your country for the price of a few signatures?
Will you stand out there, powerless? Orand now he stepped one rung higherwill
you climb up into this ring with me?

Max shook. Horror stuttered in his stomach.