Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

everybody.
"Konrad, will you let me go to Munich for three weeks next year?"
Konrad smiled. She had landed not particularly elegantly or heroically, and stood on
solid ground again.
"I know that I cannot keep you back, München is too much of a temptation for you.
Maybe it will do you good to have to defend your effusive feelings of success in presence of
your skeptical friend Dahl. We are no match for you any longer—do go!"
Alexandra was relieved and happy, and all forgave her once more her euphoric
arrogance. She would come to Munich in the spring of 1913.
When Niko and Claudia left, Claudia hugged Alexandra. "You said you envied me our
intellectual life in Munich, but whenever I am with you the most unexpected things happen.
Thank you, Alexandra, for this most stimulating time. When you come, you must teach me how
to get over my fears, will you?"
In September 1913 Tamara’s ambitions were ambushed by fate. She came to see
Alexandra at her office to tell her that she was pregnant. Alexandra inquired carefully. "What do
you want to do?"
"I want to have the baby! You finished your degree when you were pregnant, why
should I not be able to do the same? The more complicated problem is how to tell my father?"
"I could help you there. But will you agree to marry Vladimir?"
Tamara lowered her head. "Yes," she said almost inaudibly.
"Then it should be possible to solve your problems. Send me that future husband of
yours, and I will tell him what he has to do."
Alexandra began to laugh. "Chin up! Now I want to know the exact date on which you
conceived and the exact dates of your last two periods. You promised me this information for
my statistics, do you remember?"
Tamara blushed. She had kept a careful diary of these dates over the years, which had
helped her from getting pregnant. This time they had been overcome by passion. It happened
exactly in the middle between her periods.
Alexandra had a conference with Vladimir at her office. He joked embarrassed when he
entered. "Doctor Dadiani-Rost, I am suffering from a case of dementia that needs immediate
attention before I flip out completely."
Alexandra did not pull his leg or give him a lecture, she was brief and matter of fact. He
should write a letter to Irakli Dadiani asking for his help in persuading David Dadeshkeliani to
cede him his daughter in marriage. He should not mention Tamara’s condition.
She added, "I will write to my father, explain the urgency of your request, and ask him to
offer his house for your wedding, so that Tamara would not have to ride to Svaneti in her
condition."
She looked him straight in the eye. "We have to shield Tamara from the prying eyes of
the Svani. I am sure my father will offer his house for the occasion. He can work out the details
with David."
Vladimir smiled gratefully and kissed her outstretched hand. Alexandra flipped her hand
318