Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

The snow still fell when Alexandra returned in the late morning. The woman had delivered a boy, and she had assistedthe doctor at the hospital. Next time, she was sure, she could do that job by herself. Exhausted, she fell into bed.In the afternoon a group of men and women from the second class carriages massed on the platform. Someone unrolleda red flag. Singing revolutionary songs and waving their fists they marched on the border station. Konrad calledAlexandra to come and watch the commotion. The group vanished in the snowstorm. Apparently the strikers had let thempass.A German-speaking gentleman observing the scene made a few carefully phrased comments on the dangerously chaoticRussian proletariat and then introduced himself as Freiherr von der Schulenburg, a member of the German embassy inSt. Petersburg. Round and jolly with a pink complexion, he seemed the most unlikely diplomat.When introducing him to Alexandra, Konrad mentioned that his wife was Georgian, and von der Schulenburgimmediately asked whether they knew Joachim von Bredow. Konrad told him that they had just seen the Bredows inMunich and invited him for a glass of cognac. Schulenburg’s travel companion, Prince Konstantin de Oldenbourg anolder, distinguished-looking Russian diplomat in full uniform, greeted Alexandra with a perfect handkiss. He had knownher grandfather Chavchavadze in the late 1870s when he had been stationed in Tiflis during the Turkish campaign. Also,his wife, Agraphina Djaparidze, was Georgian.Oldenbourg asked. "Were you the Samaritan who requisitioned the locomotive to take that woman to the hospital lastnight?""I am a physician, it was my duty to help the hapless woman.""Of course, but to persuade this hard-nosed, German station master to lend you his engine, is hardly part of your medicaleducation."He raised his glass and with the boisterous charm of an adopted Georgian toasted her. "My respects, Princess Dadiani-Rost! We diplomats were unable to do as you did. A worthy daughter of your illustrious ancestors!""Oh, well, a woman sometimes has more power than an official of his Majesty the Emperor!" remarked Alexandra withher father’s laugh.They whiled away the night, Oldenbourg telling heroic anecdotes from his Transcaucasian campaigns—he had been thecommander of the feared Kubán-Cossack Cavalry.On the fifth day of their forced detention the sun rose on a world covered in hoarfrost. Fantastic ice formations hung fromthe telephone wires and encrusted the bare branches of the trees. Deep snow blanketed the countryside. Konradsuggested to go for a walk. As they were getting ready to leave a gentleman in a heavy bearskin coat appeared askingfor Professor and Frau Dr. Rost.He introduced himself as Friedrich von Bredow, a cousin of Joachim’s. Joachim had called from Munich asking him tocare for Konrad and Alexandra, would they accept an invitation to his manor house? It was only an hour’s distance fromhere. He would deliver them back to the station tomorrow morning.Konrad asked how Joachim had discovered that they were stranded in Eydtkuhnen.Von Bredow said that Alexandra’s rescue of the pregnant woman had been carried by the papers as part of a report onthe snowbound train. In fact two other colleagues of Joachim were on the train, Herr von der Schulenburg and PrinceOldenbourg. If they would allow him, he would like to invite them too. Three comfortable sleighs were waiting. Bredowwas delighted that they had already met the two diplomats.Alexandra consulted with the station master who assured her with many bows that the train would not leave withoutthem. Should the border open during the night, he would telephone Herrn von Bredow, and "selbstverständlich FrauDoktor" he would hold the train until their return.Elisabeth would watch their belongings, could they bring Otto along? Oh, there was plenty of room in the sleighs and atthe house there would be a throng of their own children for him to play with.Konrad was overwhelmed by so much unexpected hospitality."Look," said Alexandra, dressing Otto in his warmest clothes, "they live out here in the woods on their baronial estates,two hours by train from the nearest larger city, the company of friends is their only real pleasure."The horses steamed and snorted clouds in the cold air, jingling harnesses, an occasional crack of Bredow’s whip. Theyflew across the snow, dark woods, frozen lakes and more woods. Wrapped in several rough blankets sitting between hisparents Otto said. "Mummy, the blanket scratches me. Where are we going?"Alexandra tucked the blanket away from his face. "To the Snow Castle, Otto, deep in the woods. Herr von Bredow livesthere with his many children."Otto burrowed with his small arm through the blankets until he found his mother’s hand. "Mummy, tell me the story ofyour grandfather’s castle."Putting her arm around him she began. "Once upon a time my grandfather built a castle for Grandmother and their manychildren in a beautiful valley where grapes grow and the sun shines. From the house they could see the high snowmountains, but it never snowed in the valley. In the high mountains lived wild men who envied the people in the valleytheir grapes and good life. One night, when my grandfather was not home they came down on their horses and brokeinto the house and captured Grandmother and all her children. They took them to their hideout deep in the woods.124