"It's such a beautiful day," he said, and his voice was in many pieces. A great day to die. A great day to die, like this. Liesel walked at him. She was courageous enought to reach out and hold his bearded face. "Is it really you, Max?" Such a brilliant German day and its attentive crowd. He let his mouth kiss her palm. "Yes, Liesel, it's me," and he held the girl's hand in his face and cried onto her fingers. He cried as the soldiers came and a small collection of insolent Jews stood and watched. Standing, he was whipped."