The Book Thief (43 page)
Authors: Markus Zusak
Tags: #Fiction, #death, #Storytelling, #General, #Europe, #Historical, #Juvenile Fiction, #Holocaust, #Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9), #Religious, #Books and reading, #Historical - Holocaust, #Social Issues, #Jewish, #Books & Libraries, #Military & Wars, #Books and reading/ Fiction, #Storytelling/ Fiction, #Historical Fiction (Young Adult), #Death & Dying, #Death/ Fiction, #Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust
He left.
“Max?”
But he did not
come back.
come back.
He had walked
from her room and silently shut the door.
from her room and silently shut the door.
The hallway
murmured.
murmured.
He was gone.
When she made it
to the kitchen, Mama and Papa stood with crooked bodies and preserved faces.
They’d been standing like that for thirty seconds of forever.
to the kitchen, Mama and Papa stood with crooked bodies and preserved faces.
They’d been standing like that for thirty seconds of forever.
DUDEN
DICTIONARY
MEANING
#7
DICTIONARY
MEANING
#7
Schweigen
—Silence:
—Silence:
The absence of sound or noise.
Related words:
quiet, calmness, peace.
How perfect.
Peace.
Somewhere near
Munich, a German Jew was making his way through the darkness. An arrangement
had been made to meet Hans Hubermann in four days (that is, if he wasn’t taken
away). It was at a place far down the Amper, where a broken bridge leaned among
the river and trees.
Munich, a German Jew was making his way through the darkness. An arrangement
had been made to meet Hans Hubermann in four days (that is, if he wasn’t taken
away). It was at a place far down the Amper, where a broken bridge leaned among
the river and trees.
He would make it
there, but he would not stay longer than a few minutes.
there, but he would not stay longer than a few minutes.
The only thing
to be found there when Papa arrived four days later was a note under a rock, at
the base of a tree. It was addressed to nobody and contained only one sentence.
to be found there when Papa arrived four days later was a note under a rock, at
the base of a tree. It was addressed to nobody and contained only one sentence.
THE
LAST WORDS OF
LAST WORDS OF
MAX VANDENBURG
You’ve done enough.
Now more than
ever, 33 Himmel Street was a place of silence, and it did not go unnoticed that
the
Duden Dictionary
was completely and utterly mistaken, especially
with its related words.
ever, 33 Himmel Street was a place of silence, and it did not go unnoticed that
the
Duden Dictionary
was completely and utterly mistaken, especially
with its related words.
Silence was not
quiet or calm, and it was not peace.
quiet or calm, and it was not peace.
THE IDIOT AND THE COAT MEN
On the night of
the parade, the idiot sat in the kitchen, drinking bitter gulps of Holtzapfel’s
coffee and hankering for a cigarette. He waited for the Gestapo, the soldiers,
the police—for anyone— to take him away, as he felt he deserved. Rosa ordered
him to come to bed. The girl loitered in the doorway. He sent them both away
and spent the hours till morning with his head in his hands, waiting.
the parade, the idiot sat in the kitchen, drinking bitter gulps of Holtzapfel’s
coffee and hankering for a cigarette. He waited for the Gestapo, the soldiers,
the police—for anyone— to take him away, as he felt he deserved. Rosa ordered
him to come to bed. The girl loitered in the doorway. He sent them both away
and spent the hours till morning with his head in his hands, waiting.
Nothing came.
Every unit of time
carried with it the expected noise of knocking and threatening words.
carried with it the expected noise of knocking and threatening words.
They did not
come.
come.
The only sound
was of himself.
was of himself.
“What have I
done?” he whispered again.
done?” he whispered again.
“God, I’d love a
cigarette,” he answered. He was all out.
cigarette,” he answered. He was all out.
Liesel heard the
repeated sentences several times, and it took a lot to stay by the door. She’d
have loved to comfort him, but she had never seen a man so devastated. There
were no consolations that night. Max was gone, and Hans Hubermann was to blame.
repeated sentences several times, and it took a lot to stay by the door. She’d
have loved to comfort him, but she had never seen a man so devastated. There
were no consolations that night. Max was gone, and Hans Hubermann was to blame.
The kitchen
cupboards were the shape of guilt, and his palms were oily with the memory of
what he’d done. They
must
be sweaty, Liesel thought, for her own hands
were soaked to the wrists.
cupboards were the shape of guilt, and his palms were oily with the memory of
what he’d done. They
must
be sweaty, Liesel thought, for her own hands
were soaked to the wrists.
In her room, she
prayed.
prayed.
Hands and knees,
forearms against the mattress.
forearms against the mattress.
“Please, God,
please let Max survive. Please, God, please . . .”
please let Max survive. Please, God, please . . .”
Her suffering
knees.
knees.
Her painful
feet.
feet.
When first light
appeared, she awoke and made her way back to the kitchen. Papa was asleep with
his head parallel to the tabletop, and there was some saliva at the corner of
his mouth. The smell of coffee was overpowering, and the image of Hans
Hubermann’s stupid kindness was still in the air. It was like a number or an
address. Repeat it enough times and it sticks.
appeared, she awoke and made her way back to the kitchen. Papa was asleep with
his head parallel to the tabletop, and there was some saliva at the corner of
his mouth. The smell of coffee was overpowering, and the image of Hans
Hubermann’s stupid kindness was still in the air. It was like a number or an
address. Repeat it enough times and it sticks.
Her first
attempt to wake him was unfelt, but her second nudge of the shoulder brought
his head from the table in an upward shock.
attempt to wake him was unfelt, but her second nudge of the shoulder brought
his head from the table in an upward shock.
“Are they here?”
“No, Papa, it’s
me.”
me.”
He finished the
stale pool of coffee in his mug. His Adam’s apple lifted and sank. “They should
have come by now. Why haven’t they come, Liesel?”
stale pool of coffee in his mug. His Adam’s apple lifted and sank. “They should
have come by now. Why haven’t they come, Liesel?”
It was an insult.
They should have
come by now and swept through the house, looking for any evidence of Jew loving
or treason, but it appeared that Max had left for no reason at all. He could
have been asleep in the basement or sketching in his book.
come by now and swept through the house, looking for any evidence of Jew loving
or treason, but it appeared that Max had left for no reason at all. He could
have been asleep in the basement or sketching in his book.
“You can’t have
known that they wouldn’t come, Papa.”
known that they wouldn’t come, Papa.”
“I should have
known
not to give the man some bread. I just didn’t think.”
known
not to give the man some bread. I just didn’t think.”
“Papa, you did
nothing wrong.”
nothing wrong.”
“I don’t believe
you.”
you.”
He stood and
walked out the kitchen door, leaving it ajar. Lending even more insult to injury,
it was going to be a lovely morning.
walked out the kitchen door, leaving it ajar. Lending even more insult to injury,
it was going to be a lovely morning.
When four days
had elapsed, Papa walked a long length of the Amper River. He brought back a
small note and placed it on the kitchen table.
had elapsed, Papa walked a long length of the Amper River. He brought back a
small note and placed it on the kitchen table.
Another week
passed, and still, Hans Hubermann waited for his punishment. The welts on his
back were turning to scars, and he spent the majority of his time walking
around Molching. Frau Diller spat at his feet. Frau Holtzapfel, true to her
word, had ceased spitting at the Hubermanns’ door, but here was a handy
replacement. “I knew it,” the shopkeeper damned him. “You dirty Jew lover.”
passed, and still, Hans Hubermann waited for his punishment. The welts on his
back were turning to scars, and he spent the majority of his time walking
around Molching. Frau Diller spat at his feet. Frau Holtzapfel, true to her
word, had ceased spitting at the Hubermanns’ door, but here was a handy
replacement. “I knew it,” the shopkeeper damned him. “You dirty Jew lover.”
He walked
obliviously on, and Liesel would often catch him at the Amper River, on the
bridge. His arms rested on the rail and he leaned his upper body over the edge.
Kids on bikes rushed past him, or they ran with loud voices and the slaps of
feet on wood. None of it moved him in the slightest.
obliviously on, and Liesel would often catch him at the Amper River, on the
bridge. His arms rested on the rail and he leaned his upper body over the edge.
Kids on bikes rushed past him, or they ran with loud voices and the slaps of
feet on wood. None of it moved him in the slightest.
DUDEN
DICTIONARY
MEANING
#8
*
DICTIONARY
MEANING
#8
*
Nachtrauern
—Regret:
—Regret:
Sorrow filled with longing,
disappointment, or loss.
Related words:
rue, repent,
rue, repent,
mourn, grieve.
“Do you see
him?” he asked her one afternoon, when she leaned with him. “In the water
there?”
him?” he asked her one afternoon, when she leaned with him. “In the water
there?”
The river was
not running very fast. In the slow ripples, Liesel could see the outline of Max
Vandenburg’s face. She could see his feathery hair and the rest of him. “He used
to fight the
Führer
in our basement.”
not running very fast. In the slow ripples, Liesel could see the outline of Max
Vandenburg’s face. She could see his feathery hair and the rest of him. “He used
to fight the
Führer
in our basement.”
“Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph.” Papa’s hands tightened on the splintery wood. “I’m an idiot.”
and Joseph.” Papa’s hands tightened on the splintery wood. “I’m an idiot.”
No, Papa.
You’re just a
man.
man.
The words came
to her more than a year later, when she wrote in the basement. She wished she’d
thought of them at the time.
to her more than a year later, when she wrote in the basement. She wished she’d
thought of them at the time.
“I am stupid,”
Hans Hubermann told his foster daughter. “And kind. Which makes the biggest
idiot in the world. The thing is, I
want
them to come for me. Anything’s
better than this waiting.”
Hans Hubermann told his foster daughter. “And kind. Which makes the biggest
idiot in the world. The thing is, I
want
them to come for me. Anything’s
better than this waiting.”
Hans Hubermann
needed vindication. He needed to know that Max Vandenburg had left his house
for good reason.
needed vindication. He needed to know that Max Vandenburg had left his house
for good reason.
Finally, after
nearly three weeks of waiting, he thought his moment had come.
nearly three weeks of waiting, he thought his moment had come.
It was late.
Liesel was
returning from Frau Holtzapfel’s when she saw the two men in their long black
coats, and she ran inside.
returning from Frau Holtzapfel’s when she saw the two men in their long black
coats, and she ran inside.
“Papa, Papa!”
She nearly wiped out the kitchen table. “Papa, they’re here!”
She nearly wiped out the kitchen table. “Papa, they’re here!”
Mama came first.
“What’s all this shouting about,
Saumensch
? Who’s here?”
“What’s all this shouting about,
Saumensch
? Who’s here?”
“The Gestapo.”
“Hansi!”
He was already
there, and he walked out of the house to greet them. Liesel wanted to join him,
but Rosa held her back and they watched from the window.
there, and he walked out of the house to greet them. Liesel wanted to join him,
but Rosa held her back and they watched from the window.
Papa was poised
at the front gate. He fidgeted.
at the front gate. He fidgeted.
Mama tightened
her grip on Liesel’s arms.
her grip on Liesel’s arms.
The men walked
past.
past.
Papa looked back
at the window, alarmed, then made his way out of the gate. He called after
them. “Hey! I’m right here. It’s me you want. I live in this one.”
at the window, alarmed, then made his way out of the gate. He called after
them. “Hey! I’m right here. It’s me you want. I live in this one.”
The coat men
only stopped momentarily and checked their notebooks. “No, no,” they told him.
Their voices were deep and bulky. “Unfortunately, you’re a little old for our
purposes.”
only stopped momentarily and checked their notebooks. “No, no,” they told him.
Their voices were deep and bulky. “Unfortunately, you’re a little old for our
purposes.”
They continued
walking, but they did not travel very far, stopping at number thirty-five and
proceeding through the open gate.
walking, but they did not travel very far, stopping at number thirty-five and
proceeding through the open gate.
“Frau Steiner?”
they asked when the door was opened.
they asked when the door was opened.
“Yes, that’s
right.”
right.”
“We’ve come to
talk to you about something.”
talk to you about something.”
The coat men
stood like jacketed columns on the threshold of the Steiners’ shoe-box house.
stood like jacketed columns on the threshold of the Steiners’ shoe-box house.
For some reason,
they’d come for the boy.
they’d come for the boy.
The coat men
wanted Rudy.
wanted Rudy.
PART EIGHT
the
wordshaker
wordshaker
featuring:
dominoes and darkness—the thought of
rudy naked—punishment—a promise keeper’s
wife—a collector—the bread eaters—
a candle in the trees—a hidden sketchbook—
and the anarchist’s suit collection
DOMINOES AND DARKNESS
In the words of
Rudy’s youngest sisters, there were two monsters sitting in the kitchen. Their
voices kneaded methodically at the door as three of the Steiner children played
dominoes on the other side. The remaining three listened to the radio in the
bedroom, oblivious. Rudy hoped this had nothing to do with what had happened at
school the previous week. It was something he had refused to tell Liesel and
did not talk about at home.
Rudy’s youngest sisters, there were two monsters sitting in the kitchen. Their
voices kneaded methodically at the door as three of the Steiner children played
dominoes on the other side. The remaining three listened to the radio in the
bedroom, oblivious. Rudy hoped this had nothing to do with what had happened at
school the previous week. It was something he had refused to tell Liesel and
did not talk about at home.
A
GRAY AFTERNOON,
GRAY AFTERNOON,
A SMALL SCHOOL OFFICE
Three boys stood in a line. Their records
and bodies were thoroughly examined.
When the fourth
game of dominoes was completed, Rudy began to stand them up in lines, creating
patterns that wound their way across the living room floor. As was his habit,
he also left a few gaps, in case the rogue finger of a sibling interfered,
which it usually did.
game of dominoes was completed, Rudy began to stand them up in lines, creating
patterns that wound their way across the living room floor. As was his habit,
he also left a few gaps, in case the rogue finger of a sibling interfered,
which it usually did.
“Can I knock
them down, Rudy?”
them down, Rudy?”
“No.”
“What about me?”
“No. We all
will.”
will.”
He made three
separate formations that led to the same tower of dominoes in the middle.
Together, they would watch everything that was so carefully planned collapse,
and they would all smile at the beauty of destruction.
separate formations that led to the same tower of dominoes in the middle.
Together, they would watch everything that was so carefully planned collapse,
and they would all smile at the beauty of destruction.
The kitchen
voices were becoming louder now, each heaping itself upon the other to be
heard. Different sentences fought for attention until one person, previously
silent, came between them.
voices were becoming louder now, each heaping itself upon the other to be
heard. Different sentences fought for attention until one person, previously
silent, came between them.
“No,” she said.
It was repeated. “No.” Even when the rest of them resumed their arguments, they
were silenced again by the same voice, but now it gained momentum. “Please,”
Barbara Steiner begged them. “Not my boy.”
It was repeated. “No.” Even when the rest of them resumed their arguments, they
were silenced again by the same voice, but now it gained momentum. “Please,”
Barbara Steiner begged them. “Not my boy.”
“Can we light a
candle, Rudy?”
candle, Rudy?”
It was something
their father had often done with them. He would turn out the light and they’d
watch the dominoes fall in the candlelight. It somehow made the event grander,
a greater spectacle.
their father had often done with them. He would turn out the light and they’d
watch the dominoes fall in the candlelight. It somehow made the event grander,
a greater spectacle.
His legs were
aching anyway. “Let me find a match.”
aching anyway. “Let me find a match.”
The light switch
was at the door.
was at the door.
Quietly, he
walked toward it with the matchbox in one hand, the candle in the other.
walked toward it with the matchbox in one hand, the candle in the other.
From the other
side, the three men and one woman climbed to the hinges. “The best scores in
the class,” said one of the monsters. Such depth and dryness. “Not to mention
his athletic ability.” Damn it, why did he have to win all those races at the
carnival?
side, the three men and one woman climbed to the hinges. “The best scores in
the class,” said one of the monsters. Such depth and dryness. “Not to mention
his athletic ability.” Damn it, why did he have to win all those races at the
carnival?
Deutscher.
Damn that Franz
Deutscher!
Deutscher!
But then he
understood.
understood.
This was not
Franz Deutscher’s fault, but his own. He’d wanted to show his past tormentor
what he was capable of, but he also wanted to prove himself to everyone. Now
everyone
was in the kitchen.
Franz Deutscher’s fault, but his own. He’d wanted to show his past tormentor
what he was capable of, but he also wanted to prove himself to everyone. Now
everyone
was in the kitchen.
He lit the
candle and switched off the light.
candle and switched off the light.
“Ready?”
“But I’ve heard
what happens there.” That was the unmistakable, oaky voice of his father.
what happens there.” That was the unmistakable, oaky voice of his father.
“Come on, Rudy,
hurry up.”
hurry up.”
“Yes, but
understand, Herr Steiner, this is all for a greater purpose. Think of the
opportunities your son can have. This is really a privilege.”
understand, Herr Steiner, this is all for a greater purpose. Think of the
opportunities your son can have. This is really a privilege.”
“Rudy, the
candle’s dripping.”
candle’s dripping.”
He waved them
away, waiting again for Alex Steiner. He came.
away, waiting again for Alex Steiner. He came.
“Privileges?
Like running barefoot through the snow? Like jumping from ten-meter platforms
into three feet of water?”
Like running barefoot through the snow? Like jumping from ten-meter platforms
into three feet of water?”
Rudy’s ear was
pressed to the door now. Candle wax melted onto his hand.
pressed to the door now. Candle wax melted onto his hand.
“Rumors.” The
arid voice, low and matter-of-fact, had an answer for everything. “Our school
is one of the finest ever established. It’s better than world-class. We’re
creating an elite group of German citizens in the name of the
Führer
. .
. .”
arid voice, low and matter-of-fact, had an answer for everything. “Our school
is one of the finest ever established. It’s better than world-class. We’re
creating an elite group of German citizens in the name of the
Führer
. .
. .”
Rudy could
listen no longer.
listen no longer.
He scraped the
candle wax from his hand and drew back from the splice of light that came
through the crack in the door. When he sat down, the flame went out. Too much
movement. Darkness flowed in. The only light available was a white rectangular
stencil, the shape of the kitchen door.
candle wax from his hand and drew back from the splice of light that came
through the crack in the door. When he sat down, the flame went out. Too much
movement. Darkness flowed in. The only light available was a white rectangular
stencil, the shape of the kitchen door.
He struck
another match and reignited the candle. The sweet smell of fire and carbon.
another match and reignited the candle. The sweet smell of fire and carbon.
Rudy and his
sisters each tapped a different domino and they watched them fall until the
tower in the middle was brought to its knees. The girls cheered.
sisters each tapped a different domino and they watched them fall until the
tower in the middle was brought to its knees. The girls cheered.
Kurt, his older
brother, arrived in the room.
brother, arrived in the room.
“They look like
dead bodies,” he said.
dead bodies,” he said.
“What?”
Rudy peered up
at the dark face, but Kurt did not answer. He’d noticed the arguing from the
kitchen. “What’s going on in there?”
at the dark face, but Kurt did not answer. He’d noticed the arguing from the
kitchen. “What’s going on in there?”
It was one of
the girls who answered. The youngest, Bettina. She was five. “There are two
monsters,” she said. “They’ve come for Rudy.”
the girls who answered. The youngest, Bettina. She was five. “There are two
monsters,” she said. “They’ve come for Rudy.”
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