Page 331 - The Book Thief

No, attics. Of course basements. Jesus, Liesel, you really are thick, arent you?

The ball was back.

Rudy!

He played onto it and Liesel was still standing. How could she get back inside
without looking too suspicious? The smoke up at Frau Dillers was disappearing
and the small crowd of men was starting to disperse. Panic generated in that
awful way. Throat and mouth. Air became sand. Think, she thought. Come on,
Liesel, think, think.

Rudy scored.

Faraway voices congratulated him.

Think, Liesel

She had it.

Thats it, she decided, but I have to make it real.

As the Nazis progressed down the street, painting the letters LSR on some of the
doors, the ball was passed through the air to one of the bigger kids, Klaus
Behrig.

LSR
Luft Schutz Raum:
Air-Raid Shelter

The boy turned with the ball just as Liesel arrived, and they collided with such
force that the game stopped automatically. As the ball rolled off, players ran in.
Liesel held her grazed knee with one hand and her head with the other. Klaus
Behrig only held his right shin, grimacing and cursing. Where is she? he spat. Im

going to kill her!