Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

ewildered Konrad opened his eyes and sat up. Leist tried to sit next to him, but immediately jumped up again. Hesearched the ground with his hands and produced two squashed fruit. He smelled them and began to laugh. "Did youknow, Rost, you fell asleep under an apricot tree! There are hundreds of apricots covering the ground."He squatted next to Konrad. For a while they stayed there munching overripe apricots in the dark of the night."I am terribly sorry Leist, overcome by the wonderful food and the wine, I simply fell asleep.""I warned you that this would be a profound experience for you." Leist chuckled. "We assumed that you had disappearedwith one of the charming ladies. The others went home to their jealous wives. We two bachelors are the only survivors."He searched for some more apricots and shared them."I’m all right, I guess," Konrad said with a dispirited voice. "No girls, but a strange dream. A tall, beautiful Georgianwoman with deep blue eyes tried to lure me to Kakheti."Leist laughed. "Oh, Kakheti, the land of wine and beauties. The ghosts, the ghosts! It’s going on midnight. Let’s get out ofhere before they take over!"Leist jumped up and lent Konrad a hand."You know, I have a suggestion how to chase the spook away. Let’s go to the hamam, the Turkish bath. The heat and agood massage will revive you. Around ten they clean the place and until the muezzin calls at four in the morning therewill be no new customers. That’s the best time to go to the baths. Let’s stuff our pockets with apricots as provisions forthe trip."The droshki ride over the bumpy pavement revived Konrad’s spirits. "Tell me Leist, that winsome, white-haired gentlemanwas he really a prince?""Yes, yes, but don’t get overawed, every fifth gentleman in Tiflis is a prince. Among the Georgians exist only two classes,landowners and peasants, the middle class consists of Armenians, and the artisans are either Jewish or Azeri. When theRussians usurped this God-blessed country they simply bestowed the title knyaz, Prince or Lord, on all feudallandowners. Dadiani comes from a rich land-owning family in Mingrelia, in western Georgia. He preferred to become aprofessor in Tbilisi and leave the family properties to his half-brother George."The narrow valley below the Narikala fort smelled like Dante’s inferno. The hot, sulfuric springs that gave Tiflis itsGeorgian name Tbilisi—tbili meaning hot in Georgian—steamed, stank, and fizzled. Their piping-hot water fed severalTurkish and Persian bathhouses. One resembled a blue-tiled Turkish medressa, another, with a huge dome at thebottom of the valley, looked like a mosque, and several smaller baths climbed the slopes.The streets around the baths were deserted. Leist took Konrad to Abano Tsikhe, a turreted palace owned by PrinceOrbeliani. It was considered the best of the lot.The attendant addressed Leist by his name and led them into a small room with two couches. They were given bigtowels to wrap themselves in. Persian nargilehs were brought and Leist, covered only by his sheet, lay down to have asmoke."I have no idea what to do with this hookah, and, moreover, I don't smoke," said Konrad. Leist showed him how to slowlybubble the smoke from the glowing tobacco wad through the water in the glass vase. Konrad tried to copy him and wasovercome by a terrifying cough.Leist laughed. "Slowly, Rost, slowly. Don’t inhale this potent stuff. Just take small sips." Konrad tried again, but then thewad stopped burning. Desperately trying to revive it by deep draws he became dizzy. Frustrated by a new coughingattack, Konrad abandoned the hookah.Eventually the attendant led them into a small, hot room with benches along the wall."This is only the purgatory!" warned Leist, "a pre-hell to get you accustomed to the hot bath itself. Brace yourself!"When they finally entered the main room its heat hit them like a wall. The room was large and octagonal with a low daisat its center covered with marble. Water fountains bubbled into basins along the walls.Konrad had expected variously sized and heated bathing pools, like in the illustrations of the Roman baths in the Latintextbooks of his youth. There were no baths, only this breathtaking heat."Oh, that’s it." Leist spread his arms in apology and said mockingly, "Ach, Rost, you are still yearning for a bathtub, thereisn’t one. But an attendant will soon come with a bucket of soapy water and massage you. Meanwhile, lie down on thedais, breathe deeply, and save your energies!"The heat came from the floor and the dais. Konrad lay down and broke out in profuse sweat. His heart raced, and he feltlike he was breathing fire.Leist, lying very still on his back, breathing very slowly and systematically, advised Konrad that the water in the basinsalong the wall was ice cold and could be used to quench the fire.After a while Konrad‘s heart slowed down. The attendant returned with a wooden bucket of warm water, a piece of soap,and a loofa sponge. He made Konrad sit up and poured the water over him. Then he whisked up clouds of soapsuds inthe bucket with which he massaged Konrad, leaving no hair unturned. Another bucket of water followed. Finally came theloofa ritual. Konrad had to lie on the hot dais face down. The man knelt over him and systematically rubbed his back withthe loofa sponge. Konrad felt like he was being skinned alive. Leist sat next to him, chuckling. "Now you look like a12