Page 363 - The Book Thief

kept separated, though some things were above petty arguments.

One light globe dangled from the ceiling and the room was dank and cold.
Jagged walls jutted out and poked people in the back as they stood and spoke.
The muffled sound of sirens leaked in from somewhere. They could hear a
distorted version of them that somehow found a way inside. Although creating
considerable apprehension about the quality of the shelter, at least they could
hear the three sirens that would signal the end of the raid and safety. They didnt
need a Luftschutzwartan air-raid supervisor.

It wasnt long before Rudy found Liesel and was standing next to her. His hair
was pointing at something on the ceiling. Isnt this great?

She couldnt resist some sarcasm. Its lovely.

Ah, come on, Liesel, dont be like that. Whats the worst that can happen, apart
from all of us being flattened or fried or whatever bombs do?

Liesel looked around, gauging the faces. She started compiling a list of who was
most afraid.

THE HIT LIST

Frau Holtzapfel

Mr. Fiedler

The young man

Rosa Hubermann

Frau Holtzapfels eyes were trapped open. Her wiry frame was stooped forward,
and her mouth was a circle. Herr Fiedler busied himself by asking people,
sometimes repeatedly, how they were feeling. The young man, Rolf Schultz,
kept to himself in the corner, speaking silently at the air around him, castigating

it. His hands were cemented into his pockets. Rosa rocked back and forth, ever