The Book Thief(84)

Once inside, Liesel gave him the information. She attempted to find the middle ground between silence and despair. Papa.



Dont talk.



The party, she whispered. Papa stopped. He fought off the urge to open the door and look up the street. Theyre checking basements to make shelters.



He set her down. Smart girl, he said, then called for Rosa.



They had a minute to come up with a plan. A shemozzle of thoughts.



Well just put him in Liesels room, was Mamas suggestion. Under the bed.



Thats it? What if they decide to search our rooms as well?



Do you have a better plan?



Correction: they did not have a minute.



A seven-punch knock was hammered into the door of 33 Himmel Street, and it was too late to move anyone anywhere.



The voice.



Open up!



Their heartbeats fought each other, a mess of rhythm. Liesel tried to eat hers down. The taste of heart was not too cheerful.



Rosa whispered, Jesus, Mary



On this day, it was Papa who rose to the occasion. He rushed to the basement door and threw a warning down the steps. When he returned, he spoke fast and fluent. Look, there is no time for tricks. We could distract him a hundred different ways, but there is only one solution. He eyed the door and summed up. Nothing.



That was not the answer Rosa wanted. Her eyes widened. Nothing? Are you crazy?



The knocking resumed.



Papa was strict. Nothing. We dont even go down therenot a care in the world.



Everything slowed.



Rosa accepted it.



Clenched with distress, she shook her head and proceeded to answer the door.



Liesel. Papas voice sliced her up. Just stay calm, verstehst?



Yes, Papa.



She tried to concentrate on her bleeding leg.



Aha!



At the door, Rosa was still asking the meaning of this interruption when the kindly party man noticed Liesel.



The maniacal soccer player! He grinned. Hows the knee? You dont usually imagine the Nazis being too chirpy, but this man certainly was. He came in and made as if to crouch and view the injury.



Does he know? Liesel thought. Can he smell were hiding a Jew?



Papa came from the sink with a wet cloth and soaked it onto Liesels knee. Does it sting? His silver eyes were caring and calm. The scare in them could easily be mistaken as concern for the injury.



Rosa called across the kitchen, It cant sting enough. Maybe it will teach her a lesson.



The party man stood and laughed. I dont think this girl is learning any lessons out there, Frau . . . ?



Hubermann. The cardboard contorted.



. . . Frau HubermannI think she teaches lessons. He handed Liesel a smile. To all those boys. Am I right, young girl?



Papa shoved the cloth into the graze and Liesel winced rather than answered. It was Hans who spoke. A quiet sorry, to the girl.



There was the discomfort of silence then, and the party man remembered his purpose. If you dont mind, he explained, I need to inspect your basement, just for a minute or two, to see if its suitable for a shelter.



Papa gave Liesels knee a final dab. Youll have a nice bruise there, too, Liesel. Casually, he acknowledged the man above them. Certainly. First door on the right. Please excuse the mess.



I wouldnt worryit cant be worse than some of the others Ive seen today. . . . This one?



Thats it.





THE LONGEST THREE MINUTES

IN HUBERMANN HISTORY

Papa sat at the table. Rosa prayed in the corner,

mouthing the words. Liesel was cooked: her knee,

her chest, the muscles in her arms. I doubt any

of them had the audacity to consider what theyd

do if the basement was appointed as a shelter.

They had to survive the inspection first.





They listened to Nazi footsteps in the basement. There was the sound of measuring tape. Liesel could not ward off the thought of Max sitting beneath the steps, huddled around his sketchbook, hugging it to his chest.



Papa stood. Another idea.



He walked to the hall and called out, Everything good down there?



The answer ascended the steps, on top of Max Vandenburg. Another minute, perhaps!



Would you like some coffee, some tea?



No thank you!



When Papa returned, he ordered Liesel to fetch a book and for Rosa to start cooking. He decided the last thing they should do was sit around looking worried. Well, come on, he said loudly, move it, Liesel. I dont care if your knee hurts. You have to finish that book, like you said.



Liesel tried not to break. Yes, Papa.



What are you waiting for? It took great effort to wink at her, she could tell.



In the corridor, she nearly collided with the party man.



In trouble with your papa, huh? Never mind. Im the same with my own children.