Page 393 - The Book Thief
P. 393
DOMINOES AND DARKNESS
In the words of Rudys youngest sisters, there were two monsters sitting in the
kitchen. Their voices kneaded methodically at the door as three of the Steiner
children played dominoes on the other side. The remaining three listened to the
radio in the bedroom, oblivious. Rudy hoped this had nothing to do with what
had happened at school the previous week. It was something he had refused to
tell Liesel and did not talk about at home.
A GRAY AFTERNOON,
A SMALL SCHOOL OFFICE
Three boys stood in a line. Their records
and bodies were thoroughly examined.
When the fourth game of dominoes was completed, Rudy began to stand them
up in lines, creating patterns that wound their way across the living room floor.
As was his habit, he also left a few gaps, in case the rogue finger of a sibling
interfered, which it usually did.
Can I knock them down, Rudy?
No.
What about me?
No. We all will.
He made three separate formations that led to the same tower of dominoes in the
middle. Together, they would watch everything that was so carefully planned
collapse, and they would all smile at the beauty of destruction.
The kitchen voices were becoming louder now, each heaping itself upon the
