Page 408 - The Book Thief

She filled it with cold water and walked with it down to the basement. Liesel

followed, in a vain attempt to stop her. Mama, you cant!

Cant I? She faced her briefly on the steps. Did I miss something, Saumensch? Do
you give the orders around here now?

Both of them were completely still.

No answer from the girl.

I thought not.

They continued on and found him on his back, among a bed of drop sheets. He
felt he didnt deserve Maxs mattress.

Now, lets seeRosa lifted the bucketif hes alive.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

The watermark was oval-shaped, from halfway up his chest to his head. His hair
was plastered to one side and even his eyelashes dripped. What was that for?

You old drunk!

Jesus . . .

Steam was rising weirdly from his clothes. His hangover was visible. It heaved
itself to his shoulders and sat there like a bag of wet cement.

Rosa swapped the bucket from left hand to right. Its lucky youre going to the

war, she said. She held her finger in the air and wasnt afraid to wave it.
Otherwise Id kill you myself, you know that, dont you?

Papa wiped a stream of water from his throat. Did you have to do that?

Yes. I did. She started up the steps. If youre not up there in five minutes, you get
another bucketful.

Left in the basement with Papa, Liesel busied herself by mopping up the excess