Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

d’Andreae at the university, relented. They circled Bologna without stopping.Florence was less than a hundred kilometers away, but the steep, winding road across the Apennines slowed themdown. The car was continuously on the verge of overheating. There were not as many cold brooks to replenish theradiator as in the Alps. They finally solved the problem with the help of a large wine flask in a basket in which they carriedextra water. Why did this car come with an insufficient radiator, muttered Konrad, and that produced the idea of having alarger radiator installed in Florence, which would solve the problem of mountain driving.Wild, rocky crags rose from low hillsides, densely overgrown with macchia. Colorful fortified villages clung to steepslopes. Deplorable poverty everywhere, half-naked children played by the road. Herds of scrawny goats gnawed at thesparse oak bushes. The few stony fields yielded near nothing. Only the priests were fat and the churches overdecorated."Let me drive the rest of the way," offered Alexandra when they had finally reached the pass. But driving downhill was noeasier or faster. She had to lug the car in second gear all the way. Konrad in the back seat complained that he wasgetting dizzy from the many curves."Try to help me drive with your eyes, that will keep you from getting dizzy," advised Alexandra without mercy. She skirtedPrato and Florence. They needed almost four hours from Bologna to reach Fiesole. Alexandra was so excited, shemissed the turnoff to Villa Tasso!After all these years the house, hidden among the gray olives and the newly green vines, looked as enchanted asremembered, tranquil and rustic. A good place for intellectual exchanges. Alexandra had returned to give Walter anaccount of her new understanding.Robust Sally reigned as overbearing as ever. Walter stood apart, older, bent, embarrassed by his excitement. He smiledshyly, a formal handkiss for Alexandra.34.Fiesole1905"Walter, we have not seen each other for a very long time, why did you abandon us and never visit St. Petersburg?"Walter looked past her. "Dear Alexandra, it pains me to explain. I know you are not to be blamed, you are not Russian.We did not abandon you, I have given up collecting Russian icons. I have only a few Georgian and Byzantine émaillesleft."He glanced at his young friend and lowered his eyes. "You see, it is because of the dreadful progroms in Russia andPoland. Every day new refugees arrive. The Jewish elders have decided to boycott the Russian market. I don’t believe itwill change anything, but if we don’t hold together this cancer will spread." He awkwardly clasped and unclasped hishands. "Forgive me that I trouble you with my problems."Alexandra considered his words. She had heard of the progroms that sprang up again and again in the West-RussianJewish Pale. The central government had repeatedly issued decrees to stop the abuse, but Tsar Nicholas was known tobe at best indifferent, and the local police authorities in the far away provinces paid no attention to these governmentaldecrees and looked aside when the Cossacks devastated Jewish villages.The non-Semitic Georgian Jews, proselytized during the first century, were a fully integrated part of the populations of thetowns. Largely indistinguishable from their Georgian neighbors. They were one of the bewildering collection of faiths inTranscaucasia. She held no antipathies against Jews.She nodded and tried to ease Walter’s embarrassment with her eyes. She truly felt for her old friend. He smiledwretchedly at her and apologized once more, begging that they avoid this distressing subject.Konrad asked Sally for permission to show Friedrich the house. Alexandra joined them. Katharina was asleep upstairs.Sally would serve dinner in an hour.Sally had given them their old room. Below their window the silvery leaves of the gray-green olive trees, the city below, aprofusion of blue iris on the hillside. The quiet serenity. Spring was even more beautiful than the summer of theirmemories. They woke Katharina.Alexandra excused herself. She had to find Sally. In the kitchen she asked where she could help. "You could prepare thesalad and garlic crostini, we are having médaillons de veau chasseur.Washing and drying the lettuce leaves Alexandra began. "Sally, I am so happy to be here. Walter’s discourses on thespirit of the Renaissance have been my challenge all through the past years. In the last months I finally encountered a112