Page 427 - The Book Thief
P. 427
The soldier picked up a few pieces and studied each side of the road. The
prisoners also looked.
In there!
One of the soldiers was striding over, to the girl by the closest trees. Next he saw
the boy. Both began to run.
They chose different directions, under the rafters of branches and the tall ceiling
of the trees.
Dont stop running, Liesel!
What about the bikes?
Scheiss drauf! Shit on them, who cares!
They ran, and after a hundred meters, the hunched breath of the soldier drew
closer. It sidled up next to her and she waited for the accompanying hand.
She was lucky.
All she received was a boot up the ass and a fistful of words. Keep running, little
girl, you dont belong here! She ran and she did not stop for at least another mile.
Branches sliced her arms, pinecones rolled at her feet, and the taste of Christmas
needles chimed inside her lungs.
A good forty-five minutes had passed by the time she made it back, and Rudy
was sitting by the rusty bikes. Hed collected what was left of the bread and was
chewing on a stale, stiff portion.
I told you not to get too close, he said.
She showed him her backside. Have I got a footprint?
