Page 439 - The Book Thief

THE NEXT TEMPTATION

This time, there were cookies.

But they were stale.

They were Kipferl left over from Christmas, and theyd been sitting on the desk
for at least two weeks. Like miniature horseshoes with a layer of icing sugar, the
ones on the bottom were bolted to the plate. The rest were piled on top, forming
a chewy mound. She could already smell them when her fingers tightened on the
window ledge. The room tasted like sugar and dough, and thousands of pages.

There was no note, but it didnt take Liesel long to realize that Ilsa Hermann had
been at it again, and she certainly wasnt taking the chance that the cookies might
not be for her. She made her way back to the window and passed a whisper
through the gap. The whispers name was Rudy.

Theyd gone on foot that day because the road was too slippery for bikes. The
boy was beneath the window, standing watch. When she called out, his face
appeared, and she presented him with the plate. He didnt need much convincing
to take it.

His eyes feasted on the cookies and he asked a few questions.

Anything else? Any milk?

What?

Milk, he repeated, a little louder this time. If hed recognized the offended tone in
Liesels voice, he certainly wasnt showing it.

The book thiefs face appeared above him again. Are you stupid? Can I just steal
the book?

Of course. All Im saying is . . .