Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

the couple whether they wanted to be husband and wife. The mouse whispered a barely
audible "Yes," and the lion roared his agreement.
All the animals applauded and kissed the bride and the groom. The mouse took the lion
to his room where holding hands they spent a long time watching the adults through the
heating vent above the stove.
Late at night the station master called that the train would leave very early in the morning.
Friedrich von Bredow offered to drive them back through the clear night. Alexandra, after a
long search with the lady of the house, found Otto in his lion disguise next to the mouse asleep
in that little room. The vent hole through which the upper floor was heated was open.
"They must have spied on the adults and fallen asleep," laughed Mrs. von Bredow.
Alexandra carried Otto downstairs and put on his coat and shoes, he remained deep asleep.
It was a clear night, the moon was full. As they sped through the enchanted woods Otto
woke and fantasized excitedly of riding on an elephant, of a poisonous snake winding around
his arm, and of a mouse who was waiting to marry him when he came back. His mother
smiled.
Otto stared at the moon above the glistening snowfields and buried his head in his
mother’s lap. "Mummy, the moon is so big. It frightens me. Can you take it down?"
Alexandra sang him a Georgian song about the moon in the trees. He was fast asleep in
her arms when they reached the train.
Nobody waited for them at the station in the City on the Neva. They piled their luggage
into a droshki and drove to their apartment. It was empty. Izabel had left a letter saying that
they had suddenly to leave for Armenia. She thanked them for their hospitality. She would write
soon.
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