Zusak_Markus-Book_Thief_The_.pdf

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For Elisabeth and Helmut Zusak,

with love and admiration

PROLOGUE

a mountain range of rubble

in which our narrator introduces:

himself—the colors—and the book thief

DEATH AND CHOCOLATE

First the colors.

Then the humans.

That’s usually how I see things.

Or at least, how I try.

HERE IS A SMALL FACT

You are going to die.

I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though

most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my

protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be

amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s. Just don’t ask me to be

nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.

REACTION TO THE

AFOREMENTIONED FACT

Does this worry you?

I urge you—don’t be afraid.

I’m nothing if not fair.

—Of course, an introduction.

A beginning.

Where are my manners?

I could introduce myself properly, but it’s not really necessary. You will know

me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It

suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially

as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my

shoulder. I will carry you gently away.

At that moment, you will be lying there (I rarely find people standing up). You