Page 468 - The Book Thief

HOMECOMING

It was a time of bleeders and broken planes and teddy bears, but the first quarter
of 1943 was to finish on a positive note for the book thief.

At the beginning of April, Hans Hubermanns plaster was trimmed to the knee
and he boarded a train for Munich. He would be given a week of rest and
recreation at home before joining the ranks of army pen pushers in the city. He
would help with the paperwork on the cleanup of Munichs factories, houses,
churches, and hospitals. Time would tell if he would be sent out to do the repair
work. That all depended on his leg and the state of the city.

It was dark when he arrived home. It was a day later than expected, as the train
was delayed due to an air-raid scare. He stood at the door of 33 Himmel Street
and made a fist.

Four years earlier, Liesel Meminger was coaxed through that doorway when she
showed up for the first time. Max Vandenburg had stood there with a key biting
into his hand. Now it was Hans Hubermanns turn. He knocked four times and
the book thief answered.

Papa, Papa.

She must have said it a hundred times as she hugged him in the kitchen and
wouldnt let go.

Later, after they ate, they sat at the kitchen table long into the night and Hans
told his wife and Liesel Meminger everything. He explained the LSE and the
smoke-filled streets and the poor, lost, wandering souls. And Reinhold Zucker.
Poor, stupid Reinhold Zucker. It took hours.

At 1 a.m., Liesel went to bed and Papa came in to sit with her, like he used to.
She woke up several times to check that he was there, and he did not fail her.

The night was calm.