Page 385 - The Book Thief

PEACE

At just after 11 p.m. that same night, Max Vandenburg walked up Himmel Street
with a suitcase full of food and warm clothes. German air was in his lungs. The
yellow stars were on fire. When he made it to Frau Dillers, he looked back one
last time to number thirty-three. He could not see the figure in the kitchen
window, but she could see him. She waved and he did not wave back.

Liesel could still feel his mouth on her forehead. She could smell his breath of
goodbye.

I have left something for you, hed said, but you will not get it until youre ready.

He left.

Max?

But he did not come back.

He had walked from her room and silently shut the door.

The hallway murmured.

He was gone.

When she made it to the kitchen, Mama and Papa stood with crooked bodies and
preserved faces. Theyd been standing like that for thirty seconds of forever.

DUDEN DICTIONARY MEANING #7
Schweigen Silence:
The absence of sound or noise.
Related words:
quiet, calmness, peace.