Page 352 - The Book Thief

pulled at his shirtsleeve. Good luck.

Im not tired, he said.

I know.

He winked at her.

He was tired.

In his heat, Rudy slowed to finish second, and after ten minutes of other races,
the final was called. Two other boys had looked formidable, and Liesel had a
feeling in her stomach that Rudy could not win this one. Tommy Mller, whod
finished second to last in his heat, stood with her at the fence. Hell win it, he
informed her.

I know.

No, he wont.

When the finalists reached the starting line, Rudy dropped to his knees and
began digging starting holes with his hands. A balding brownshirt wasted no
time in walking over and telling him to cut it out. Liesel watched the adult
finger, pointing, and she could see the dirt falling to the ground as Rudy brushed
his hands together.

When they were called forward, Liesel tightened her grip on the fence. One of
the boys false-started; the gun was shot twice. It was Rudy. Again, the official
had words with him and the boy nodded. Once more and he was out.

Set for the second time, Liesel watched with concentration, and for the first few
seconds, she could not believe what she was seeing. Another false start was
recorded and it was the same athlete who had done it. In front of her, she created
a perfect race, in which Rudy trailed but came home to win in the last ten meters.
What she actually saw, however, was Rudys disqualification. He was escorted to
the side of the track and was made to stand there, alone, as the remainder of boys
stepped forward.

They lined up and raced.