The Book Thief(83)

The first one landed with a hollow thud.



Can we keep it, Papa?



No. He was bombed and shocked, this papa, and clearly not in the mood. We cannot keep it.



Why not?



Im going to ask my papa if I can have it, said another of the girls.



Me too.



Just past the rubble of Cologne, a group of kids collected empty fuel containers, dropped by their enemies. As usual, I collected humans. I was tired. And the year wasnt even halfway over yet.





THE VISITOR





A new ball had been found for Himmel Street soccer. That was the good news. The somewhat unsettling news was that a division of the NSDAP was heading toward them.



Theyd progressed all the way through Molching, street by street, house by house, and now they stood at Frau Dillers shop, having a quick smoke before they continued with their business.



There was already a smattering of air-raid shelters in Molching, but it was decided soon after the bombing of Cologne that a few more certainly wouldnt hurt. The NSDAP was inspecting each and every house in order to see if its basement was a good enough candidate.



From afar, the children watched.



They could see the smoke rising out of the pack.



Liesel had only just come out and shed walked over to Rudy and Tommy. Harald Mollenhauer was retrieving the ball. Whats going on up there?



Rudy put his hands in his pockets. The party. He inspected his friends progress with the ball in Frau Holtzapfels front hedge. Theyre checking all the houses and apartment blocks.



Instant dryness seized the interior of Liesels mouth. For what?



Dont you know anything? Tell her, Tommy.



Tommy was perplexed. Well, I dont know.



Youre hopeless, the pair of you. They need more air-raid shelters.



Whatbasements?



No, attics. Of course basements. Jesus, Liesel, you really are thick, arent you?



The ball was back.



Rudy!



He played onto it and Liesel was still standing. How could she get back inside without looking too suspicious? The smoke up at Frau Dillers was disappearing and the small crowd of men was starting to disperse. Panic generated in that awful way. Throat and mouth. Air became sand. Think, she thought. Come on, Liesel, think, think.



Rudy scored.



Faraway voices congratulated him.



Think, Liesel



She had it.



Thats it, she decided, but I have to make it real.



As the Nazis progressed down the street, painting the letters LSR on some of the doors, the ball was passed through the air to one of the bigger kids, Klaus Behrig.





LSR

Luft Schutz Raum:

Air-Raid Shelter





The boy turned with the ball just as Liesel arrived, and they collided with such force that the game stopped automatically. As the ball rolled off, players ran in. Liesel held her grazed knee with one hand and her head with the other. Klaus Behrig only held his right shin, grimacing and cursing. Where is she? he spat. Im going to kill her!



There would be no killing.



It was worse.



A kindly party member had seen the incident and jogged dutifully down to the group. What happened here? he asked.



Well, shes a maniac. Klaus pointed at Liesel, prompting the man to help her up. His tobacco breath formed a smoky sandhill in front of her face.



I dont think youre in any state to keep playing, my girl, he said. Where do you live?



Im fine, she answered, really. I can make it myself. Just get off me, get off me!



That was when Rudy stepped in, the eternal stepper-inner. Ill help you home, he said. Why couldnt he just mind his own business for a change?



Really, Liesel said. Just keep playing, Rudy. I can make it.



No, no. He wouldnt be shifted. The stubbornness of him! Itll only take a minute or two.



Again, she had to think, and again, she was able. With Rudy holding her up, she made herself drop once more to the ground, on her back. My papa, she said. The sky, she noticed, was utterly blue. Not even the suggestion of a cloud. Could you get him, Rudy?



Stay there. To his right, he called out, Tommy, watch her, will you? Dont let her move.



Tommy snapped into action. Ill watch her, Rudy. He stood above her, twitching and trying not to smile, as Liesel kept an eye on the party man.



A minute later, Hans Hubermann was standing calmly above her.



Hey, Papa.



A disappointed smile mingled with his lips. I was wondering when this would happen.



He picked her up and helped her home. The game went on, and the Nazi was already at the door of a lodging a few doors up. No one answered. Rudy was calling out again.



Do you need help, Herr Hubermann?



No, no, you keep playing, Herr Steiner. Herr Steiner. You had to love Liesels papa.