Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

Together they were hedging out a plot for his future book when Alexandra’s keys rattled in the entrance door. Theyjumped up like guilty schoolboys. Alexandra greeted them in passing and went into the kitchen. Ever since Tamara hadmoved in with them Vladimir had become an almost permanent house guest.Konrad went back to his study. Vladimir followed Alexandra into the kitchen and sat well out of her reach."I brought a book for you, which I would like you to read. It is the most popular of the new fiction that is ‘corrupting’ ourwomen, according to the conservative critics."Alexandra, bent over the chopping board cutting vegetables, did not turn around. He held up the worn Vrebitskaya copy."It is poor literature, but it is enormously successful with the ladies. Could you read it and tell me why? I don’t understandits success. How can our women be duped by such literary trash?"She pushed a few strands of hair out of her face and turned around to face him. "Are you envious, or are you consideringwriting something similar? You know that I am very busy and have only an hour for reading between ten and twelve atnight. So you better give me a compelling reason."Vladimir wagged his head looking at the floor. "I am both envious and thinking of writing an erotic novel. You rememberGippius’ recommendation as a sure-fire way to literary success? Please read it, and then let us discuss this genre.Tamara doesn’t need to know of this idea. She has such high moral standards and is so innocent that this book mightshock her."Alexandra smiled mockingly. "And I am neither naïve nor do I have a comparable moral standard, do I see that correctly?Ach, Vladimir, you are a Russian romantic." She returned to her kitchen task.Vladimir flushed and addressed her back. "No, you have the psychological insight into these matters, which could helpme to understand the success of this book, and you know me better than any other woman."They were silent while she stirred her boeuf bourguignon on the stove."Are you interested in the latest literary gossip?" Vladimir asked.Alexandra shot him a quick glance. "I haven’t said yes or no to your request yet. All right, I will read the book with aclinician’s mind and include you in the plot."Her tone changed. She was curious what was happening on the volatile literary scene of St. Petersburg, and Vladimir,through his many friends, was usually well informed. "Is the gossip interesting? More than just who is sleeping withwhom? Does it make any difference or illuminate the decadence of the Petersburgian setting?"Vladimir perked up, finally she was listening. He got up from his chair and began pacing the kitchen. "I am afraid this timethe events might change us all. For years we have been waiting for the first Russian woman poet. Your young Muscovitefriend Tsvetaeva is spreading her wings and an equally young woman poet, Anna Gorenko, alias Akhmatova, iscompeting with her. Both are very young and neither has found her voice yet. But they are already attacking the malestranglehold on Russian poetry with unheard verve. The Symbolists are going to be swept aside, and only one woman isgoing to survive. And now suddenly a third contender has appeared, a sensation, Cherubina de Gabriac."He described his visit with Gumilev and Makovsky at the Apollo editorial office. Towards the end of his tale he sloweddown. He appeared to be thinking. "This may all sound like facile gossip," he concluded, "but since I talked to Konrad thisstory is beginning to assume a new tragicomical aspect.""What did Konrad say to change your mind?""He thinks Cherubina is a hoax perpetrated on insipid Makovsky.""But would that not be a rather sorry intellectual titillation? Anybody could fool Makovsky. Who could be interested insuch a cheap trick?""That is exactly what I am thinking about. The gossip has it, that Maksimilian Voloshin has stolen Nikolai Gumilev’sgirlfriend Elizaveta Dmitrieva. All three, Voloshin, Gumilev and Dmitrieva are writing poetry of varying quality. Youremember, Voloshin is the man whose mother runs the pension at Koktebel in the Crimea where the Tsvetaeva sistershave been spending their summers. Voloshin is a conjurer. I always thought he was homosexual, but it seems he is atleast ambidextrous, fat and pompous but certainly not a misogynist."He held his folded finger tips to his lips and peered at Alexandra. Was she still listening? She was stirring her pot.Hecontinued. "That Voloshin sleeps with Dmitrieva would not be of great importance, if she wasn’t Gumilev’s formergirlfriend, and Gumilev was not also ardently and unsuccessfully pursuing Akhmatova. Maybe Dmitrieva is jealous ofAkhmatova and that is the reason she left Gumilev. Anyway, Gumilev and Voloshin are at each other’s throats over thesewomen. And Gumilev is Makovsky’s literary advisor. He is the one who decides the acceptance or rejection of poetry inthe editorial office of Apollo."He laughed and hit his head with his flat hand. "Konrad," he shouted, "you are right. It is a hoax! On my poor friendGumilev, not on Makovsky."Alexandra had lit a blaze in her pan, burning off the cognac she had added to the meat. She had followed Vladimir’s caseonly partially."So what does this all mean? You have lost me.""Konrad is right, Cherubina is a swindle, directed against Gumilev not Makovsky. The gag was concocted with Voloshin’s155