Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

Munich
1904
With much rumbling, shrouded in clouds of smoke and steam, their train pulled into the
Hauptbahnhof in Munich. The four travelers tumbled from their carriage, first Konrad with Otto
in his arm, followed by Alexandra in a magnificent wide-brimmed, soft hat, and last Elisabeth.
Katharina, who had restlessly paced the platform, fell into Alexandra’s arms. She was all
smiles, kisses, and affection.
"You know everything? You forgive me?" rejoiced an exuberant Katharina. Alexandra
held her tightly embraced. Both had tears in their eyes. Konrad stood aside and watched the
two women with a shy, embarrassed smile.
Katharina freed herself and put her arms around him. "But Konrad this is marvelous,
why are you so mum? I have looked forward to this reunion with such apprehension. I am so
happy to have you both back."
Infected by her friend, Alexandra joined the fray and put her arms around the two.
Konrad with his graying beard, immobilized by the crowing Otto on his shoulders, stood
between them like a huge, patriarchal oak and smiled, a little condescendingly, on his two
women, while Otto grabbed his mother’s new hat and waved it triumphantly in the air.
In the arrival hall a breathless Niko came running towards them with a bunch of flowers
in all colors shouting from afar. "Alexandra! Konrad! I am late, but I love you, and it is so good
to see you. It’s been so long."
He held the bouquet high above his head to embrace his sister, then pushed the flowers
into her arms.
"Niko, flowers?"
He blushed. "They have such beautiful flowers in the market here. Look all the colors of
Bavaria!"
Konrad had told Alexandra, "I found a large apartment on the top floor of a house on
quiet Thiersch-Strasse, very close to the river. The furnishings are not entirely our taste, but
the apartment comes with everything you will need, bed sheets, china, pots and pans, even a
telephone!"
The university had connected him with the owner, Professor Sommerfeld, a physicist
who would be on leave for a year to the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England. It was
pure luck, the Sommerfelds had been most pleased to rent the place with all their belongings to
him.
"So that is where the famous professor lives," exclaimed Niko when they arrived at the
place. He explained that he was the man with whom he wanted to do his dissertation.
"He is one of the most respected theoretical physicists. He was only very recently lured
to Munich. His institute will become a Mecca for theoretical physics."
"So you like it in Munich?" asked Alexandra. "And physics has turned out to be the right
subject?"
"Lexako, you have no idea how advanced they are here compared to Russia, and
everyone is highly excited and works like crazy. Oh, yes, you stirred me out of my Georgian
147