Page 428 - The Book Thief

THE HIDDEN SKETCHBOOK

A few days before Christmas, there was another raid, although nothing dropped
on the town of Molching. According to the radio news, most of the bombs fell in
open country.

What was most important was the reaction in the Fiedlers shelter. Once the last
few patrons had arrived, everyone settled down solemnly and waited. They
looked at her, expectantly.

Papas voice arrived, loud in her ears.

And if there are more raids, keep reading in the shelter.

Liesel waited. She needed to be sure that they wanted it.

Rudy spoke for everyone. Read, Saumensch.

She opened the book, and again, the words found their way upon all those
present in the shelter.

At home, once the sirens had given permission for everyone to return
aboveground, Liesel sat in the kitchen with her mama. A preoccupation was at

the forefront of Rosa Hubermanns expression, and it was not long until she
picked up a knife and left the room. Come with me.

She walked to the living room and took the sheet from the edge of her mattress.
In the side, there was a sewn-up slit. If you didnt know beforehand that it was
there, there was almost no chance of finding it. Rosa cut it carefully open and
inserted her hand, reaching in the length of her entire arm. When it came back
out, she was holding Max Vandenburgs sketchbook.

He said to give this to you when you were ready, she said. I was thinking your
birthday. Then I brought it back to Christmas. Rosa Hubermann stood and there
was a strange look on her face. It was not made up of pride. Perhaps it was the
thickness, the heaviness of recollection. She said, I think youve always been