Page 416 - The Book Thief

to her lap. Liesel watched. She knew that for the next few days, Mama would be

walking around with the imprint of an accordion on her body. There was also an
acknowledgment that there was great beauty in what she was currently
witnessing, and she chose not to disturb it.

She returned to bed and fell asleep to the vision of Mama and the silent music.
Later, when she woke up from her usual dream and crept again to the hallway,
Rosa was still there, as was the accordion.

Like an anchor, it pulled her forward. Her body was sinking. She appeared dead.

She cant possibly be breathing in that position, Liesel thought, but when she
made her way closer, she could hear it.

Mama was snoring again.

Who needs bellows, she thought, when youve got a pair of lungs like that?

Eventually, when Liesel returned to bed, the image of Rosa Hubermann and the
accordion would not leave her. The book thief s eyes remained open. She waited
for the suffocation of sleep.