Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

42.Uncle Muravi's Benz, Tiflis1907"Mama," asked Otto, "are we going to the Snow Castle?"They had just stowed their luggage in a compartment on the train to Baku and Tiflis. Otto had carried his own smallsuitcase and put it on the seat. He took his coat off by himself and gave it to his motherAlexandra asked surprised. "What castle do you mean?""You know, the Snow Castle with the animal-children where we went in the sleigh at night when the moon was shining.""No dear, we are going to the house I lived in when I was as old as you in Georgia. And I shall take you to the castle mygrandfather built among the vineyards. What reminds you of the Bredow’s house?""I saw the man get on the train who went with us in the sleigh.""Are you sure?" She had not seen anybody she knew."Which one, the one who was round and small or the older man in uniform?""The short one, who spoke German with you."Schulenburg? That would be a surprise. She had briefly spoken to him at the Christmas party, and he had not mentioneda trip to Tiflis.Otto leading her by the hand, they went through the first class cars looking for Schulenburg."See, there he is!" whispered Otto, and sure enough it was Herr von der Schulenburg.Schulenburg taken by surprise called from a distance. "What a coincidence! Are you going home? I have beenunexpectedly transferred to Tiflis to replace Joachim von Bredow, who will move up to become ambassador to theSublime Porte in Constantinople. May I introduce you to my wife, she will be delighted to have someone to take her toGeorgia. She very reluctantly leaves St. Petersburg for remote Tiflis, about which she has been told horror stories."His wife emerged from their compartment. "Amalia, a happy coincidence, I just found Alexandra Dadiani-Rost walkingdown the corridor, she is also going to Tiflis."Amalia complemented her husband perfectly. A pair of beautiful, warm, brown eyes smiled expectantly at Alexandra."You are a real godsend. My husband has told me about you. You met on the snow-bound train—one misfortune we will,thank God, be spared on this trip. I am delighted to meet you."She spoke a funny, Badensian, southern German. Two children of Otto’s age poked their heads out of their door."Angela and Traugot, say good morning to Mrs. Dadiani-Rost."The girl made a dutiful curtsy and Traugot a bow. Oh, thought Alexandra, I hope Otto learns something from them."And this is your charming little boy, does he speak German too?"Alexandra gave Otto a nudge, and to her utter surprise Otto made a bow and said in perfect German, "My name is Otto. Iam no small boy. I will turn seven next month. I also have a sister, but she is still a baby."The adults laughed, and the Mrs. Schulenburg suggested that their children show Otto their toys.Herr von der Schulenburg good-naturedly stroked Otto’s head. "Splendid, a German-speaking playmate, that will shortenthe long journey. My wife brought a young German governess along who will watch the children."Annoyed by the gesture of the good uncle, Otto took a step back and with a toss of his head vanished with the twoSchulenburg children. Alexandra asked the Schulenburgs to their compartment. They surprised Konrad, who had thepresence of mind to produce a bottle of Georgian cognac.While the men discussed Transcaucasian politics, Alexandra calmed Mrs. Schulenburg’s apprehension of the "wild"Tiflis. It will be good for me to describe Georgia to her, thought Alexandra, I have almost forgotten how beautiful mybeloved country really is.Over supper in the dining car, Konrad suggested that Schulenburg and he should take the postal carriage along theGeorgian Military Road. Amalia von der Schulenburg protested, her Russian was poor. She spoke no Georgian andcould not handle the children by herself on this long trip. Alexandra, who saw Konrad’s excitement, persuaded her. Theydid not have to change trains and would be three women, Amalia should leave the organization to her.Konrad got an emotional welcome from Deda, Irakli, and Otar when he surprised them a day earlier than expected. Thefollowing morning they all drove to the station. Irakli had hired a band in the bazaar. Four bazarliks carried garlands and awelcome sign.When Joachim and Clara von Bredow arrived at the station they found Konrad already there, who took a fiendishpleasure in producing Schulenburg. This nearly resulted in a complete confusion. A representative of Vorontsev hadshown up with a brass band hired from the German Club and two photographers from the papers. They finally negotiated135