Page 362 - The Book Thief

Hans walked to him. Yes, time to go. He shook his hand and slapped his arm.

Well see you when we get back, right?

Of course.

Rosa hugged him, as did Liesel.

Goodbye, Max.

Weeks earlier, theyd discussed whether they should all stay together in their own
basement or if the three of them should go down the road, to a family by the
name of Fiedler. It was Max who convinced them. They said its not deep enough
here. Ive already put you in enough danger.

Hans had nodded. Its a shame we cant take you with us. Its a disgrace.

Its how it is.

Outside, the sirens howled at the houses, and the people came running, hobbling,
and recoiling as they exited their homes. Night watched. Some people watched it
back, trying to find the tin-can planes as they drove across the sky.

Himmel Street was a procession of tangled people, all wrestling with their most
precious possessions. In some cases, it was a baby. In others, a stack of photo
albums or a wooden box. Liesel carried her books, between her arm and her ribs.
Frau Holtzapfel was heaving a suitcase, laboring on the footpath with bulbous
eyes and small-stepped feet.

Papa, whod forgotten everythingeven his accordionrushed back to her and
rescued the suitcase from her grip. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what have you got

in here? he asked. An anvil?

Frau Holtzapfel advanced alongside him. The necessities.

The Fiedlers lived six houses down. They were a family of four, all with wheat-
colored hair and good German eyes. More important, they had a nice, deep
basement. Twenty-two people crammed themselves into it, including the Steiner
family, Frau Holtzapfel, Pfiffikus, a young man, and a family named Jenson. In
the interest of a civil environment, Rosa Hubermann and Frau Holtzapfel were