Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

preoccupation.Konrad’s partner had drifted off. A great longing for Alexandra overcame him. Where was she? He sank into a chair andburied his tired head between his hands. Had she gone off with someone else? All the misery of the past monthsovercame him, Katharina in Friedrich’s arms andnow Alexandra disappeared. He rose and for a long time searched for her among the gay crowd, but the harder hesearched the more elusive she became. How could she leave him like that?Suddenly a masked lady in a Georgian costume, wearing an authentic Immeretian necklace floated across his view. Shewas dancing in the arms of some Indian or Turk. A kartveli kalashvili, a daughter of Georgia? He pursued them, andwhen she noticed him, Konrad asked her for a dance.The lady stopped in mid-turn, disengaged herself and stood rooted, staring at him. She was smaller than Alexandra, alithe fine-boned person with blond hair. Certainly no Georgian."Gamardjobat Konrad!" She exclaimed. "What a coincidence. You shaved off your beard! I almost did not recognize you."She embraced him and kissed him three times.Konrad was taken aback, he had no idea who she was. "Yes, I shaved it off this morning. All the young revolutionarieshide their faces behind beards now, it was about time I shaved mine off. But who are you?"She held him at a distance. "You are Konrad, aren’t you? Where is Alexandra? I cannot believe it."Puzzled, Konrad looked at her. "Did we meet in Tiflis? You are no genuine Georgian!" He ran through all their friends inTiflis and shook his head. This mask really did hide its wearer.She took her mask off."Clara!" he shouted. "Clara, my secret love! Where do you come from, are you for real?"They sank into each other’s arms."We arrived from Istanbul two days ago. Joachim is here too. When I last saw him, he was dancing with some darkhairedItalian beauty. Konrad, it is so good to see you. How are you?"He kissed her most tenderly. "It is impossible to talk here, there is so much to say. Let’s find a quiet place to look at eachother."Konrad offered his arm and led her to an empty table as far away from the orchestra as possible.For a while Konrad just looked at her, very moved. To see this beloved, restrained woman was like oil on his sore heart.She smiled at him. "We bring greetings and love from all your friends in Tiflis. Arthur Leist obliged me to give you aGeorgian hug and kiss. They all miss you. There are letters to Alexandra from Deda and Sophia and from Olga too." Shebubbled over in excitement. "We would have tried to find you tomorrow, but this chance meeting is wonderful."Konrad still could not believe his eyes. He took her hands and kissed them. "But how did you get to this ball?""The diplomatic corps offered us the tickets, and we thought that it would be an appropriate homecoming celebration.You see, if one does not look for one another one always finds the unexpected."A turbaned Persian steered towards them, Joachim von Bredow. The two men hugged and kissed each other as neverbefore."We are missing Alexandra," Konrad said disturbed. "I have not seen her for hours. Has she eloped with another man?""Yes, she has," Joachim said with a laugh, "with me! If she had not been dancing with her brother Niko, I would not haverecognized her. What a nice man Niko has become."Konrad sighed. At least she had not deserted him with some stranger, not yet. Joachim decided that this chance meetingcalled for a bottle of champagne and left."How is Alexandra?" Clara asked her gray eyes searching his face full of concern."Ach, Clara, she is very well. After those long years of hard work in St. Petersburg she is flying at dizzying heights,discovering herself and innumerable things she has never tasted before, music, painting, her sharp mind, scientificresearch, and new variations on love. Sometimes I feel left behind and sometimes heavy, clumsy, and deserted."Clara’s eyes softened. "The years in St. Petersburg were a difficult test I imagine, do you feel that your marriage isendangered? Is she in love with an other man?""No, actually neither. It is much more complicated, Clara."Joachim returned with two bottles of champagne. His smile faded as he looked at them. He filled the glasses. "Prost, tothis unexpected reunion after five years! To your health, Konrad! What is it, you two look so serious?"Clara lowered her eyes.Konrad drank to Joachim and Clara and slumped in his chair. "I am tired. Last night we danced at another ball until thesmall hours, we slept little. I feel suspended in a strange, exhausted state, maybe that makes me maudlin. Clara, mysensitive friend, who listens so well, moved me to speak my heart. The relationship between Alexandra and me is difficultat the moment, we are drifting along on parallel tracks. Alexandra has embarked on a, for her, very exciting path and hasleft me behind. I am not entirely blameless in all of this, but cannot regain my former balance."He took a deep swill from his glass. In his present overwrought state the alcohol would not help. He waved this misgivingaway. Somewhere in the distance he noticed a Tcherkassian woman drift by, but she had long blond hair. It was clearlynot Alexandra.102