Konrad and Alexandra (PDF) - Rolf Gross

Tamara buried Vladimir in the village cemetery at Etzeri. The villagers avoided her. In time she learned that the twopeasants had found the frozen body buried in the snow on Ushba Glacier just below Baksan Pass.He had been shot through the head.Tamara remained obsessed by the idea that the same two villagers who had brought him had murdered Vladimir trying tocross the pass in April.If that was the case, her father argued, then it must have been an accident. The villagers, who had been guarding thepass against bandits entering Svaneti, would have recognized Vladimir.But Tamara swore they had intentionally murdered the Russian who had sullied the body of the last Princess of Svaneti.Her father lowered his eyes in silence.A few weeks after the burial, Tamara saddled her horse, tied little Asmat onto her back and, without a word of good-bye,left for Tbilisi.63.New beginnings Tbilisi1918Tbilisi—it had dropped its Russian name—appeared like an oasis to Konrad. Life meandered lazily through its narrowstreets. The only reminder of the war was the large number of Russian soldiers. Every now and then frightening rumorsabout events in distant places swept town, but all good Georgians believed that Germany would soon win the war, freethem from the Russian yoke, and protect them against the Turks.The news that Lenin had been secretly shipped by the Germans to Petrograd was only a confirmation of Germanomnipotence. The power struggle between Lenin’s and Trotsky’s followers which raged in Russia went unnoticed exceptin the inner circles of the Georgian Socialists.There was plenty of room at Irakli’s house. Deda was busily caring for everybody, glad that Alexandra and hergrandchildren were safe and unhurt. Irakli, however, looked old, depressed, and stooped. He did not complain, but theslow decline of the world he had known and George’s ominous distribution of the Dadiani land possessions haddemoralized him. He would often lean on his beloved daughter in search of reassurance.One evening Leist came to look at the "refugees." After hugging everyone he unerringly put his finger on Konrad’s touchyspot with one of his caustic remarks. "You two are an unusual pair, Alexandra has become a German superwoman whileyou, Konrad, are turning more Oriental every time I see you. Konrad, what happened to your enthusiasm, to yourenergy? Wake up, Mensch, or you will get caught under the wheels!"Pained, Konrad frowned. "I need to find work. I cannot continue to sit around all day. You are right, this relaxed place isnot good for my soul. Considering the changes in the Dadiani fortune, I can no longer live off my father-in-law’sgenerosity."Leist shook his head. "My God, Konrad, in this place the grapes are growing on the street, you only have to stuff them inyour mouth. By the end of the year we shall have a free Georgian University in a free Georgian Republic. IvaneJavakhashvili is recruiting the faculty. You know many of these people, and they know you. They will be delighted to offeryou a professorship. Rightfully or not, the Germans have never stood in higher regard in Georgia. But you definitely haveto perk up. In your despondent mood nothing can be done. Let me pull a few strings for you."A few days later Javakhashvili invited Konrad for an interview. He introduced him to Petre Melikishvili, a dynamic man ofKonrad’s age. Konrad was pleasantly surprised, the pioneering spirit of these two men contrasted favorably with theconservative, condescending attitude of his St. Petersburg colleagues.They were definitely interested in him, the sciences were underrepresented. He would be offered Georgian citizenship aspart of the position as soon as the Georgian Republic would become a reality. It was going to be a Georgian university,and Georgian would be the language of choice. He did speak Georgian, didn’t he?Konrad switched to Georgian. The two were delighted. Would he also consider giving his permission for his wife to teachas part of the medical faculty? Leist had given them an enthusiastic description of Alexandra Dadiani’s capabilities.Konrad laughed. They would have to discuss this matter with Alexandra directly, she was very much of her own mind.Melikishvili grinned with raised eyebrows, David Ortaladze would be the head of the medical faculty, and Ortaladze was agood friend of Alexandra’s from long ago….Konrad arrived at home in the best of spirits."For all practical purposes Javakhashvili has offered me a professorship and, sit down, one for you too!"200