Page 250 - The Book Thief

Adolf finished him. Will you climb in here so that we can defeat this enemy

together?

In the basement of 33 Himmel Street, Max Vandenburg could feel the fists of an
entire nation. One by one they climbed into the ring and beat him down. They
made him bleed. They let him suffer. Millions of themuntil one last time, when
he gathered himself to his feet . . .

He watched the next person climb through the ropes. It was a girl, and as she
slowly crossed the canvas, he noticed a tear torn down her left cheek. In her right
hand was a newspaper.

The crossword, she gently said, is empty, and she held it out to him.

Dark.

Nothing but dark now.

Just basement. Just Jew.

The New Dream: A Few Nights Later

It was afternoon. Liesel came down the basement steps. Max was halfway
through his push-ups.

She watched awhile, without his knowledge, and when she came and sat with
him, he stood up and leaned back against the wall. Did I tell you, he asked her,
that Ive been having a new dream lately?

Liesel shifted a little, to see his face.

But I dream this when Im awake. He motioned to the glowless kerosene lamp.