The Book Thief(39)
When they made it back to the river, hidden among the trees, he took the sack and gave Liesel and Rudy a dozen apples between them.
Good work, was his final comment on the matter.
That afternoon, before they returned home, Liesel and Rudy consumed six apples apiece within half an hour. At first, they entertained thoughts of sharing the fruit at their respective homes, but there was considerable danger in that. They didnt particularly relish the opportunity of explaining just where the fruit had come from. Liesel even thought that perhaps she could get away with only telling Papa, but she didnt want him thinking that he had a compulsive criminal on his hands. So she ate.
On the riverbank where she learned to swim, each apple was disposed of. Unaccustomed to such luxury, they knew it was likely theyd be sick.
They ate anyway.
Saumensch! Mama abused her that night. Why are you vomiting so much?
Maybe its the pea soup, Liesel suggested.
Thats right, Papa echoed. He was over at the window again. It must be. I feel a bit sick myself.
Who asked you, Saukerl? Quickly, she turned back to face the vomiting Saumensch. Well? What is it? What is it, you filthy pig?
But Liesel?
She said nothing.
The apples, she thought happily. The apples, and she vomited one more time, for luck.
THE ARYAN SHOPKEEPER
They stood outside Frau Dillers, against the whitewashed wall.
A piece of candy was in Liesel Memingers mouth.
The sun was in her eyes.
Despite these difficulties, she was still able to speak and argue.
ANOTHER CONVERSATION *
BETWEEN RUDY AND LIESEL
Hurry up, Saumensch, thats ten already.
Its not, its only eightIve got two to go.
Well, hurry up, then. I told you we should have gotten a knife
and sawn it in half. . . . Come on, thats two.
All right. Here. And dont swallow it.
Do I look like an idiot?
[A short pause]
This is great, isnt it?
It sure is, Saumensch.
At the end of August and summer, they found one pfennig on the ground. Pure excitement.
It was sitting half rotten in some dirt, on the washing and ironing route. A solitary corroded coin.
Take a look at that!
Rudy swooped on it. The excitement almost stung as they rushed back to Frau Dillers, not even considering that a single pfennig might not be the right price. They burst through the door and stood in front of the Aryan shopkeeper, who regarded them with contempt.
Im waiting, she said. Her hair was tied back and her black dress choked her body. The framed photo of the Fhrer kept watch from the wall.
Heil Hitler, Rudy led.
Heil Hitler, she responded, straightening taller behind the counter. And you? She glared at Liesel, who promptly gave her a heil Hitler of her own.
It didnt take Rudy long to dig the coin from his pocket and place it firmly on the counter. He looked straight into Frau Dillers spectacled eyes and said, Mixed candy, please.
Frau Diller smiled. Her teeth elbowed each other for room in her mouth, and her unexpected kindness made Rudy and Liesel smile as well. Not for long.
She bent down, did some searching, and came back. Here, she said, tossing a single piece of candy onto the counter. Mix it yourself.
Outside, they unwrapped it and tried biting it in half, but the sugar was like glass. Far too tough, even for Rudys animal-like choppers. Instead, they had to trade sucks on it until it was finished. Ten sucks for Rudy. Ten for Liesel. Back and forth.
This, Rudy announced at one point, with a candy-toothed grin, is the good life, and Liesel didnt disagree. By the time they were finished, both their mouths were an exaggerated red, and as they walked home, they reminded each other to keep their eyes peeled, in case they found another coin.
Naturally, they found nothing. No one can be that lucky twice in one year, let alone a single afternoon.
Still, with red tongues and teeth, they walked down Himmel Street, happily searching the ground as they went.
The day had been a great one, and Nazi Germany was a wondrous place.
THE STRUGGLER, CONTINUED
We move forward now, to a cold night struggle. Well let the book thief catch up later.
It was November 3, and the floor of the train held on to his feet. In front of him, he read from the copy of Mein Kampf. His savior. Sweat was swimming out of his hands. Fingermarks clutched the book.
BOOK THIEF PRODUCTIONS
OFFICIALLY PRESENTS
Mein Kampf
(My Struggle)
by
Adolf Hitler
Behind Max Vandenburg, the city of Stuttgart opened its arms in mockery.
He was not welcome there, and he tried not to look back as the stale bread disintegrated in his stomach. A few times, he shifted again and watched the lights become only a handful and then disappear altogether.